Most pet owners are unaware of the risks and possible complications once their dog develops gum disease. Gum disease in dogs can be crucial since it will significantly affect their overall health. According to studies, dogs with gum disease have a higher chance of having organ failures. Vets recommend that they be examined once in a while to keep their health in check. Click here to see the dental procedure for gum disease treatment.
Understanding Gum Disease in Dogs
Periodontal disease occurs in dogs because of the bacterial infection caused by improper oral hygiene or little to no dental cleaning procedures. Oftentimes, this condition is not diagnosed promptly most especially if the dog does not have regular visits to the vet. It is usually noticed once the condition is at its final stage and the symptoms are starting to get recognizable. Bad breath is one of the most common symptoms that pet owners commonly neglect, once you notice that the odor of the breath of your dogs becomes unusual, take it as a sign that an underlying condition is about to emerge.
However, regular dental cleaning, proper oral hygiene at home, and feeding them with dog treats and chews will have a great impact on their dental health. It can reduce the risk of gum disease and save them from the unpleasant experience of going through medication due to its negative side effects.
Causes of Canine Periodontal Disease
Gum disease has four different stages, once plaque starts to find its way into your dog’s mouth, it will gradually develop until it becomes severe. The plaque will firstly cause a mild inflammation until it turns into gingivitis, if left untreated, the condition will get worse and your dog might end up having periodontal disease.
Plaque results in bacteria build-up which then forces the dog’s immune system to fight off, this will eventually end in inflammation. When the inflammation begins, calculus (hardened plaque) will continue developing which will result in receding gums. Because of this, small pockets or holes will start to emerge giving way for more bacteria build-up. This will cause the tissue and bone to deteriorate which then leads to tooth loss.
The advancement of the gum disease typically depends on the dog, some of them develop the periodontal disease in their early years while others acquire this when they reach old age. Dogs with underlying conditions and a weak immune system are more prone to infections too, they have a lower chance of fighting off bacteria, sadly, most dogs with weak immune system has a shorter life span as well.
Signs And Symptoms
Most symptoms are not easily noticed especially in the first few stages. This is the reason why it’s important for pet owners to check their dog’s gums and teeth regularly. If anything unusual occurs, visit their vet immediately.
Gum disease initially begins with a tooth and gradually infects nearby gums and teeth. The gingivitis would often start at this point but the teeth will not be showing signs of recession just yet.
As the disease keeps on progressing, the teeth will start to pull away from the gums over time, at this stage, 25% of the teeth have been infected already. It will then proceed to grow so long as the disease is not being treated.
The most unpleasant part is when the gum disease has progressed into advanced periodontal disease, at this stage, a huge of the gums and teeth have already been infected, and the gum recession will be very much noticeable.
Listed below are the most common signs and symptoms of gum disease in dogs:
- Bad breath
- Can’t eat properly or having trouble picking up foods
- Red or bleeding gums
- Blood spots on water or toys
- Making odd noises when yawning
- Some lumps in the mouth
- Bloody saliva
- Does not want to be touched, especially in the head
- Chewing by using one side of the mouth only
- Frequent sneezing
Complications Of Gum Disease
Other complications will start to emerge if the condition is not treated right away. This should bother you as a dog owner because this will put their life at risk if the situation gets out of hand. As mentioned, neglected periodontal disease does not only affect their dental health but their overall health as well. Below are some of the corresponding dangers following periodontal disease:
- It weakens their immunity. When this takes place, they will be more prone to infection and other diseases.
- It puts them at risk of heart disease.
- If they have diabetes, it makes the condition even worse.
- Organ failure might happen as well.
- It gives them pain that you might not even notice.
- It leads to a broken jaw, or worse, tooth loss.
Best Treatments for Dogs
Thankfully, the modern medical methods for treating gum disease in dogs is advancing time after time. The dental treatment that will receive will depend on which stage of the periodontal disease they are in. Initially, this will start with a thorough dental examination and X-rays to check the severity of the disease.
To prevent the spread of bacteria, your dog might be prescribed antibiotics while they are under dental treatment. For mild cases where gum recession is still not taking place, a dental cleaning can typically do the trick. The plaque and calculus will be removed from their teeth by using a device called the ultrasonic scaler, after the removal, the vet will polish their teeth to make sure that bacteria will not have any place to attach themselves to.
Furthermore, when the recession has finally emerged, additional dental treatments will be needed after a dental cleaning. For this case, the vet will choose the best type of treatment for your dog according to their condition. Some of it includes root planing and subgingival curettage, gingivectomy, and extraction.
Preventing Gum Disease
Like this dental team advises for human patients, the best way to fight off gum disease in dogs is by preventing it from happening. Just like humans, they also need proper oral hygiene and teeth cleaning. Your vet may be able to help you in many ways but you as a pet owner have a responsibility to take care of them. You might want to check out these few tips to make sure that your dog’s oral health is at its best all the time:
- Take them to their regular vet visit. It is imperative that they visit their vet once in a while for a thorough dental examination. This will also help in determining any underlying conditions.
- Brush their teeth every day.
- Give them safe and good foods.
- Provide chewy toys and dog treats.
