I was recently chatting with Ashley online as she'd asked me if I would take a guest post on dental disease in pets. After some back and forth about the article, she sent this - not a bad summary on what to do if you pet has periodontal disease.
[Keep in mind that Ashley is not a veterinarian and if you have specific medical questions about your pet, you should always ask your veterinarian.]
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Your favorite four-legged friend bounds up to you. He thrusts his nose into your face and opens his mouth in an, "I love you!" pant. You gag at the putrid odor escaping his mouth. This odor could indicate the beginning stages of periodontal disease or another oral health care problem.
What is Periodontal Disease?
While you may not have heard of periodontal disease before (or at least not in pets) you don’t need an online biology degree to recognize its symptoms. Like in humans, periodontal disease a bacterial infection of the gums and can often be seen when gums bleed or are inflamed. Another way you can tell that you might have a problem is if there is a pungent odor emanating from your pet’s mouth, indicating possible gum and tooth deterioration. Unlike you, your dog isn't going to the dentist every six months. Unless you're paying close attention, you might not notice your pet has periodontal disease until decay has started. When plaque builds up on the teeth, combining with saliva and minerals, it creates spaces between the teeth where bacteria can grow. This leads to gingivitis, which is reversible, before progressing to periodontitis, which is not.
Signs of Periodontal Disease
Clearly, one of the most obvious signs of periodontal disease is bad breath; however, there are other indicators of the disease such as:
- Swollen gums
- Loss of appetite or anorexia
- Dropping food
- Loose or missing teeth
- Upset stomach
- Bleeding gums
- Pawing at the mouth
Advanced periodontal disease can also lead to major health problems, such as bacterial endocarditis, bacterial glomerulonephritos and focal hepatic necrosis, which can cause heart failure, kidney failure and liver disease respectively. No one wants this for themselves or their pet, so it’s important to guard against periodontal disease in the first place.
How do Dogs and Cats get Periodontal Disease?
The biggest cause of periodontal disease is not receiving proper dental care. After that, comes diet. If your pet is constantly eating only soft foods like canned dog or cat food, they’re not using and cleaning their sharp teeth, causing plaque to accumulate. However, some animals are more likely to get periodontitis. In particular, smaller breeds of dogs with a lot of teeth crowded in their mouth are higher risk than larger dogs. Older animals are also more likely to have periodontitis.
Preventative Methods
The easiest way to counter periodontitis is to make sure your pets are getting the proper nutrition. For dogs and cats, this means feeding them kibbles, which are harder and can help clean teeth by removing plaque. You may also find veterinarian-recommended bones or other treats that can help keep your pet’s teeth clean and strong. Rawhide tips, which your dog may think of as “treats” are also helpful in removing plaque. You can also keep your pet’s teeth clean by arming yourself with a toothbrush. Brush your pets' teeth regularly with pet-friendly flavored toothpaste, like tuna and beef. It is also important that you make sure to schedule regular veterinarian appointments and make sure the vet looks at your pets’ teeth and gums.Ultimately, as a good pet owner, it's your responsibility to make sure your pet receives proper care. Talk to your vet about providing your pet with a healthy diet, establishing good dental habits and what you can do to ensure that your animal doesn’t get periodontal disease. Don’t just make your pets’ life longer, make it better.
Ashley Warner is a graduate student working toward her Masters in Conservation Biology and works as a content creator for Online Biology Degree. She currently resides in Washington state."
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