TL;DR: Double canine teeth occur when adult fangs erupt before baby teeth fall out, requiring a scheduled veterinary visit to prevent future dental pain or disease. High-quality photos allow your vet to determine if the extra tooth needs immediate extraction or can wait until your kitten's spay or neuter surgery.
What does it mean if my kitten has two canine teeth on the same side?
If you see two fangs on one side of your cat's mouth, you are likely looking at persistent deciduous teeth. This happens when the adult canine tooth erupts from the gum line before the baby tooth has fallen out. Instead of the baby tooth being pushed out, the two teeth sit side-by-side, which is common in kittens between 4 and 7 months old.
Should I take my cat to the emergency vet for double canine teeth?
The urgency level for this condition is Low. While it is not an immediate medical emergency, it does require a scheduled veterinary visit. If left untreated, the extra tooth can lead to the following complications:
- Overcrowding in the mouth
- Trapped food debris
- Early-onset periodontal disease
- Adult teeth growing at an incorrect angle
- Pain or injury to the roof of the mouth
How does sending a photo help a vet triage my cat's dental issue?
Taking a clear photo of your cat's teeth allows a veterinary professional to see the exact positioning of the redundant teeth. This visual information helps us determine:
- If there is active gum inflammation
- If the adult tooth is being displaced
- Whether the extraction can wait until your cat's spay or neuter surgery
- If the tooth needs to be addressed sooner to prevent dental complications
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
In cats, persistent deciduous teeth, particularly canines, are commonly observed when the permanent tooth erupts in an abnormal position, or fails to erupt, preventing normal exfoliation of the deciduous tooth. This results in two canine teeth being present simultaneously: the permanent maxillary canine erupts rostral to the deciduous one, while the permanent mandibular canine erupts lingual to the deciduous one. Persistent deciduous teeth can cause crowding and predispose the area to periodontitis, and the displaced permanent tooth can result in traumatic occlusion. A deciduous tooth should be extracted if it remains firmly attached after the permanent tooth has erupted; however, if there is no permanent tooth replacement, the deciduous tooth may be left in place if the roots are strong, verified by radiographs to rule out embedded or impacted permanent teeth.
Chapter: Dentistry
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 183)