Hey all,

I have been wondering about this for some time, and can't think of a better group to ask.

My dog works for tug reward, (search, obedience). Since he was very young I have noticed that he has horizontal cracks (stains?) in his enamal. This is mostly on the posterior of the canines, but if I look close, I can see some of these stress marks on the enamal of teeth further back as well.

The placement of these super fine cracks in the enamal, and the fact that they are horizontal, leads me to beleive they are related to tugging.

One other search dog we work with, who also started tug work very young, has the same type of marks on his teeth, although not quite as much. The other two dogs we work with do not, and they did not start the tug work as early.

Could this also be from having a less than full bite, putting more stress on the canines? He is "floppy eared", and was not bred for a full bite, although we try for it

What do you guys think? Ever seen this before?

Thanks,
Jennifer

Do you happen to have pictures of these "cracks" in the enamel?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. If tugging is the cause, schutzhund dogs would all have cracks in their teeth!

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I'm not exactly sure what you mean. If tugging is the cause, schutzhund dogs would all have cracks in their teeth!

Exactly why I was asking. I don't think it is from tugging alone, must also have to do with something else. Vaccinations, diet, some illness when enamel was being layed, genetics???? Just thought maybe someone else has seen it. Also the only other dog I have seen it on, does the same kind of search/tug work.

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Do you happen to have pictures of these "cracks" in the enamel?

Hard to get clear close up with my camera, but I will post what I have.

Thanks,

Jennifer

Okay here is the best pic I could get. You can hardly see but the lower markings on the top canine practically ring the bottom of the tooth, although more faintly. There are some of these lines on other teeth too, but not as prominant.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/farwesttoller/teethstains.jpg

Thanks for any info!
Jennifer

Oh wow!! You weren't kidding, those are really visible.

I just checked my dog's teeth (he's 12 months) and while he doesn't have so much as a scratch on the left canines, I do see some very very faint "cracks" (like on your dog's teeth) on the back of his top right canine. They look just like your dog's, only they're far less visible. I actually had to use a flashlight up close to be able to see them, they're barely visible.

Ok now I'm worried too; I hope this isn't the result of tugging. I do a lot of that with my dog (ever since he was a young puppy). I'd hate to think I've damaged his teeth

I hope someone has answers (and reassurances), yikes!

I have a DDR bitch like your toro about the same age. I didnt see any of these cracks, we have done bite traing since she was very young also. That strang, what did the vet say?

 Quote: yuko blum

Ok now I'm worried too; I hope this isn't the result of tugging. I do a lot of that with my dog (ever since he was a young puppy). I'd hate to think I've damaged his teeth

I don't know if this applies to dog's teeth also (can't imagine why it wouldn't) but human tooth enamel often gets shallow, hairline cracks as we age - I believe it's called "crazing" (just like the ceramics term for the crackling that happens to some glazes in the kiln...). My dentist said it was completely normal and in now way damaging to the integrity of the tooth - it's really just a natural "surface treatment" of sorts and results from daily wear and tear. A real crack, I would imagine, would cause some pain or discomfort, but maybe not...

It would seem to me that the most damaging things for dog's teeth, like all teeth, would be biting down on, or being accidentally hit with, super hard objects - not lots of repeated biting and holding on soft objects - I've heard of dogs breaking their teeth chewing on chain link fences, rocks, and we all know they can crack and break teeth on tough old marrow bones... I'm no dentist but the fact that both of the dogs described so far are quite young and are not likely doing anything that other tug motivated dogs wouldn't be doing as well, makes me feel like their teeth are just experiencing normal wear. At least I hope so!

Maybe someone else here knows more about canine canines than I do though...

~Natalya

Thanks for the post. Think you might be on to something. the water were I live is from a well and will turn your toilet bowl permanantly brown if you don't clean it weekly. Wonder if this has contributed to the staining of these cracks, that otherwise may not have been so visable?

The lack of response tells me that it is not common among tugging dogs.

Investigation ongoing!

Cheers,