The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 80 percent of dogs have oral disease by the age of 3. Although easily preventable, gum infection is the first stage of oral disease. Untreated oral disease can lead to tooth loss and systemic infection.
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History
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Dogs develop gum infections when their food produces film called plaque on their teeth near the gumline. Untreated plaque contains germs that attack both the gums and underlying bone.
Tartar Formation
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Your dog's saliva will deposit calcium salts on the new plaque, hardening it into tartar within a matter of days. Accumulated tartar requires removal with dental instruments.
Symptoms
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If bacteria-laden plaque and tartar extend beneath the gumline, they can infect the gum tissue. Infection symptoms include bleeding, inflammation, bad breath and, if untreated long enough, receding gums due to bone loss.
Treatment
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Treatment depends on the infection's severity and ranges from tooth cleaning and polishing for a mild infection to gingivectomy (removal of gum tissue) and tooth extraction. The dog probably will get a post-operative course of antibiotics.
Prevention/Solution
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Once your dog's teeth are clean and infection-free, brush them daily with toothpaste formulated for dogs. Replace soft canned food with a dry diet designed to reduce plaque formation.
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