Common Dental Problems to Watch for in Dogs
While the overall condition of your dog’s health is important to pay attention to, one area that is of particular importance is the condition of their dental health. When you take a minute to think of all the different activities that a dog performs with his teeth, it becomes quite clear why dental check-ups are so important. A dog’s teeth are used for grooming, playing, personal defense, biting, barking, chewing, giving affection to his owners, nipping, and eating.
Considering each of these different activities, it is safe to say that a dog’s mouth and teeth stay much busier than any other part of his body. As a result, there is a wide range of different problems that can occur in a dog’s mouth that a pet owner should always carefully pay attention to.
Becoming informed about the following issues that can occur in your dog’s mouth and with their teeth is a great step in learning what you can to prevent or treat them.
Periodontal Disease
Just about all dogs will likely end up getting a periodontal disease at some point in their life or another. A majority of the time the reason for this is dental hygiene that is either poor or lacking altogether. One of the most noticeable symptoms of periodontal disease is foul smelling breath. Gingivitis and halitosis are common periodontal diseases that are easy to prevent. This can be done by gently brushing your dog’s teeth each and every day. You will also want to look closely along the gum line for any signs of irritation. Feeding your pet dog food that is dry can help tremendously in keeping problems like this at bay, as they help a great deal in keeping a dog’s teeth clean.
Infections of the Mouth
It is fairly common for dogs to get infections in their mouth, and there are quite a few different things that can cause this problem. Dogs love to chew on anything and everything they can. Sometimes they can obtain injuries from chewing on things like sticks or other types of hard objects. When they do this it is very easy for them to get cuts, scrapes, or scratches in the mouth that can easily turn into an infection. For this reason, you will want to check your dog’s mouth frequently for signs of an infection. When you notice any redness or swelling, an antibiotic can quickly stop the bacteria from spreading.
Foreign Objects in the Mouth or Throat
Although this is a problem that happens rather frequently, it is one that can result in the death of your dog if an object were to get lodged in his throat. Splinters from bones or sticks can become lodged in the mouth or throat of a dog. Their molars can easily become chipped or cracked when objects become lodged in their mouth. When they go unnoticed, it can result in the exposure of tooth pulp and infections. When they become lodged in the throat and the dog tries to eat it can result in choking. As they may be signs that an object is stuck in your dog’s mouth or throat, pay attention to excessive drooling, gagging or vomiting, or if your dog continuously paws at his mouth.
Mouth Tumors
When tumors in the mouth go unnoticed, it can develop into cancer and may ultimately take the life of your pet. A periodic check of your dog’s mouth will reveal tumors that should be checked or removed. This one simple step can actually save the life of your dog.
