Train the Dog Blog

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:

Bad Breath (halitosis)

Bleeding of the Gums

Blood on chew toys after a dog chews

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

Unwillingness to Eat

Drooling

Inability or difficulty in picking up or chewing hard food

Pain when the mouth is opened

Enlargement of lymph nodes underneath the jaw

Swelling under the eyes

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

Visiting Your Veterinarian – Diagnosis and Treatment

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.

To treat tartar buildup and gingivitis, your dog will need a professional veterinary cleaning. Performed as an outpatient procedure, it is simple and easy, 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.

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

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 Health Symptoms. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Dog Ringworm Symptoms.

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 Smelling Breath or Halitosis

Bleeding of the Gums

Blood on chew toys after a dog chews

As the progression of gingivitis and dental disease progress, other symptoms will appear. These include:

Unwillingness to Eat

Drooling from the Mouth

Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food

Pain when the mouth is opened

Enlargement of the lymph nodes under 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 Vet Visit – Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of dental disease is based on physical examination. By opening a dogs mouth and examining its teeth, it is easy to tell whether or not calculus and gingivitis are present. While calculus and gingivitis above the gum are easy to diagnose, tartar accumulation and infection below the gum line cannot be diagnosed with a physical examination. They are usually diagnosed with x-rays of the jaw. Normally this is done during treatment because it requires general 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 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.

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 Canine 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 Health Problems. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Dog Ringworm Diagnosis.