The 4 Most Common Dental Problems for Dogs

By age three, 80% of dogs are inflicted with periodontal disease. Although veterinarians explain the importance of dog dental care, about 65% of pet owners report that they do not brush their dog’s teeth. When it comes to caring for your pet, oral hygiene should be a part of your routine. At the very least, your pet’s mouth should be examined at a dog vet clinic at least once every year.

Dog dental care is an essential part of pet healthcare and is vital for your furry friend’s happiness. You may not know what to look for when considering your dog’s oral health, so below, you can find a list of four common dog dental care issues.

Common Tooth Problems for Dogs

1. Loose Teeth: Just like kids, puppies lose their first set of teeth to make room for their permanent teeth. Your kids may start finding their own teeth beginning to wiggle around age five or six, but your puppy will start to lose teeth between four and six months of age (that’s around seven years old in dog years!). It is important during this time in your dog’s life to regularly check inside his mouth. Just like with people, a baby tooth may fail to fall out, and an adult tooth will come in where there is little or no room to grow, causing it to come in crooked. See your vet if you notice two teeth closely occupying the same spot.
If your adult dog is experiencing loose teeth, this should be a red flag. This usually results from some kind of trauma to the mouth, illness, or gum loss as a result of periodontal disease.

2. Periodontal disease: Symptoms of periodontal disease include swollen and bleeding gums. This is the most commonly diagnosed dental problem in dogs. Plaque builds up on the teeth and becomes tartar. When tartar is under the gum line, gums become puffy and red and develop gingivitis. Gingivitis, if left untreated, progresses to periodontal disease, which causes the gums to recede, eventually leading to tooth loss. This leaves your dog vulnerable to infection, which can spread throughout his body.

3. Broken or cracked tooth: Dogs love to chomp and chew, so you need to be aware of what you dog has in his mouth at all times. Hard objects can crack or break a tooth. When this happens, the nerve of the tooth can be exposed, which can be very painful. The tooth also becomes vulnerable to infection.

4. Tooth root abscess: When an infection sets in as a result of any of the above problems, your dog may experience a tooth root abscess, which occurs if the root becomes exposed to bacteria. This will be incredibly painful, so you will notice that your dog is having difficulty eating or avoid eating altogether, facial swelling, and even an eye infection as the eye is located close to the tooth’s root. Inside his mouth, you will see a bump or swelling of the gums, which will appear red and highly irritated.

If you have any questions, feel free to share in the comments.

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Dogs are man’s best friend, as the saying goes. And if you have a dog, you’ll know that this couldn’t be more true.

Dogs are pretty amazing creatures when you think about it. Experts are still discovering all of the ways that dogs interact with humans, and make our world a better place. They can identify their owners by scent alone, whether they’ve just gotten out of the shower or have been sweating profusely all day. Many experts believe that dogs can laugh, although it looks much like panting and humans can’t tell the difference. Dogs have been known to sniff out cancers of the lung and skin, and it’s likely that they can detect emotions in others through their sense of smell, too.

Your own dog is definitely the best of all dogs, although you don’t need anyone to tell you that! If you’re like most pet owners, you’d do anything for your dog. From buying Fluffy’s favorite flavor of treats to letting him curl up in your bed on cold winter nights, it’s all the little things that matter the most.

One thing many pet owners forget about is the importance of pet healthcare, specifically in regards to dental care for dogs. Many pets aren’t big fans of having their humans brush their teeth, even when the “toothpaste” does taste like chicken. Although dental care for your dog might not be considered a “treat,” it’s still important. Paying attention to your dog’s dental health is just one way of keeping him happy and healthy.

If you just can’t seem to get much done with a dog toothbrush, here are a few other tips on dental care for dogs:
Treats: There are many kinds of chewy treats that are formulated specifically to clean your dog’s teeth. Keep in mind that most of these treats are made for different sizes of dogs. Even if your tiny chihuahua can scarf down a dental chew in two minutes flat, you don’t want to give him a bigger dental chew made for 50 lb. dogs.

Toys: Some chew toys can be great for dog dental care. Chewing on a rope or a leather toy, for example, can help clean away plaque. Other rubber toys are designed specifically to help clean teeth. These may not be as good as brushing, but they’re definitely helpful in between brushes.

The Vet: Vet clinics typically offer cat and dog dental care services in the form of a good teeth cleaning. This is one of the easiest ways to make sure that your pup gets his teeth cleaned just like you do. These dog clinics typically anesthetize the animals before the procedure, but this is only so Fluffy doesn’t get too nervous or scared. It’s a simple and painless process, and it’s easily the most effective strategy for cleaning a pet’s teeth.

Caring for your pet is something that you, and only you, can do better than anyone else. Dog dental care might not seem like a top priority at first, but it’s something that really does matter.