Rogz Grinz, Red

Product Information

First, let’s start with a discussion of normal occlusion and malocclusions. Normally, when the mouth is closed, the mandibular incisors are behind the maxillary incisors, while the mandibular canine tooth is behind the maxillary third incisor and in front of the maxillary canine. There is interdigitation of the premolar cusps of the maxilla and mandible, resulting in a resemblance of pinking shears. The maxillary premolars and molars are positioned lateral to the mandibular premolars due to the anisognathic widths of the maxilla and mandible in the dog and cat. As this is an elective procedure (e.g. sterile) it is possible to use a bone allograft to fill the void created by the loss of the large canine tooth. The graft will promote new bone growth within a few weeks. Grafts can be very expensive as the void to be filled is large. This can increase the cost of the procedure markedly. Please be aware that any advice must be considered in relation to all of a patient’s clinical picture.

With near exposure, this protective dentine barrier might be thin and, due to the porous structure of dentine, could have allowed the ingress of bacteria and irritants from the oral cavity, possibly causing pulpitis. The radiographic monitoring of pulp vitality before attempting restoration, as well as long-term monitoring post-operatively, is very important. With radiographic evidence of pulpitis and/or pulp necrosis, the only treatment options to consider would be endodontic treatment or extraction of the affected tooth. Ball Therapy involves the use of a removable, passive-force orthodontic appliance in the form of an appropriately sized pliable ball toy or a Kong® Classic™ toy. The concept is amazingly simple. The owners encourage the dog to hold/carry the ‘appliance’ as much as possible, holding it in the mouth just behind the canine teeth. The presence of the ball will apply a gentle force on the lower canines out towards the lips and encourage these teeth to tip into proper position as they are erupting. Case Selection and TimingEven though persistent deciduous teeth are considered the most important cause of malocclusion, they appear to be more common in certain breeds and could therefore have a genetic association Despite its weight, this herding ball can float in water. However, be mindful that your dog will not be able to retrieve it on his own. Because your dog can’t carry this ball in his mouth, he will need your help to get it if the ball falls into water, such as your swimming pool.

An interesting feature is that the Jolly Pets Push-n-Play has a hollow center, which can be filled. Simply remove the plug, and add water or sand to add weight to the ball. This is best done with erupting permanent mandibular canines. When done at this time the canines are actively moving through the bone and can be deviated from their course. This is usually around 5 months of age. Once the teeth are at their final eruption height the ability to move them starts to reduce. It then becomes a much bigger job to do. You should encourage your dog to play with the ball in their mouth as often as you can. It has been shown that performing this behaviour for fifteen minute intervals three times daily is effective. The longer the forces act, the better the result.

Some dog owners we spoke to remove the scratches and bite marks using sandpaper regularly. First, they use coarse sandpaper to get rid of the ridges and raised pieces before swapping out to a finer grade of paper to make the ball smooth and ready for playtime. Keep the inclined plane clean. Just like human bite plates, canine inclined planes need to be kept clean. Your vet may recommend sedating or anesthetizing your dog to clean its inclined plane. If necessary, your vet will make adjustments to the inclined plane, since your dog could have dislodged it when biting down on something hard. As an example, the main functions of the canine teeth are the killing of prey or defence. Neither of these functions is essential for domesticated animals. The loss of these teeth is not without implication though, as canine teeth are important for prehension and are the only “fingers” that our patients have! The extraction of a canine tooth is quite an invasive surgery but our patients usually make an uneventful recovery after this procedure.