Dog Dental Disease Symptoms and Care

Dental disease is one of the most common problems that dogs have. Up to 85% of dogs over the age of three years usually have some degree of tartar and gingivitis. The symptoms that owners notice most frequently include:

Halitosis or Bad Breath

Bleeding of the Gums

Blood left behind on chew toys

As gingivitis and dental disease become more severe, other symptoms may appear. These include:

Denying to Eat

Excessive Drooling

Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food

Pain when the mouth is opened

Enlargement of lymph nodes underneath the jaw

Swelling under the eyes

With advanced dental disease; it is possible for bacteria from the mouth to spread to other organs and cause infections. Organs which may be affected include the heart, kidneys, and brain.

The Veterinary Visit ” Diagnosis and Treatment of Dental Disease

A general physical examination can tell a veterinarian if your dog has dental disease. The procedure is simple consisting of a simple viewing of the mouth, gums and teeth. However, tartar below the gum line cannot be seen so an x-ray will need to be taken. This procedure is generally performed during treatment as they both require anesthesia.

The most effective way to treat tartar accumulation and gingivitis is with a professional veterinary cleaning. This procedure is usually a one day, outpatient procedure, but does require general anesthetic.

While under sedation, a dog’s teeth are cleaned and polished both above and below the gum line much like a human dentist does for people.

When severe dental disease is present, a veterinarian will perform x-rays while the dog is under sedation in order to check for severe infection or abscesses. This allows the veterinarian to determine if a tooth or teeth must be pulled. In most cases, dogs do very well after tooth extraction and can still enjoy solid food.

Many owners opt not to have their dogs teeth removed. Instead, they choose to visit a veterinary dental specialist where root canals and other procedures can be performed.

Dog Dental Disease Prevention

Brushing your dogs teeth is the best and most effective way to prevent dental disease. Always use a soft brush and toothpaste made especially for your dogs. It is important to note not to use human toothpaste as it was not meant to be swallowed and it tends to foam too much. Below you will find a detailed video on how to brush your dogs teeth.

Tagged with: Dog Health

Filed under: Dog Health

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