Chipped Tooth in Dogs: What to Do and When to Worry

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-03

A chipped tooth in dogs can be a minor cosmetic flaw or a painful injury that needs treatment within days. The difference comes down to whether the chip reaches the pulp, the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth. If you can see a pink or red dot in the center of the broken surface, that tooth needs veterinary care.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

• A small enamel chip with a smooth, white or cream-colored edge and no visible center is often monitored, not treated.
• A break that shows a pink, red, or dark spot in the middle means the pulp is exposed. That tooth is painful and will become infected without treatment [1].
• Signs of a painful tooth include dropping food, avoiding cold water, refusing hard treats, chewing on one side, or approaching the bowl and walking away [1].
• Do not wait for your dog to "act fine." Dogs hide dental pain well, and a chronic broken tooth can abscess and cause facial swelling [1].
• Call your veterinarian for an oral exam. Dental X-rays are usually needed to see what is happening below the gumline.

What a Chipped Tooth in Dogs Looks Like and What Is Normal

A chip is a loss of tooth structure at the crown, the part you can see. The damage can be tiny, like a flake off the tip of a canine, or large enough to remove most of the crown.

Normal, low-concern findings include a shallow enamel chip with a hard, smooth surface and no color change in the middle. The tooth does not react when your dog drinks cold water, and your dog chews normally on both sides.

Concerning findings include a rough or jagged edge, a visible hole or dark cavity, a pink or red center, a grey or purple tint to the tooth, or a broken piece that leaves a sharp point near the lip or tongue.

Some dogs have generalized tooth discoloration from a primary dentin disorder, a condition where the dentin under the enamel forms abnormally. Affected dogs can show grey-blue to golden brown crowns along with pulp exposure, wear, and fractures [2]. This is uncommon and is diagnosed by a veterinarian, but it is one reason a tooth that looks "just stained" still deserves an exam.

It is fairly common for dogs to chip or fracture teeth. Fractured teeth are frequently found during routine oral exams with no known injury reported by the owner [1]. Working dogs are at higher risk. In one review, working dogs had about 6.3 traumatic dentoalveolar injuries per dog compared with about 1.3 in non-working dogs, and their risk of having such an injury was three times higher [3].

Is it normal for dogs to chip their teeth?

Chipping happens often, but "common" does not mean "always harmless." Many fractured teeth cause no obvious problems, while others are extremely painful and can lead to infection [1]. The only reliable way to tell the difference is a veterinary oral exam, and often dental X-rays.

Main Causes of Chipped and Broken Teeth

Chewing very hard objects is the most common cause of fractured teeth in dogs. Trauma, such as being hit by a car, is another cause [1].

Periodontal disease matters here because it weakens the support around the tooth. It is the major reason for tooth loss in dogs, and periodontitis causes irreversible loss of the tissues that hold teeth in place [4]. A tooth with poor support can fracture with less force than a healthy one.

If your dog chews and swallows pieces of hard chews, toys, or household items, watch for vomiting, drooling, gagging, or a painful belly. Those signs point to a possible blockage, which is a separate emergency. See Dog Ate a Toy: When to Worry and What to Do and Dog Ate a Sharp Object: Signs of Internal Injury and What to Do.

Red Flags That Make It an Emergency

Most chipped teeth are not emergencies. These are.

• Heavy bleeding from the mouth that does not stop with gentle pressure.
• A tooth that is loose, pushed out of position, or hanging.
• Facial swelling, swelling under the eye, or a draining tract on the face or jaw.
• Your dog cannot close the mouth normally, or the jaw looks shifted.
• Drooling, pawing at the mouth, crying, or refusing all food and water.
• Any mouth injury after a car accident, fall, or fight, even if the tooth looks minor. Other injuries may be hidden.
• A broken tooth with a piece missing that you cannot find. It may have been swallowed.

Call an emergency clinic for these. For a stable dog with a visible chip and no other signs, a regular appointment within a few days is reasonable.

What to Do If My Dog Chipped a Tooth: Safe Steps at Home

You cannot fix a fractured tooth at home. Your job is to keep your dog comfortable and prevent more damage until the exam.

