Dental problems can be painful, alarming, and sometimes urgent. A broken tooth, sudden facial swelling, or a bleeding mouth can quickly impact your pet’s ability to eat, rest, and feel comfortable. While not all dental issues require immediate treatment, some signs should never be ignored.
At Tell Tail Veterinary Urgent Care, we often see pets with dental related emergencies. While we do not perform dental procedures or surgeries, we can evaluate your pet, identify urgent concerns, and provide medications to help manage pain, inflammation, or infection while you arrange definitive dental care with your primary veterinarian or dental specialist.
Dental Issues and How to Spot Them
Certain dental and oral issues need prompt veterinary attention because they can be extremely painful or signal a more serious problem.
A broken or fractured tooth may expose the sensitive inner pulp, leading to significant pain and risk of infection. Pets with fractured teeth may suddenly stop eating, paw at their mouth, drool excessively, or react when their face is touched.
Facial swelling, especially around the muzzle or under the eye, often points to an infected tooth root or abscess. These infections can worsen quickly and may spread if left untreated.
Mouth injuries caused by chewing on hard objects, trauma, or foreign bodies can result in bleeding, swelling, or open wounds inside the mouth. Even small cuts can be painful and prone to infection.
Other warning signs include persistent bad breath, reluctance to chew, dropping food, blood on toys or bedding, or sudden behavior changes such as hiding or irritability.
Why Prompt Care Matters
Dental pain is not always obvious. Many pets continue to eat despite significant discomfort, which can delay care and allow problems to progress. Oral infections can extend beyond the mouth, affecting surrounding tissues, bones, and overall health.
Early evaluation helps determine whether the issue can be managed temporarily or requires immediate referral. Addressing pain and infection as soon as possible can improve comfort and reduce complications while you plan next steps.
What Tell Tail Veterinary Urgent Care Can Do
Although we do not perform dental cleanings, extractions, or dental surgeries, our team can:
-
Perform a thorough oral and facial exam
-
Identify fractures, infections, abscesses, or injuries
-
Prescribe pain medications to improve comfort
-
Prescribe antibiotics when infection is suspected
-
Recommend safe feeding modifications
-
Advise on the urgency of follow up dental care
Our goal is to stabilize your pet and help them feel better while you arrange definitive treatment with your primary care veterinarian.
What We Cannot Do
It is important for pet owners to understand that urgent care is not a replacement for dental procedures. Definitive treatment for broken teeth, abscesses, or advanced dental disease often requires anesthesia, imaging, and surgery, which must be performed by a general practice or dental specialist.
When to Seek Urgent Care for Dental Concerns
You should seek evaluation if your pet experiences:
-
a visibly broken or missing tooth
-
facial swelling or asymmetry
-
bleeding from the mouth that does not stop
-
sudden refusal to eat or chew
-
signs of pain when touching the face or mouth
-
trauma involving the jaw or muzzle
If your pet is unable to close their mouth, has uncontrolled bleeding, or is showing signs of severe pain, this should be treated as urgent.
While You Wait for Dental Treatment
Until your pet receives definitive dental care, feed soft foods, avoid chew toys or bones, and follow all medication instructions carefully. Never attempt to examine or remove a broken tooth at home, as this can cause injury or worsen pain.
