Question:
A few days ago, I took my 3-year-old miniature poodle, Evette, to our veterinarian for a dental cleaning and was startled to be presented with an X-ray revealing a broken root to one of her premolars. An immediate extraction was recommended and done. What was curious to me was there seemed to be no sign of injury to any other part of the tooth other than the broken root. My previous poodle lived for 17 years with no such problem. I had purchased Evette from a breeder who is well-known for being highly conscientious and responsible in her breeding program. I have been careful with her nutrition, her main food being Innova kibble, and I have brushed her teeth daily with C.E.T canine toothpaste. She is also given three to four kibbles daily of Hill's dental biscuits. I have also been diligent in making sure that her toys and treats have not been overly hard on her teeth. With these circumstances, how could the root have been broken? What is the likelihood of a similar mishap occurring to another tooth in the future?
C.J.P., Falls Church, Va May 09, 2010
Answer:
Clearly, you take excellent care of your little canine companion. The problem is that her genes are working against your best intentions and your poor Evette. Selectively breeding dogs to be abnormally small brings on a host of potentially serious problems, both physiologically and structurally. Notable examples are susceptibility to hypoglycemia and dislocating kneecaps.
Delicate bone structure can lead to fractures and joint problems; and toy and miniature breeds are especially prone to the kinds of dental disease seen in your dog, which you have done your best to prevent. Following the popularity of such diminutive dogs as accessory items of personal decoration by various celebrities, it is regrettable that commercial breeders have put more of these creatures into the world. Few in the general population know how much care they need and how much they can suffer. I advise people to think twice about buying such animals, and I encourage the informed to be prepared to adopt one from the local animal shelter and not from breeders who propagate them for purely commercial gain.
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