• Look, do not probe. Lift the lip gently in good light. Note the tooth's location, the size of the break, and whether the center is pink, red, or dark. Do not poke the tooth with a fingernail, cotton swab, or tool.
• Stop all hard chews. No bones, antlers, hooves, hard nylon, ice cubes, or hard biscuits. These are the same objects that cause fractures [1].
• Offer soft food if your dog seems reluctant to eat. Canned food or kibble soaked in warm water is easier to chew. Some dogs with a painful tooth avoid cool fresh water, so offer room-temperature water [1].
• Do not give human pain relievers. Many common human medications are toxic to dogs. Your veterinarian will choose a safe drug and calculate the dose from your dog's weight and health.
• Keep the mouth clean if your dog allows it. Gentle brushing with a soft pet toothbrush and pet toothpaste is fine if it does not cause pain. Skip it if your dog pulls away.
• Take a photo. A clear picture of the broken tooth helps your veterinarian triage by phone and track changes.

If your dog has swallowed a piece of the tooth or a chew that broke off, watch for vomiting, drooling, retching, or belly pain. Those signs warrant a call or visit. More detail is in Dog Ate a Foreign Object: Signs of Obstruction and When to Go to the Vet.

What Your Veterinarian Will Check and Test

Your veterinarian starts with a full oral exam. They will count teeth, check for mobility, look for fractures and wear on every tooth, and probe the gum pockets around each tooth. Gum disease is often first noticed around 2 years of age, and periodontitis usually begins at 4 to 6 years of age, so the exam covers the whole mouth, not just the chipped tooth [4].

Next comes imaging. Dental X-rays show the root, the bone around it, and whether the pulp chamber is wide open or already diseased. X-rays also reveal root fractures, bone loss, and retained root fragments that you cannot see from the outside.

Your veterinarian will classify the fracture. A simple crown fracture involves enamel and dentin only. A complicated crown fracture exposes the pulp [5]. That distinction drives the treatment plan.

They will also check for signs of infection. A chronic broken tooth may lead to an abscess with swelling and pain [1]. If the tooth is dead but not yet infected, the X-rays may show a widened pulp canal or a dark area at the root tip.

Treatment Options

• Monitoring. A small enamel chip with no pulp exposure and no X-ray changes may only need rechecks. Your veterinarian will set the schedule.
• Root canal therapy. This saves the tooth. The pulp is removed, the canal is cleaned, filled, and sealed. In a study of 45 incisor teeth treated with root canal therapy, treatment was successful in 42 teeth (93.3 percent), with no evidence of failure in the other three and no failures overall [6].
• Crown placement after a root canal. For canine teeth that need extra strength, a full metal crown can be cemented over the treated tooth. In one report of 160 canine teeth in 84 dogs, the overall failure rate was 2.5 percent over the study period [7]. A separate review of 53 titanium alloy crowns in 25 dogs found a 100 percent retention rate and 91 percent overall tooth survival, with failures caused by fracture of the tooth below the crown margin [8].
• Extraction. When the tooth cannot be saved, or when periodontal disease has destroyed the supporting bone, removal is the practical choice. Periodontal disease and tooth fracture are the main reasons teeth are extracted in dogs [3].

Some fractures are complex enough to need both a root canal and a prosthetic rebuild. In one reported case, a dog with a complicated crown fracture of an upper canine had root canal therapy, a post placed in the canal, a composite core, and a custom metal crown. No complications were seen over 22 months of follow-up [5]. This kind of reconstruction is done by veterinarians with advanced dental training.

Prevention and Monitoring

Prevention is mostly about what goes in your dog's mouth.

• Choose chews wisely. If you cannot dent it with a fingernail or it does not flex, it is too hard. This includes bones, antlers, hooves, and hard nylon.
• Supervise chew time. Remove any chew once it gets small enough to swallow.
• Brush your teeth daily if your dog tolerates it. Brushing helps you notice chips and breaks early, and it fights the plaque that leads to periodontal disease [4].
• Keep routine dental exams. Your veterinarian can find fractures you cannot see, especially on back teeth. Back teeth are affected by periodontal disease more often than front teeth [4].
• Watch working and sport dogs closely. They have higher rates of tooth injury and wear than pet dogs [3].
• Check the mouth monthly at home. Lift the lips, look at the canines and the big cheek teeth, and note any new chips, discoloration, or bad breath.

