Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dental injuries in working dogs and how vets treat them
By Juriga, Stephen & Bilyard, Karin·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2021·Veterinary Dental Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Working Dog Dentistry.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Working dogs, like police or search-and-rescue dogs, can suffer from dental injuries due to their demanding jobs. These injuries can include broken or discolored teeth, which may cause pain and affect their ability to work effectively. It's important for veterinarians to educate dog handlers about these potential issues and to conduct thorough dental exams to catch any problems early. The main goal of treatment is to relieve pain and restore the dog's dental health so they can continue to perform their important duties without discomfort.
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Abstract
Working dogs serve different functions based on their trained purpose. Due to the nature of their work, they are prone to traumatic dentoalveolar injuries (TDIs). TDIs include tooth wear, fracture, discoloration, and displacement. Undiagnosed or untreated TDIs result in pain, which could lead to poor performance. Veterinarians should educate handlers on potential injuries and perform a thorough oral examination and appropriate diagnostics to identify any oral abnormalities and initiate treatment. The primary goal of treatment is to return dogs to normal function so that they can continue to perform their assigned duty at maximum performance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34059256/