When bacteria in a dog's mouth lead to plaque, the plaque can turn into tartar and inflammation can result. This gum disease can be mild but can also progress into a severe condition. Veterinary treatment is often necessary, but less drastic alternatives are also available.
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Severity
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The treatment differs depending on the severity of a dog's symptoms, which can range from slight redness and plaque to very inflamed gums, extensive tartar buildup and bone loss.
Dental Cleaning
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The traditional treatment for mild gum disease is a dental cleaning by a veterinarian, removing plaque and tartar using a process similar to a dental cleaning in a person. The dog is placed under general anesthesia for the procedure.
Severe Cases
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More involved dental procedures such as gingivectomy, or removal of excess gum tissue, and tooth extraction may be required in more severe cases.
Medication
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Oral antibiotics such as clindamycin or cefadroxil may be required for up to two weeks after dental cleaning to prevent infection.
Alternative Treatment
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Some veterinarians and other animal health practitioners have reported that application of sangre de drago, the sap of a tree in the Amazon rain forest, can remove plaque and tartar and relieve gum inflammation in dogs. In some cases this treatment makes vet care unnecessary, in others it reduces the severity of the treatment required.
Maintenance
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To maintain dental health once the condition has been relieved, dog owners can regularly brush their dog's teeth, feed raw bones, and regularly apply sangre de drago or one of several veterinarian-supplied substances to the dog's teeth and gums.
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