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Periodontal Disease in Dogs

The Simplest Guide to What is Periodontal Disease in Dogs?

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Is Periodontal Disease in Dogs harmful and can even kill them? 😨

Dental diseases are the most painful for humans, isn’t it? You immediately rush to your dentist when you have a slight pain in your tooth or gums. 

Your dog is no exception! 

Dental disease is one of the most common conditions found in dogs, and surprisingly they show no signs of it, making it extremely difficult to detect and cure. 

But lucky for everyone, Periodontal diseases in dogs are preventable. 

Most people are highly unaware of the disease. I’m going to address everything about: 

  • What periodontal infection is in dogs?
  • Its causes.
  • Why is it essential to get the proper treatment at the right time?
  • How to take care of dogs going through the pain? So that you don’t remain ignorant about it. 

By reading this blog post, You will be highly aware of the disease and its corrective measures without causing your pet to go through much pain. 

Let’s get started, Step by Step! 

What is Periodontal Disease in Dogs? 

What is Periodontal Disease in Dogs?
Picture Credits: DogTime.com

Periodontal Disease is one of the most common dental diseases amongst the canines. It is caused by tartar and dental plaque accumulation, which triggers an inflammation affecting the dogs’ teeth, gums, and bones. 

The results of a severe Periodontal Disease are gum infections, loss of bone, and other serious health problems such as loss of teeth if it is left untreated. 

This type of disease usually has four stages. 

  1. First Stage: The food and bacteria get accumulated along the gums that are not brushed away; later on, they develop into a plaque, and a more rigid shell of calculus called ‘Tartar’ that results in inflammation and irritation of the gums is an early stage of the gum disease. 
  1. In the second stage: The bond between the teeth and gums breaks down, which evolves into stage three, i.e., Advanced Periodontal Disease in Dogs. 
  1. In the final stage: The gum tissues move away from their position, and 50% of the attachment between the teeth and gums is lost. The roots can also be exposed. 

What are the symptoms of Periodontal Disease in Dogs? 

What are the symptoms of Periodontal Disease in Dogs?
Periodontitis does not have uncommon symptoms; most of the likely symptoms you can check out in your dog are 
  1. Discolored Teeth (Yellow or Brown) 
  1. The problem of Bad breath 
  1. Bleeding Gums
  1. Blood on their Chew toys or Water bowl
  1. Missing or dislocated teeth 
  1. Usually, Chewing from one side of the mouth. 
  1. Excessive drooling 
  1. Irritation 
  1. Loss of Weight 
  1. Reduction of Appetite 
  1. Problems swallowing the food 
  1. Blood in their Saliva 

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In the later stages of gum disease, your dog may experience chronic pain that mostly might tend to hide out due to instincts to avoid being vulnerable to predators. 

Periodontal disease effects are not limited to your dog’s mouth; instead, they will further lead to problems with specific organs and cause significant heart diseases. 

The bacteria enter the mouth, get into the bloodstream, and then attach themselves to arteries surrounding the heart. 

What are the causes of Periodontal Diseases in Dogs? 

What are the causes of Periodontal Diseases in Dogs?
Dental diseases start when the bacteria enter your dog’s mouth and develop into a’ Plaque’ substance that sticks to the teeth’s surface. 

The Minerals in the Saliva transform the plaque into a much harder dental calculus called Tartar that bonds with your teeth in two to three days. 

It’s not until your dog is three years old that the tartar begins its process of appearing and spreading out. 

As their immune system begins to battle this bacteria, bleeding gums and more disease symptoms become apparent. 

Every dog is likely to be affected by Periodontal diseases, but the smaller breeds like a Shih Tzu and a Pug show a much greater vulnerability. 

Picture Credits: PetMD

The reason being smaller teeth trap food particles very quickly, and the mixture of food and saliva causes the oral cavity. 

Poor nutrition and diet can also lead to the development of plaque and tartar, which eventually causes severe periodontal disease. Poor dog grooming techniques can also leave a dog vulnerable to the infection because your dog is constantly licking himself. 

The alignment of the teeth, unclean toys and oral hygiene can also be critical in determining gum diseases because a dog with crowded teeth is more affected by the bacteria. 