If your dog chews at the paws or face because of pain or irritation, that is a different problem. See Dog Chewing Paws Until Bleeding.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

You cannot tell from the outside whether the pulp is exposed, whether the root is fractured, or whether the bone around the tooth is infected. Those answers need an oral exam and dental X-rays.

Contact your veterinarian the same day for a visible break with a pink or red center, a broken tooth with a sharp edge cutting the lip, refusal to eat, or new drooling.

Go to an emergency clinic now for uncontrolled bleeding, a loose or displaced tooth, facial swelling, a jaw that will not close normally, or any mouth trauma from a car accident, fall, or fight.

Schedule a routine visit for a small chip with no color change, no pain signs, and normal eating.

Every case is different. Your veterinarian needs to examine your dog to decide what is safe and what is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chipped tooth heal on its own?

No. Enamel and dentin do not regrow in dogs. A shallow chip may never cause a problem, but a break that reaches the pulp will not heal without treatment. The pulp stays open to bacteria and the tooth can become infected over time [1].

My puppy chipped his canine tooth. Is that different from an adult dog?

Yes, in one important way. Puppy teeth are temporary, so a chipped baby tooth may be monitored until it falls out, unless it is painful or infected. Adult canine teeth are permanent and are treated more seriously because they do the heavy work of gripping and holding.

How do I know if the pulp is exposed?

Look at the center of the broken surface. A pink or red dot means the pulp is exposed. A dark spot can mean the pulp is dead or dying. A smooth white or cream surface with no center usually means the break is in enamel and dentin only. If you are unsure, treat it as exposed and call your veterinarian.

Will my dog need anesthesia for dental X-rays?

Usually yes. Dental X-rays and a thorough probing of every tooth are done under anesthesia in most practices. This allows a complete exam, clean images, and treatment in the same visit if needed. Your veterinarian will review your dog's health and bloodwork first.

Can I just wait and see if it bothers him?

Waiting is risky. Dogs often hide dental pain, and some will approach the food bowl and then walk away instead of show they hurt [1]. A tooth that looks quiet can abscess weeks later. If you see a break, get it checked.

Are broken teeth common in dogs?

Yes. Fractured teeth are common, and many are found during routine exams with no known injury [1]. Working dogs are at higher risk, with about three times the risk of traumatic tooth injury compared with non-working dogs [3].

Related Articles

• Dog Ate a Toy: When to Worry and What to Do
• Dog Ate a Sharp Object: Signs of Internal Injury and What to Do
• Dog Ate a Foreign Object: Signs of Obstruction and When to Go to the Vet
• Dog Chewing Paws Until Bleeding
• Dog Ate a Sock: When to Worry and What to Do
• How To Brush a Dog's Teeth Safely
• Split Tooth in Dogs: Signs, Pain, and Treatment
• Broken Tooth in Dogs: Symptoms, Types, and When It Hurts
• What to Do If Your Dog Breaks a Tooth: Treatment Options

References

1. Risks from a fractured tooth. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
2. A Review of Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Primary Dentin Disorders in Dogs. Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2022.
3. Traumatic dentoalveolar injury, tooth wear, and periodontal disease in working and non-working dogs (2018-2022). Frontiers in veterinary science, 2026.
4. Dental Disorders of Dogs - Dog Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
5. Prosthetic reconstruction of a fractured canine tooth in a dog using post and core. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 2025.
6. Endodontic Treatment Outcome of 45 Incisor Teeth in Dogs Determined by Intraoral Radiography. Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2023.
7. Success of Feather Margin Preparation for Full Metal Prosthodontic Crowns in the Canine Teeth in 84 Pet and Working Dogs (2005-2017). Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2022.
8. Success of Full-Coverage Titanium Alloy Crowns of Canine Teeth in Dogs. Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2026.

Further Reading

• Merck Veterinary Manual: Dog Owners
• Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center: Canine Health Information
• American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care