What Are the Dangers of Poor Oral Hygiene in Dogs?

Good oral hygiene is essential to your dog's health and well-being. To maintain healthy teeth, your dog needs proper dental care on a daily basis. Not brushing your dog's teeth can trigger the development of periodontal disease, which can affect his quality of life. To prevent serious problems, dog owners must recognize and treat the signs of periodontal disease early on.

  1. The Beginning of Periodontal Disease

    • Just like human teeth, dog teeth are prone to plague formation. This white film that forms along your dog's gums is caused by an accumulation of bacteria and food particles. Plaque can be seen as a warning sign that indicates that your dog needs oral care. It can be removed and prevented by brushing your dog's teeth daily, and by feeding him dry, hard food. Dental toys can also be used to remove plague.

    Early Stage of Periodontal Disease

    • Plaque that remains on your dog's teeth can turn into tartar when it combines with minerals in your dog's saliva. According to Pet Education, this process can take as little as three days. Tarter, also known as calculus, irritates, inflames and infects the gums. This condition, referred to as gingivitis, commonly causes bad breath. In its latter stages, gingivitis can cause pain while chewing and a loss of appetite. Treatment of gingivitis includes a professional cleaning, scaling and polishing of your dog's teeth, followed by a consistent home oral care regimen.

    Moderate Periodontal Disease

    • Untreated gingivitis can lead to moderate periodontal disease, which can cause irreversible loss of the bones surrounding the teeth. As bacteria continues to grow, the gums easily bleed, pus and abscesses may appear in the mouth, and the teeth can loosen. Your pet companion may be in a lot of pain and may have difficulty eating. To assess the severity of periodontal disease and to determine the proper treatment, your veterinarian will examine your dog by performing dental radiology and probing.

    Severe Periodontal Disease

    • The latter stages of periodontal disease are characterized by pain, bleeding and detached gums, loss of teeth, bad breath, and pus around the teeth. The infection in your dog's mouth can spread through his body and attack his organs. His heart valves, kidneys and liver may get infected, which can ultimately be fatal. After assessing the severity of the disease, the veterinarian can perform various dental surgeries or extract the affected teeth.