3087. A 13-year-old Jack Russell has a right facial swelling - carnassial tooth abscess

Facial swelling below the right eye, 5 cm x 5 cm x 3 cm
Slight pain on palpation. Black spot seen between the crown spaces of right carnassial. Bad breath. Dog disliked showing it and would bite if I continued.
   
Could it be a tumour or cyst or carnassial tooth abscess?
Dog not happy to be X-rayed another view after lateral views.
X-rays as follows shows the roots of the right carnassial tooth are black instead of white. This indicated bone loss around the roots, confirming this is a case of carnassial tooth abscess.

Treatment is by extraction of the carnassial tooth under anaesthesia. The dog recovered fully after the dental surgery.