Dog Tooth Discoloration Causes, Treatments

My dog's canine tooth has turned brown and she has a swollen lymph node in her neck. Could the tooth be a cause of this? (May 14, 2010)

Canine dental problems can cause a lot of discomfort and can affect the dog’s eating habits. It would be wise to take your dog to the vet for a check-up as this is not just a case of discolored teeth but also swollen lymph nodes. It is not uncommon for a dog to experience a swelling of the lymph nodes if she has a tooth infection or an abscess, so you should not be alarmed but it would be better if your vet gave thorough checkup for dog dental care.

A dog’s tooth generally turns brown if it is a dead tooth. A dead tooth is a tooth that has necrotic dental pulp or it is a tooth in which the dental pulp has been removed. The brown color can also be the result of tarter build-up. You also need to make sure if it is just this tooth that is discolored or if some of the other teeth are discolored as well. Brushing dog teeth on a regular basis is a must for dog teeth care as it keeps her teeth free of tarter and plaque. In addition to causing a swelling of the lymph nodes, gum disease in dogs can cause heart, liver and kidney ailments. Make sure that you brush your dog’s teeth gently as excessive pressure can damage the dog’s sensitive gums. As a general rule, smaller dogs have weaker enamel and bigger dogs have stronger enamel. This would mean that you would need to follow a relatively strict dental hygiene program if your dog belongs to one of the small dog breed. Your dog may need to go in for scaling in order to make sure that her teeth are free of all build-up.

You mentioned about swollen lymph nodes in dogs and this is probably the result of some sort of infection. The lymph nodes are part of the immune system and help to fight off infection and disease. The swelling of the lymph nodes is known as ‘Lymphadenitis' and is generally a temporary condition. When there is any sort of infection of a particular area of the body, the lymph nodes closest to it tend to get inflamed. Considering that your dog’s tooth has turned brown and that her lymph nodes are swollen, she probably has some sort of gum infection. However, you will need to take her to the vet for a thorough check-up as this will allow him/her to make an accurate diagnosis.