Dog Teeth Problems That Cause Eating Problems

The American Veterinary Dental Society states that over 80 percent of dogs will develop gum disease by the time they are 3 years old. Gum disease, broken teeth, abnormal bite and tumors are all painful dental problems for dogs. These dental conditions cause dogs to have trouble eating solid foods due to gum and tooth pain, often dropping food while trying to eat. When the gum infections spread to the bloodstream, it also can cause organ damage.

  1. Periodontal Disease

    • A periodontal disease, known as gingivitis, causes inflammation of the dog̵7;s gums and is the most common mouth problem found in dogs. A bacterium builds up in the dog̵7;s mouth, attacking gum tissue. The bacteria cause plaque to form on the teeth and below the gum line. The plaque turns into a hard tartar, causing the dog̵7;s gums to recede and expose the nerves. Chewing becomes very painful once the gums recede. Indications of periodontal disease in dogs are fishy smelling breath, weight loss, loose teeth, swollen gums, bleeding gums and tooth loss.

    Broken Teeth

    • Gnawing on hard sticks can cause tooth fractures in dogs.

      Dogs break teeth from gnawing on bones, especially weight-bearing bones like beef marrow bones. Dogs also break teeth from chewing cow hooves, plastic bones, large rawhide bones and sticks. A broken tooth exposes the pulp of the tooth, which includes the nerve endings. A fractured tooth causes extreme pain to the dog, which prevents him from being able to eat. Veterinarians repair fractured teeth by crowning the tooth or extracting the tooth and replacing it with a bridge.

    Tumors

    • Dogs often develop tumors in their throats and mouths. Malignant tumors form ulcerated growths, sores and swollen gums that inhibit the dog̵7;s ability to chew and swallow. Many times, the tumors are located both in the gums and the throat. Oral surgery is needed to remove tumors from the dog̵7;s mouth.

    Abnormal Bite

    • Crooked teeth make it difficult for the dog to eat because the teeth do not line up properly. While chewing, an abnormal bite causes the top and bottom teeth to bump against each other, causing pain. It makes eating very difficult and sometimes impossible for the dog, especially when chewing dry dog foods.