Dental Disease in Dogs
Is often overlooked by most owners which can have devastating health implications to a dog



Dental disease in dogs is the most common ailment that your dog will face.

In fact, it is estimated that worldwide over 80 percent of all dogs will show one of the several kinds of dental diseases by the time they reach the age of three.

Often overlooked and ignored this very dangerous buildup of bacteria in your dog’s mouth, if not corrected, can and will spread to their heart, liver, and kidneys.

To most owners, once your dog does develop any of dental disease, the amount and the severity of this very serious disease is quite surprising.

However, there is one very sad fact about these set of problems; both the veterinary community as well as most owners too often overlook these conditions.

If most owners would stop and think about it rationally, they would understand that their dog’s teeth are perhaps the most important part of their body.

THE SYMPTOMS OF DENTAL DISEASE IN DOGS

Dental disease in dogs has several potential symptoms, but by far and away the most common sign that your dog is developing an oral or dental problem is their breath.

All owners understand halitosis which is bad breath, or doggy breath, and will spend hundreds of dollars annually buying treats that will help this bad breath.

Beagle dogsDental disease in dogs can becoming very dangerous

This is almost like placing a bandage on a cut artery.

However, instead of trying to cover up the problem you should be attack and correct it.

Once your dog starts to develop bad breath, they have a dental condition, usually a periodontal disease.

Once this occurs, the next set of symptoms that usually develop will include bleeding or red inflamed gums.

As this disease continues to grow in severity, the next symptoms will be a difficulty in chewing or a change in eating habits.

However, if your dog starts to paw at their mouth, it may now be a life threatening situation.

THE MOST COMMON DENTAL DISEASES

Plaque

Dental disease in dogs in most every case starts with plaque.

While many experts will argue that plaque is not actually a disease, very few could argue that without plaque, there would be no dental problems in dogs.

Dog’s teeth are made for chewing meat and tough objects as they are very rigid in contour.

For this reason, food particles and bacteria can collect very easily in all dogs gum lines. If an owner is diligent in caring for their dogs teeth, this would never occur.

However, once it is occurs, plaque starts mineralization or harden forming in what is referred to as calculus within 3 to 5 day. Calculus has a much more familiar name; tarter.

Tarter

Dental disease in dog’s next common form is tarter, which once hardened, will adhere and stick to your dog’s teeth.

Tarter basically sticks to your dog’s teeth by forming a scaffold which is now taking a very dangerous turn.

Once the scaffold is formed, it allows for even more plague to accumulate.

As this process continues, tarter is forming above as well as below your dog’s gum line and is developing into an environment threat.

The reason for this is several other types of bacteria can become even more destructive.

Once this occurs, your dog’s breath becomes even worse.

This is very easy for an owner to check as your dog’s gum lines are starting to change. All of your dog’s teeth will have a bulge where healthy gums meet with the teeth.

This bulge is not a straight line and should be slightly wavy in appearance.

If the gums are straight along the teeth, the next disease has developed.

Gingivitis

The next form of dental disease in dogs is called gingivitis and is a situation where your dog’s gums are now inflamed.

This inflammation is what causes the straight lines to appear, and is the result of food particles accumulating between the teeth and the gums.

The major symptoms of this form of disease is bleeding, but it can also cause redness, a lot of pain, as well as your dog having a very difficult to chewing any type of hard food.

However, gingivitis can be reversed. If the actual cause of the inflammation is addressed, it can be corrected. If not, the gums in your dog start to deteriorate.

If this does occur, the next form of dental disease in dogs begins and it can be life threatening.

Periodontitis

Once your dog reaches the stage called periodontitis, they have now become seriously infected.

This infection will begin to spread to their tissues as well as their bones which will affect the roots of the teeth.

Once the roots are affected, your dog’s teeth will become very loose and will eventually fall out.

However, it can do a lot more damage. It can also cause abscesses to form, bone loss to occur, or the worst of all possibilities, infection.

If infection does develop, it will not stay in your dog’s mouth for long and will quickly begin to travel into several parts of your dog’s body once it hits the bloodstream.

It can lead to infections in your dog’s heart valves, kidneys, as well as their liver. This has now not only become a very painful ordeal in your dog’s mouth, but a life threatening situation.

Once it occurs, it cannot be reversed.

Dental disease in dogs has a virtual litany of products available to help fight this potentially deadly disease, as well as several specially formulated foods.

But none of them come close to the most effective and also the cheapest way to fight this disease; regular dental care at home.

Summary

Brushing your dog’s teeth at least 2 to 3 times a week sounds like a huge inconvenience and is not done by the vast majority of owners.

It is a very simple process that your dog will not like but will get used to.

But there is one very basic question all owners should ask themselves.

What would happen to your teeth if you never brushed them?

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