Should You Consider Removing Your Aggressive Dog's Teeth?
Charlie Mitchell
Can Dental Disarming Stop a Dog from Biting?
A dog owner wrote in about her 12-month-old dog who bites her boyfriend. She wondered if having his teeth removed would stop the behavior, but she doesn't want to euthanize him because he can be good at times. She asked for help.
Why Dental Disarming Is Not a Viable Solution
Extracting or filing a dog's teeth, a procedure called dental disarming, is not a good solution and will not stop the dog from attacking. It only prevents puncturing the skin, but the aggression remains.
AVMA's Stance Against the Procedure
The Animal Welfare Committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) opposes this procedure. While some view it as an alternative to euthanasia, others consider it painful and inhumane.
The AVMA is against it not just because it is painful but because it does not address the problem, and the dog will still bite. Dogs that have their teeth filed down also often develop dental disease later. (1)
The American Veterinary Dental Council (AVDC) states that this is an alternative to putting a dog to sleep but must be done with full anesthesia, monitoring, and post-surgical pain control. Extracting the teeth is expensive and does not guarantee that the aggressive pet will not later cause injury. (2) They also list numerous health issues that can occur after this is done to a dog.
Training Your Dog Not to Bite
Instead of removing the teeth, the most important thing is to teach your dog to stop biting and reduce their aggression.
The 'Treat Toss' Method
If your dog only has this issue with one person, your boyfriend, this is fairly straightforward. Every time your dog is approached by him, all he has to do is toss the dog a very good treat, like a tiny piece of cooked chicken liver. He will want to toss this from a distance and allow the dog to approach him a little each time.
Over time, he can let the dog come right to him to take the treat from his hand; each time the dog sees the man, he will think, 'This is the guy that always gives me treats.' This method is used successfully even by postal workers and delivery drivers that dogs do not see often and usually distrust.
Behavioral Training for Biting
My concern is that your dog might end up biting someone else and not just your boyfriend, whom he sees all the time. For your dog to learn not to bite, behavioral changes are the most successful.
If you have not taken obedience lessons, that is the best way to teach a dog to stay under control. Your dog is still a puppy, and if he learns to listen to you, he might stop when you tell him 'no.'
Consult an Animal Behaviorist
If your boyfriend tries the suggestion with treats and the biting continues, or if your dog bites someone else despite obedience lessons with a good trainer, you need to talk with your local veterinarian and ask for a consultation with a local animal behaviorist that works with dogs.
When Is Dental Disarming Necessary?
If the behaviorist's suggestions are not helpful and you've already tried everything else, you may need to have the teeth removed as a last resort instead of putting your dog down.
The veterinarian will need to remove the canines, all the incisors, and even some premolar teeth. (Just filing down the teeth is not an effective means of diminishing the danger and is more likely to cause dental disease later.)
Your Dog Will No Longer Live a Normal Life
Your dog will be in pain for several weeks and will need pain meds. After this is done, he will no longer be able to chew on bones and live a normal 'dog life,' so please consider all other options before putting your dog through this.
Pulling a dog's teeth should be the absolute last option.
Sources
(1) AVMA: Removing, reducing teeth as treatment for canine aggression inappropriate. JAVMA News, January 15, 2005. s/javma/jan05/050115j.asp.
(2) AVDC Position Statement: Removal or reduction of teeth as a treatment for canine or feline aggression. Modified by the Board of Directors, October 2009..
This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2023 Mark dos Anjos, DVM
