Veterinarians state about two-thirds of pet owners doesn’t comply with the recommended dental treatment for their dogs and cats, the two most popular pet animals in homes. However, if people understood the consequences that teeth and gum diseases bring, they would give their pets’ oral hygiene a severe second thought.
Teeth and gum ailments of your pets may result in serious illnesses in other organs of the body which might be deadly if left unattended. Chronic oral infections affect overall health and cause sickness of the liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys. But preventive actions and normal care may protect them from having these conditions and help them enjoy longer, healthier lives.
Common Dental Conditions in Dogs and Cats: What Causes Them and How to Detect Them
Problems of the gums and teeth usually occur by the age of 2-3 years. Here are some of the common conditions that afflict our furry friends and the signs that show you how to find them.
- Gingivitis
When you notice mild redness in the teeth of your pet, don’t ignore it. This is an indication of gingivitis or gum disease. Inflammation of the gums in its early phase is readily reversible when you take prompt corrective measures. Aside from redness, there is some plaque but the gum surface is smooth. Plaque is the top cause of gingivitis. It happens when food debris collects in the mouth and mixes with saliva, dead cells, and mucus, and turning the region into a rich breeding ground for bacteria. Bad breath and minor swelling of the teeth are other signs of gingivitis.
- Periodontal Disease
Untended gingivitis turns and soothes into periodontal disease. Plaque hardens type into tartar and generates gingival pockets (narrow distances between the teeth and teeth). Eventually, the teeth straightened, tissues are destroyed and teeth become loose, placing them at risk of falling outside.
With celiac disease, your pet feels that the pain and has trouble chewing and eating. The breath smells awful and there’s blood in the mouth coming from the gums. Teeth are loose. The worst happens when bacterial infection destroys the membranes, extends into the blood, and travels into the different areas of the body, causing systemic illnesses of these vital organs.
- Stomatitis
It can result in inflammation of the throat and the palate and there’s accompanying loss of appetite, an enormous quantity of saliva, bleeding, mouth sensitivity, severe halitosis or bad breath, and weight reduction.
Most often, stomatitis is a result of untreated gingivitis or periodontal disease.
- Baby Teeth
Cats and dogs have baby teeth, too, just like people. They drop out and are replaced with adult permanent teeth. In puppies, the adult teeth are generally all set up at 7 – 8 months of age and in cats, baby teeth are generally replaced completely by 4 months old. Retained baby teeth can cause a problem when the adult teeth come out. They could cause overcrowding, the mature tooth may come out crooked and result in an incorrect sting and plaque is faster to grow and construct up. It is simple to spot retained baby teeth. Just two teeth are inhabiting one spot; among these is the baby tooth and the other is the adult tooth trying to come out. A veterinarian can best determine the condition and pull out the baby tooth to make way for the permanent one to erupt.
- Tooth Root Abscess
It is characterized by pain and the presence of pus but many pet owners will not have the ability to observe the pus. Outward symptoms include lack of appetite, difficulty in eating, and facial swelling because the abscess develops. The animal may paw at the website or rub its face on the ground, often leading you to believe it’s an itch.
An abscess is generally caused by two conditions: the presence of periodontal disease and tooth traumatic trauma or crack. In periodontal disease, the enlarged pockets permit food debris and bacteria to collect inside and form an abscess while a cracked or chipped tooth exposes the tissues under the tooth, giving entry to the germs that cause the abscess.
How To Prevent Dental Diseases in Your Pets
As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. It is possible to help avoid these common dental conditions from affecting your own pets and keep them healthy and comfortable. At home, you can brush their teeth once a day or even only three times each week to match the specialist cleaning of a veterinarian which can be accomplished yearly. Learn more about cat and dog dental care here.
Brushing can be carried out using a brush or wrapping your finger in a gauze pad and tilting it at a 45-degree angle, moving the finger in a circular motion, and covering all areas when at all possible. There are particular flea toothpaste, antibacterial mouthwash, and rawhide chew strips you can buy in the vet’s clinic. These goods reduce plaque buildup and can go a long way to maintaining oral health.
Offer your pet nontoxic toys that they can chew on to massage their gums and function as an outlet for their stress and boredom. Again, your vet is the best adviser on these toys.
But professional cleaning and cleaning are necessary and cannot be undertaken by you alone. A comprehensive checkup entails x-rays for diagnoses and anesthesia for complete cleaning. Take care of your pets. They may not be much help around the house but the pleasure and merriment they bring are worth more than the money you spend for their care. Click here to learn more about pet care.
As experienced veterinarians, we know most pets don’t get the oral hygiene care they need to keep their teeth and gums healthy. That is why we’re so enthusiastic about providing regular dental care as a critical part of your pet’s oral and general health.
Cats and dogs want accessibility to qualified preventive and restorative veterinary dental hygiene. At Spring House Animal Hospital, our vets supply the attentive care and vet checkups that your pet needs.