What could cause an adult male dogs teeth to fall out/wear off

We found a dog today who looks pretty young. His other teeth are ok, but his front teeth, top and bottom between the canines look like some have fallen out and it almost looks like someone took a grinder to them--What could have caused this? We don't want to put up signs to find his family if he's being abused-is there any kind of disorder or anything he could be doing himself to literally wear his teeth off??

Please take him into your veterinarian as soon as possible for a thorough check up. I do not know of any condition that would cause the incisors to wear down that way under normal circumstances... and depending on how far down they are, it must be excruciating to the dog.

Many dogs and cats do develop periodontal disease which can cause teeth to become loose, cracked, and even fall out, but it is the premolars and molars who are affected first. Dogs chew with their back teeth, not the incisors between the canines, so I highly doubt this is simply from chewing on toys.

A thorough physical exam will help to ditermine if this is an abuse case. Ask for a fecal exam, dental, and skin check as well. This will help to detirmine if the dog has internal parasites like worms, or external parasites like mites and lice which are common in dogs who have been neglected. A blood test may help to pinpoint any diseases, but precautionary vaccinations would be best to have done.

If this turns out to be an abuse case or case of neglect, I would probably keep the dog or find it a good home after a two week period, if no signs or notices for a lost dog are put up by the owners. If abuse is ruled out by the vet, ask your vet and other local veterinarians to put up flyers in their offices, and contact local humane groups and animal control to alert them to the fact you've taken in a lost dog and if the owner should call to please direct him or her to you.