Dog Dental Disease Symptoms and Care

Dental disease is one of the most common ailments among dogs. Astonishingly, 85% of dogs over the age of three will have some form of dental disease via tartar or gingivitis. The most common symptoms owners report include:

Bad Breath (halitosis)

Bleeding of the Gums

Display of blood on chew toys

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

Unwillingness to Eat

Excessive Drooling

Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food

Pain when mouth is opened

Enlargement of lymph nodes underneath the jaw

Swelling on the face underneath the eye

Bacteria from advanced dental disease can spread to other organs of the body such as the heart, kidneys and brain causing severe infection.

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.

There are some owners who choose not to have their dogs teeth removed. Instead, they prefer to visit a veterinary dental specialist to salvage a broken or infected tooth.

Preventing Canine Dental Disease

The best way to prevent tartar accumulation and gingivitis is with daily brushing. Use special toothpaste made only for dogs along with a soft toothbrush when brushing your dogs teeth. Do not use human toothpaste as it was not meant to be swallowed and foams too much. The video below contains a detailed description of how to brush your dogs teeth.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to write and share about her experience and knowledge about her job. She started an online classroom at Clivir.com where she provide more information about Dog Dental Disease Prevention and Demodectic Mange in Dogs.