Also See:- Dog Diabetes: How To Deal With The Condition

Why is it essential to treat Periodontal Disease in Dogs? 

Why is it essential to treat Periodontal Disease in Dogs?
Each time your dog has a vet check-up, the visit includes a dental evaluation.

If your dog has an oral infection, The tartar above the gum line is often noticeable when you look inside your dog’s mouth. 

There might be specific behavioral changes your dog may experience, such as 

  1. Acting aggressively 
  2. Chewing differently 
  3. Smacking of gums 
  4. Reluctance to play with chew toys 
  5. No mood to brush their teeth 
  6. Not liking their lips or teeth touched. 

If you ignore the signs and symptoms and leave it untreated, Periodontal disease can have severe health complications on the dog’s mouth and the overall health of its body. Some of these health issues include the risk of organ damage, Eyesight issues, Jaw fractures, tooth diseases, and Mouth Cancer. 

Hence to avoid all these diseases, it is essential to have a dental check regularly and make sure your dog has excellent oral health. 

Why is the prevention of canine periodontal disease an ignored subject everywhere? 

Picture credits: Homes Alive Pets

The harsh truth is no one takes care of their pets as they should. They are like toddlers who need a lot of care and attention throughout the day because they cannot speak out if they have some kind of trouble. 

Dog owners often ignore dental symptoms because they feel it’s not something to be concerned about. But with good oral hygiene, periodontal disease is avoidable.. 

Periodontal disease in dogs is not reversible apart from the first stage, so prevention is always better than cure… 

Here are some of the excellent prevention steps 

  1. Brushing your dog’s teeth every day. 
  1. Check out their mouth for lousy breath, Redness, or any abnormalities. 
  1. Feeding exceptional food that helps to control tartar. 
  1. Regular dental check-ups by your VET. 

How to take care of a dog who’s suffering from Periodontal Disease? 

Your dog needs to see the VET at least once every six months for an oral health examination.

The great thing is Periodontal disease in dogs is treatable, and if it is detected early, it can also be reversible. You need to check out their dental health proactively and take them for regular checkups. 

You should shoot all your queries about taking care of your pet at home and how often should you get your pet for an oral check-up? 

Depending on the level of care your VET and you provide your dog, they also need other factors and treatments that have a fluctuating cost factor. 

Through a dental check-up, a VET may be able to see the signs and symptoms of periodontal diseases, such as red gums, tartar, and plaque. 

Periodontal disease in dogs is cured just as it’s fixed in humans simply with a complete cleaning and removal of tartar from the teeth. 

The safest way is by using anesthesia to clean above and below the dog’s gum line. It also allows the VET to examine the entire mouth for any other signs of oral infection that can be harmful to your pet. 

If they observe any signs, they will prescribe your dog antibiotics and painkillers. 

The basic idea is to take your dog for a medical check-up every six months. 

Even though dental diseases are not uncommon in dogs, they never have to be a problem for your pet. By taking care of them by following the basic precautionary measures and working with a VET, you can easily manage your dog’s oral health. 

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Conclusion

Look, Here’s the thing, If you take some fantastic precautions, you don’t need to worry about the dental diseases in your pets at all. 

Let me summarize the entire blog post so you don’t miss out on any vital information. 

Periodontal disease in dogs is one of the most common dental infections in dogs, The accumulation of tartar and plaque causes it. 

The small breed of dogs are usually more vulnerable and affected by it like 

  1. A Pug 
  2. Collie 
  3. Boxer 
  4. Chihuahua 
  5. Daschund 
  6. Yorkie 

The symptoms of the disease are as follows. 

  1. Broken or missing teeth 
  2. Inability to chew or bite 
  3. Bleeding gums 
  4. Pawing at their mouth 
  5. Behavior change 
  6. Failure to move their mouth 
  7. A Growth inside their mouth 
  8. Irritation 
  9. Weight loss 

The most significant results of the periodontal disease are 

  1. Change in the dog’s behavior 
  2. Acting aggressively 
  3. Smacking of gums 
  4. No mood to eat anything 

You can treat the disease in your dog by proactively checking up on them and regular VET Visits; It’s that simple! 

Also See:- 4 Things You Should Consider To Keep Your Dog Safe

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