Dental disease in dogs, more common than you think!
Dental disease affects around 80% of dogs from 3 years of age! In fact, it is the most common disease that we see in the dog. Clinical signs are often not apparent until the disease is advanced as dogs are incredibly good at hiding signs of pain. In addition, most dog owners are not very vigilant at checking the teeth of their canine companion.
Humans commonly suffer from caries which is when bacteria in the mouth attack the enamel of the tooth to cause decay. This is uncommon in dogs. Dogs mainly suffer from periodontal disease, which is a painful inflammatory condition involving bacteria attacking the gums (gingiva), ligaments and bony tissues which support the teeth. Periodontal disease starts with food material and bacteria attaching to the surface of the tooth, this is called “plaque”. The plaque then mineralises and hardens on the surface of the tooth to form tartar, which is extremely hard to remove. Tartar often starts to form on the gum margin of the tooth and this starts to separate the gum from the tooth. Bacteria can then enter this pocket and attack the supporting structures of the tooth, including surrounding bone. In addition, the body amounts an immune response to attack the bacteria leading to inflammation. It is a progressive and often irreversible disease that eventually leads to the tooth becoming loose and falling out. The bacteria can lead to an abscess and may be shed into the blood stream to cause life threatening infections to the heart or other internal organs. Small breed dogs are more susceptible to periodontal disease due to overcrowding of their teeth and their smaller jaw size, but all breeds may be affected.
Another cause of dental disease in the dog is trauma as teeth are commonly broken when your dog is chewing hard toys/food.
It is estimated that 90% of pets will show marked improvement after dental treatment, such as increased energy, eating more comfortably, and less odorous breath, making your dog more pleasant to be around!
Firstly, you should get into the habit of regularly checking in your pets’ mouth, starting as a puppy so they get used to mouth examinations. Your veterinary surgeon will also check your pets’ mouth on routine examinations at the vet clinic.
If periodontal disease is present your dog will need a general anaesthetic for treatment to be effective. Your veterinary surgeon may recommend x-rays to check for damage to the surrounding bone/roots of the teeth which are not visible with oral examination. Treatment will then depend on the stage of the disease. With early periodontal disease your dog may only need ultrasonic scaling to remove the tartar on the tooth and under the gum margin. The tooth is then polished, which makes it more difficult for bacteria to adhere to the tooth after the procedure. As the disease progresses there are many more advanced procedures that can be performed to save the tooth, but this requires a dental specialist and commitment from the owner. If more than 50% of the surrounding structures of the tooth are lost then the only option is to remove the tooth, unfortunately this is the stage of disease that we often see as a veterinary surgeon. If your dog has a broken tooth and it involves the pulp cavity (nerve and blood vessels) in the centre of the tooth, then the only option is a dental specialist to perform a root canal procedure, or tooth extractions. If this tooth is left it will cause ongoing pain and bacteria can enter into the pulp cavity and cause both localised infection and spread to distant organs.
Prevention is definitely better than cure! So, what can we do at home to prevent this painful condition?
Animal Care Vets is actively involved in our local community. We support a number of charities, including the SPCA. We also care for the Hawkes Bay Police dogs. Our customers know by experience that they can rely on us for sound advice on treatment options and that their pet is in the very best hands with our team.
