Q Will my old dog be OK? My 12-year-old Italian greyhound was seen by the vet about four months ago. I was advised to have his teeth cleaned and to remove several loose, rotting teeth. Due to scheduling issues, I finally got around to it earlier this week. The bloodwork required before the procedure showed substantially elevated kidney levels. The vet told me that all of the dog’s teeth were severely rotted and had to be extracted. Then I received a call that all went well until the removal of the last tooth led to a jaw fracture. It was his lower left fang tooth. The mouth was wired and should heal. Did I wait too long? Why do you think this happened? Could it have been avoided? My dog has been eating and drinking well since, and I have to wait to see how it might heal. Should I be worried?
A Italian greyhounds are fragile creatures. I have known the breed to have leg bones that snap easily and they are also prone to dental problems. I think you know the answer to your first question. Early prevention avoids a lot of problems. Had the dentistry been done a year ago, perhaps the dog would not have lost all of his teeth. The good news is that he will now be more comfortable without those diseased teeth. The fracture probably occurred because as the teeth decay, the sockets and bone around the teeth also become decayed and porous. The nature of the breed, with a long angular jaw line that is thin to start with, was likely compromised further by a decrease in bone density and bone strength. The bone had probably gotten to the point of being as fragile as bone china. My guess is that your vet was careful, and despite best efforts, this happened. It is a known risk with extractions in certain breeds. Most important is the function of your dog. If he is eating and drinking, that is the most important result. Some animals live with a jaw fracture that does not heal well, and some even have what is called a hemimandibulectomy to remove part of the jaw and still do well. I would actually be more concerned with your dog’s renal values. Presumably, your dog was started on appropriate diet management to address that, depending on the severity of change since compromised kidneys will more likely lead to his demise than bad teeth or no teeth.
