Dental pain and disease is just as miserable for cats and dogs
as it is for people. Possibly, itโs worse, but itโs not just a
matter of relieving discomfort, preventing and treating
periodontal disease in pets is an
extremely important part of maintaining your petโs overall
health since gum disease can contribute to other systemic
diseases. These essential facts help to ensure you are aware of
what you need to know about oral hygiene and managing
periodontal disease.
1. Neglect Is a Factor in Periodontal Disease
Itโs estimated that two-thirds of dog and cat owners do not
regularly care of their petsโ teeth at home. Itโs unfortunate,
because periodontal disease can be prevented or at least
managed more easily by adhering to a daily brushing routine
that takes just a few seconds. Using a finger brush to clean
bacteria off the surface of the teeth and a toothbrush to clean
the gum line, can keep plaque from building up. Regular
oral checkups and the use of chew treats can also help keep
your petโs gums and teeth healthy.
2. Daily Cleaning Can Make a Difference
Dedicate less than 30 second per day to cleaning teeth, paying
special attention to the gum line. The first step is to have
the right tools. Never use fluoride toothpaste or baking soda
on a petโs teeth. Instead, look for a pet toothpaste that has
anti-plaque ingredients . People toothpaste is dangerous for
pets, because fluoride can cause heavy-metal toxicity and
gastrointestinal problems for cats and dogs.
3. Chewing Helps
Chewing promotes good oral health. Giving your pet chew treats
that promote the release of saliva can help boost oral health
because saliva actually washes away the bacteria that might
otherwise develop into plaque. Ask your veterinarian to
recommend chew treats that are appropriate for your pet since
not all brands are made equally and not all help stave off
periodontal disease.
4. Itโs Easy to Miss the Signs of Dental Disease
Symptoms of periodontal disease
may appear slowly and may not be obvious. In fact, your pet may
show no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Part of
the reason is that animals tend to mask pain (the first symptom
that occurs with periodontal disease). Another symptom, bad
breath, is often mistakenly thought to be โnormalโ in pets.
Other common signs of a dental problem such as loss of appetite
or inactivity are sometimes (at least initially) thought to be
typical of older dogs or โpassingโ symptoms of a minor
condition. Have your veterinarian check your petโs teeth and
gums regularly to truly rule out periodontal disease as a cause
of these symptoms.
5. Be Aware of Risks for Diabetes, Heart Disease, Kidney and
Liver Problems
Research shows that dental disease can impact the brain, heart,
liver, kidney, lungs, skin, and joints. It also seems to have
an impact on controlling diabetes. One reason is because
periodontal disease can cause chronic inflammation and stress,
both of which cause insulin resistance, a factor leading to
diabetes and other health problems. If you suspect that the
cause is liver related, ask your vet about Denamarin for dogs.
Dog Abscess Tooth Causes: Infection and Periodontal Disease
Tooth pain is never easy. Not for humans. Not for pets. Since
dogs canโt tell you right away that their mouth hurts, a minor
problem could turn into something severe. Thatโs why itโs very
important to pay attention to signs that your dog has oral
pain. This way, you can catch problems such as an abscessed
tooth early and get your dog the right treatment before dental
problems impact their health and quality of life.
Signs Your Dog Has an Abscessed tooth
An abscess is a collection of pus that builds up near the site
of an infection. If you look inside your dogโs mouth when your
pet has a tooth abscess youโll see swelling and redness around
the gums alongside the affected tooth. The more pus that
accumulates the more swollen and tender the area around this
tooth can become. Of course, you may not be in the habit of
regularly looking inside your dogโs mouth for an abscess, which
means you need to be aware of other symptoms of an
infection.
A dog with a tooth abscess may show the following signs:
- Only chewing on one side or avoiding chewing unless
necessary to eat (not playing with tug or chew toys, etc.)
- Dropping food while chewing (because the pain makes your
dog stop biting suddenly)
- Pulling away when you touch the snout or head
-
Halitosis or bad breath
- Scratching the side of the face with the affected tooth
- Swelling around the eye, which can look like an eye
infection
- Inflammation around the affected tooth that is hot to the
touch
What Causes a Dogโs Abscess Tooth
Tooth root abscesses most commonly affect the upper carnassial
tooth, the largest tooth in a dog's mouth. As dogs age, they
are at risk for fracturing this tooth, often from trauma such
as biting on something extremely firm (bones, stones, cage
bars, fences, too-hard treats) or being struck in the mouth.
When a piece of the upper carnassial tooth -- or any other
tooth -- breaks away, itโs easy for bacteria to get into the
root and other sensitive areas of the tooth. This can lead to
an infection, which causes white blood cells rush to the area
to fight the infection and expel dead tissue. The accumulation
of white blood cells creates a pocket of pus, which is called
an abscess.
Other types of tooth abscesses, including those that form under
the gum line, can be caused by periodontal disease.
Treatment of Tooth Abscesses
Left untreated, an abscess could lead to a serious eye
infection, widespread tooth loss, and health problems that can accompany periodontal
disease such as bone loss and damage to major organs.
As soon as possible, your dog should begin antibiotics and an
anti-inflammatory. These medications will alleviate some of the
swelling and soreness, but the tooth will either need a root
canal or will need to be removed to fix the underlying
issues.
If the abscess is affecting the upper carnassial tooth, your
dog will almost certainly need to have the tooth extracted
since that large tooth has three roots and root canal is very
complicated.
You will need to consider cost and your dogโs overall health
before choosing between an extraction and root canal. Keep in
mind that, usually, dogs can manage perfectly fine without a
specific tooth โ even the large upper carnassial tooth (which
is more important to canines living in the wild than for dogs
with a domestic diet).
Prevention
As dogs age, you may want to take steps to lower the risk of
tooth breakage by restricting your petโs diet to softer treats
and offering play things that are easy on older jaws.
Proper brushing and a
routine of good oral
care can also help avoid canine periodontal disease,
which will protect your dog from abscesses and other dental
problems.
This information is for
informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute
for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by,
your veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however,
been verified by a licensed veterinarian for
accuracy.
