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Name
Dental Disease, Canine
Short Description
Gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth root abscess
Affected Animals: Any sex or breed can be affected. Young dogs are
more likely to have traumatic injuries to the mouth or retained baby
teeth. Other dental diseases are seen in middle-aged to older dogs.
However, certain breeds such as poodles and yorkshire terriers, are
more likely to develop dental disease at an early age.
Overview:
Dogs often have problems with their teeth and
gums. Unable to brush and floss, they rely on their owners and
veterinarians to provide the care they need. Dogs that chew on hard
objects occasionally will suffer other forms of trauma that damage
teeth. Bad breath, infections, and pain severe enough to deter
eating are a few of the symptoms that can occur from dental disease.
Tooth loss and other more serious complications caused by severe
dental disease can be prevented. Dental assessment should be part of
every dog's annual physical examination by a veterinarian. The
examining veterinarian can recommend appropriate treatment and
maintenance of good oral hygiene. Veterinarians who specialize in
dentistry offer advanced training, equipment and treatment options
for dogs with complicated dental diseases.
Clinical Signs: Possible clinical signs include halitosis( bad
breath), plaque or calculus accumulation, gingivitis, gingival
recession, mobile teeth, discolored teeth, excessive drooling,
reluctance to chew hard food, abscesses, fistula formation, and
facial swelling.
Symptoms: Symptoms of dental disease can include bad
breath, plaque or tartar attached to the teeth, red and swollen gum
tissue, movement of gums away from the base of teeth, excessive
drooling, refusal of the dog to eat hard food or treats due to mouth
pain, pus around the gumline, a runny nose or sneezing, and swelling
along the face.
Description: Dogs have a lot of teeth:
twenty-eight deciduous, or puppy teeth, and 42 permanent teeth. A
dog's mouth needs attention and care to keep it healthy. In fact,
good dental care has become a vital part of maintaining overall
health for dogs. Because the bloodstream can carry bacteria from a
dental infection, other organs can be compromised, including the
heart valves and kidneys. Severe dental disease can be a serious
health threat.
Many diseases can occur in the oral cavity, but problems with the
teeth and gums are the most common and are addressed here. The main
problems noted are periodontal, endodontal and orthodontal. These
descriptive terms have to do with the part of the tooth that is
affected. Periodontal refers to the outer tooth, root and gingival
attachments. Diseases of the internal tooth structure are endodontal.
Orthodontic disease involves abnormal positioning of the teeth.
Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease of dogs and can
lead to infection and tooth loss if not controlled. The problem
begins with the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the surfaces of
the teeth that form at the gumline and can grow to cover an entire
tooth. The gum tissue reacts by becoming inflamed; this condition is
called gingivitis, and can be reversed with a thorough cleaning and
polishing by a veterinarian. If left untreated, deeper tissues will
become inflamed and result in damage to the gum tissues that support
the tooth. Tooth loss, abscess formation, and even bone infections
with draining tracts into the nasal cavity can occur.
The most common endodontic problem is a fractured tooth. Dogs
commonly chew rocks, catch Frisbees and perform other activities
with their mouths that can cause fractures, which can result in
severe pain if the fracture extends into the pulp cavity and exposes
the nerves of the tooth. Dogs exhibit pain by refusing to eat,
drooling, and pawing at their mouths. These dogs may need to be
referred to a veterinary dental specialist if the tooth can possibly
be salvaged.
Orthodontic problems commonly occur when dogs do not lose their
deciduous, or puppy teeth. Puppy teeth are designed to be pushed out
of their gingival attachments by the erupting permanent teeth; if
they do not fall out on their own, a veterinarian may need to
extract them to prevent misplacement of the adult teeth. Improper
tooth alignment also can result from trauma, tumors, or genetics.
Trauma and tumors require surgical correction. Cosmetic corrections
are also available, but are considered illegal in the dog showing
community.
Diagnosis: Following a complete history, the veterinarian
will perform a thorough oral examination as part of a full physical
examination. Some dogs may need to be sedated to allow a
veterinarian to examine the mouth adequately. A general assessment
is made in an awake dog, but more indepth information is gathered
with sedation or anesthesia.
Prognosis: Most dental disease can be improved greatly by
professional and at home care. Dogs with severe problems may require
multiple procedures. An increase in the number of veterinarians with
advanced training in dentistry and a board-certified specialty in
veterinary dentistry has added significantly to the list of options
available to owners and their dogs.
Transmission or Cause: Trauma, normal accumulation of plaque and tartar,
and absence of dental care can all contribute to dental disease.
Some dogs are genetically predisposed to develop dental disease
because of the way their oral cavities are formed.
Treatment:
Good quality diets and dental care provided by
the owner can help slow gingivitis and periodontal disease. Routine
dental care involves brushing the dog's teeth with a soft brush and
veterinary toothpaste. Human toothpaste contains detergents that
will cause gastrointestinal upset and vomiting in dogs that swallow
it. Most veterinary pastes come in flavors that help make brushing
more enjoyable for a dog.
When tartar has accumulated, the examining veterinarian typically
will perform a professional cleaning and polishing of the teeth and
gums while the dog is under anesthesia. Preanesthetic tests
appropriate for each dog will be recommended prior to the procedure.
One of the most important parts of the process is cleaning off the
tartar that collects below the gumline. This cannot be accomplished
when a dog is awake, even if it is extremely tolerant.
Severe dental disease may require aggressive procedures and
dedicated at home dental care if teeth are to be salvaged. If
extractions are necessary, the dog will have the benefit of both
anesthesia and postoperative pain medications. Retained deciduous
teeth should be extracted before misalignment of the permanent teeth
has occurred. Some dogs may need treatment by a dental specialist
for root canals or orthodontic procedures.
Prevention:
Owners should train puppies to allow them to
check teeth and gums for problems, and oral hygiene should be
practiced consistently. Dog dental cleaning kits are available from
veterinarians. Watch for a double row of teeth, indicating retained
puppy teeth, as well as redness or foul odors. Any abnormalities
should be checked by a veterinarian.
Feeding a good quality dry dog food and treats that control tartar
also may slow tartar buildup. Annual veterinary exams and
professional cleanings are vital in keeping the oral cavity healthy.
