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
Display of blood on chew toys
As the progression of gingivitis and dental disease progress and become more severe, other symptoms will surface. These include:
Unwillingness to Eat
Excessive Drooling
Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food
Discomfort when opening mouth
Enlarged lymph nodes under the jaw
Swelling on the face underneath the eye
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 Vet Visit - Diagnosis and Treatment
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 best way to treat gingivitis and tartar accumulation is with a professional veterinary cleaning. This procedure is usually an outpatient procedure that is done in the veterinary office. It requires general anesthesia.
While a dog is under anesthesia, the teeth are cleaned and polished in the same manner that a human dentist cleans and polishes peoples teeth. The teeth are cleaned both above and below the gum line.
If severe dental disease and gingivitis are present, x-rays of the teeth and jaws should be taken while the dog is under anesthesia to have its teeth cleaned. This allows assessment of the health of the jawbone and root of the tooth and helps in preparing a treatment plan. In some cases, where there is an abscess or severe infection under or around the tooth root, a tooth may need to be pulled. X-rays of the jaw allow the veterinarian to decide which teeth may or may not need to be pulled. Most dogs do very well after having teeth pulled. A great many of them can even continue to eat dry food after losing a large number of teeth.
In some cases, owners may wish to not have teeth pulled. In this case, it is wise to see a board certified veterinary dentist. Root canals and other procedures may be done which might salvage a broken or infected tooth.
Preventing Dog Dental Disease
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.
Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge about Dog Illness Diagnosis. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Ringworm in Dogs.
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