How to Treat Dental Problems in Dogs

Keeping your dog’s mouth and dog’s teeth healthy is essential. Dental care for dogs is as critical as for humans. Pet owners should follow a dental cleaning routine to maintain the oral hygiene of dogs. Regular brushing and appropriate care for your dog’s gum line and tooth root protects it from any dental disease in your dog.

Veterinary dentistry plays a vital role in maintaining your dog’s oral health. Let’s also discuss how regular dental cleaning and checkups can help you keep the dental health of your dogs. Dental problems have a possibility to lead to some behavioral issues among dogs. That’s why it is vital to take care of oral hygiene and also treat any problems in time.

Responsible pet owners must make a schedule for dental cleanings taking the dogs to pet dentists. In this article, let’s go through some critical care tips for your dog’s teeth.

What Are the Common Signs of Dental Problems in Dogs?

Identifying any oral and dental problems that your pet may be having is quintessential along with regular attention and care. Some fundamental dental issues may be caused by plaque and tartar. However, your dog’s oral health should be on priority for you, as it affects its immune system.

Dental problems in dogs vary from bad breath to severe inflammation of the gums. However, making out the signs of gum disease or any other issues is crucial. Here are some tips for identifying the signs of dental problems among dogs:

• Difficulty picking up food

Does your dog face difficulties picking up food? Dog’s mouth may need a thorough examination through a pet dentist to diagnose the exact issue.

• Loose teeth

If your dog has loose teeth, it may be an early to intermediate stage of periodontal disease in dogs. Contact your veterinary dentistry specialist immediately.

• Bad breath

If your dog creates an abnormally bad odor while breathing, it may be a sign of teeth and gums infection or other dental issues. Your veterinary dental specialist would treat this issue by diagnosing the root cause of the problem.

• Bleeding gums or bleeding on chew toys

Bleeding gums or bleeding seen on chew toys indicates the initial stage of periodontal disease in dogs. Dog’s mouth requires better care and treatment from a pet dentist to overcome this issue.

• Noise while eating or yawning

If you notice some noise when the dog eats or yawns, it indicates some or other dental disease needing immediate medical attention.

What is Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease in Dogs?

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a common dental issue among dogs. A bacterial infection in the dog’s mouth causes periodontal disease. The bacteria in the dog’s mouth damage its gums, bones, and the surrounding supporting structure of the dog’s teeth.

Some studies indicate that the smaller toy breeds and dog breeds with shorter snouts are prone to gum disease. Significantly, the signs of gum disease vary from dog to dog. Some dogs show the symptoms of bleeding gums, loose teeth, or other issues due to the infection in teeth and gums. However, some dog’s teeth need thorough examination, including x-rays

Periodontal disease in dogs develops even at the dog’s age of two years. The progressing issue can be divided into four stages. The signs of periodontal disease in dogs should be noticed at an early stage. That helps in treating this issue at the right time before it would be too late. Contact your vet in case you find bleeding gums or missing teeth.

A pro veterinarian can administer anesthesia and take x-rays of the dog’s mouth to determine the deterioration of gums and teeth. Veterinary dentistry has remedies and treatments to overcome gum disease in dogs. Dog owners need to recognize the signs and contact a pet dentist for advanced diagnosis and treatment.

How Can You Prevent a Dog’s Oral and Dental Problems?

The oral hygiene of your dogs is closely connected with their oral health. Therefore, dental cleanings must be a part of your dog’s dental care routine. Most canine dental problems start due to a lack of regular cleaning.

• Regular brushing of teeth

Whenever you notice any tooth infection symptoms, including plaque and tartar, make sure you continue brushing your dog’s teeth daily. Regular brushing and cleaning help to prevent gum disease in dogs up to a great extent. Problems don’t occur with teeth brushed regularly.

• Best quality dog food

The quality of dog food you provide also influences the dental health of the dog. Sometimes, low quality dog food may cause issues like plaque and tartar around the tooth or tooth decay.

• Safe Toys and Treats

The chew toys and treats you provide your dog should be safe enough. The toys and treats should not cause any dental problems due to their harsh ingredients or uneven surfaces.

Taking these significant precautions helps you prevent gum disease or any other problems with the teeth and gums of your dog.

Why Are Regular Dental Checkups Necessary?

Regular dental checkups at a pet dentist’s clinic not only protect from periodontal disease in dogs but also from several other canine dental problems. The professional vet would have the expertise and equipment to administer general anesthesia to examine the dog’s teeth thoroughly.

Regular dental checkups help diagnose any issues before your dog has an increased risk. The vet initiates the treatment at the right stage to avoid further damage. Any disease may worsen if you don’t grasp the symptoms. Take your dog to a pet dentist for a checkup as soon as you can.

A vet helps keep your dogs healthy in all respects. Any health issues related to your dog’s mouth may lead to severe problems if you don’t get the much-needed expert advice and medical attention. Therefore, regular dental checkups through a vet are a must.

How Do Vets Treat Dental Problems in Dogs?

Veterinary dentistry involves various techniques to minimize pain and add comfort to pets by eliminating their dental issues. Professional pet dentists would be well-versed in multiple advanced treatments, such as:

• Cleaning

Veterinarians undertake advanced methods and treatment equipment to remove plaque and tartar, which are bacteria from your dog’s teeth. Regular cleaning helps keep the dog’s teeth healthy. Cavities are not commonly seen among dogs. However, there are many other symptoms, like gingivitis, that might be noticed by the pro pet dentist during the cleaning treatment.

• Adjustment

In some dental issues or irregularities, veterinary dentistry specialists may need to undertake some minor adjustments in your dog’s teeth. They carry out such adjustments using specialized dental surgical tools. Some adjustment might be needed to the bone, forming the support structure for a dog’s teeth. Apart from that, the adjustment may be a part of a treatment to repair irregularities.

• Filing

Sometimes, it is necessary to remove the excess portion of the tooth, causing a blockage or pain in the dog’s mouth. Pet dentists use filing tools and techniques to remove the problematic part.

• Extraction

If a dog’s tooth or teeth are to be removed to overcome pain due to tooth decay or any other issue, vets administer anesthesia and remove the problematic teeth using special tools and techniques. Removal of teeth is technically known as extraction.

• Repair

Veterinary dentistry has some advanced techniques to repair the damage to your dog’s teeth. The repairs include treatment for broken or fractured teeth of the dogs.

How Can You Find a Pet Dentist Near You?

After going through the crucial points related to a dog’s oral and dental health, you must be eager to know the easiest way to find a pet dentist near you. You can simply log on to our platform, https://greatvet.com, and find the best-rated veterinarians in your area.

We offer the list of best-rated vets in a particular city or metro area. You can narrow down your search by choosing the specialties filter provided on your left-hand side. You can click on the pet dentist option to get profiles, and contact details of vets specialized in veterinary dentistry in your area (Feature Coming Soon).

The Takeaway

The article covers canine dental problems, their signs, the importance of regular dental checkups, dog dental treatments, and the best way to find the best dentist near you. 

We hope that the article lets you know about possible issues like gum disease and helps you recognize these issues at an early stage. Take advantage of our platform to look for the best vets specialized in veterinary dentistry in your area and take your dogs to pro vets.

Go through our following blog for more tips on dental care for dogs:

Dog Dental Health Facts To Know For Pet Owners