Dog Dental Disease Symptoms and Care
It is very common for any dog over the age of three to have some form of dental disease such as tartar or gingivitis. In fact, statistics state 85%. This is why dental disease is one of the most common canine afflictions. The most common symptoms include:
Halitosis or Bad Breath
Bleeding gums
Display of blood on chew toys
As the progression of gingivitis and dental disease progress, other symptoms will appear. These include:
Not wanting to eat
Excessive Drooling
Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food
Discomfort when opening mouth
Enlargement of the 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 Veterinary Visit ” Diagnosis and Treatment of Dental Disease
Generally, a physical examination performed by your veterinarian can determine if your dog has dental disease. All that is needed is a thorough view of the inside of the mouth and teeth. However, tartar below the gum line cannot be seen by the naked eye. For this, your veterinarian will require X-rays. This procedure will require your dog to undergo general anesthesia. This is typically performed during the treatment process as both require anesthetic.
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.
Under sedation, the veterinarian will clean and polish your dogs teeth both above and below the gum line. This is done in exactly the same manner a human dentist cleans and polishes peoples teeth.
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.
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
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 Treatment and Demodectic Mange in Dogs.
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