Dental hygiene is important for dogs, just as it is for humans. Neglecting your dog's teeth can lead to canine gum disease, which has consequences far beyond simple tooth pain. If left untreated, canine gum disease can lead to infections that damage vital organs like the kidneys, liver and heart.
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Facts
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Formally known as periodontal disease, canine gum disease affects the tissues that attach the teeth to the jawbones. When dogs eat, food particles get wedged between the teeth and gums. Bacteria will gather around these neglected food particles and form plaque. Eventually, this plaque will turn into tartar, which is far more difficult to remove. If allowed to fester, the tartar will continue to collect bacteria, leading to gingivitis, or an inflammation of the gums. From there, the next step is tooth loss and possible infection.
Causes
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Since canine gum disease develops slowly over time, it is far more common in older dogs. Diet also plays an important role. Unlike soft, canned foods, dry foods can serve to effectively scrub the teeth and work free plaque and tartar.
Smaller dogs run a greater risk of developing gum disease. This is due to their teeth being closely packed together, meaning it's more difficult to remove any trapped food particles.
Symptoms
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Dogs suffering from gum disease will tend to drool and paw at their mouths. Bad breath is another telltale sign.
Identification
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While a simple oral examination can identify possible gum disease, veterinarians will likely need to anesthetize the dog in order to conduct a proper inspection. Vets will also employ a tool called a periodontal probe to measure the depth of the gingival sulcus, which is the space between the tooth and gum. A measurement will be taken at four spots around each tooth, with the ideal distance being between 1 and 3 mm. The vet will also look for evidence of receding gums.
Treatment
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Canine gum disease is classified according to severity into one of four grades, with Grade 4 being the most serious. Treatment varies depending on the respective grade. Grades 1 and 2 are generally treated with a simple teeth cleaning, where the tartar is manually scraped away. Grades 3 and 4, on the other hand, can require such significant treatments as root planing (removing tartar from the root surface), subgingival curettage (removing tartar from below the gum line), and possible tooth extraction.
Prevention/Solution
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The best way to prevent canine gum disease is with routine brushing and regular trips to the vet.
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