Common Dental Diseases in Dogs

Pet owners often neglect their dog's teeth, thinking they don't need care. However, there are several dental diseases that can become a real problem for our dog, on top of causing pain and discomfort.

Knowing the main diseases and their symptoms will help us catch them early and see the vet when needed. Ready to find out more?

Your dog's teeth don't clean themselves

Puppies have 28 teeth. This number increases to 42 within the first year. Just like people, your dog sheds their baby teeth — this usually happens between 3 and 6 months old. From 6-7 months onward, they shouldn't have any baby teeth left, and all should be permanent.

Although dogs are pets, remember that the diet they eat at home is very different from what they'd eat in the wild, with tougher substances that can help fight tartar and plaque. That said, dry kibble helps reduce tartar more than wet food.

Because of this, you should get your dog used to a dental hygiene routine from puppyhood, including tooth brushing and other options your vet recommends.

Dental diseases affecting dogs

There are many oral conditions that can affect our dog, from inflammation or loose teeth to tumors such as melanomas or squamous cell carcinoma. As with everything in veterinary medicine, treatment depends on the condition and its cause.

Even with a good hygiene routine, if plaque or tartar shows up, the best option is a dental cleaning at the clinic, since it's the only method that guarantees 100% removal. That said, the better their hygiene, the lower that risk. These are the most common oral diseases:

Tartar

Tartar consists of bacterial plaque forming (bacterial deposits) on your dog's teeth, from a combination of food, saliva, and oral bacteria. You'll notice it as yellowish or even greenish stains on their teeth, along with bad breath. This condition causes gum inflammation (gingivitis) and predisposes teeth to falling out, leading to poorer chewing ability.

Fighting tartar requires several measures, such as hard-to-chew foods or solid chew toys, which help prevent it somewhat, but as mentioned earlier, a professional dental cleaning is the only 100% effective method. Not addressing it can lead to serious infections (since oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream).

Periodontitis

Periodontal disease is a general term covering a group of inflammatory lesions caused by bacterial plaque, involving the tooth's supporting tissue. It's called gingivitis when the plaque-induced inflammation is limited to the soft gum tissue, keeping the gum pocket at a normal depth (up to 3 mm in dogs).

When the inflammation goes deeper, with loss of the tooth's supporting tissue, forming pathological periodontal pockets (over 4 mm), it's called periodontitis. Below, we'll look at some of the symptoms that can be present. Its symptoms are:

• Gingivitis (gum inflammation).
• Bacterial plaque, possibly with furcation exposure (an abnormal gap between the tooth crown and the gum).
• Difficulty eating.
• Pain.
• Bad breath.
• Excessive drooling.
• Possible abscess formation (in more severe cases).

This disease progresses quickly, and many owners notice symptoms late. Severe periodontitis causes complications that compromise the teeth, since your dog could lose them.

What's more, bacteria can enter the blood and, once spread, affect vital organs such as the heart. So periodontal disease needs early diagnosis. It occurs more often in small and toy breeds.

Treatment includes a dental cleaning with removal of loose teeth and those with excess furcation exposure. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will be considered based on the vet's assessment. Mouth rinses can also help with inflammation.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. If you don't put a plan in place to remove plaque from your dog's teeth, they'll develop this sign. It's easy to treat in its early stage. It usually starts with redness at the "border" between the gum and the teeth, then spreads to affect more of the gum.

Its symptoms are:

• Progressive gum redness.
• Pain.
• Inability to chew and eat (grab food).
• Irritability caused by dental discomfort.
• Bad breath.
• Gum bleeding.
• Like periodontitis, gingivitis requires the same treatment.

Tartar, gingivitis, and periodontitis are the three stages that make up what's known as periodontal disease.

Stomatitis

Stomatitis is widespread inflammation of the mouth. This can affect a dog's teeth, tongue, and gums. Oral ulcers can also occur, which we'll describe below along with stomatitis symptoms:

• Pain.
• Inability to eat.
• Bad breath.
• Excessive drooling.
• Mouth ulcers or bleeding wounds.
• Aggression from the pain.

The causes of stomatitis vary. It can appear from poor hygiene, but also as a result of infections. Treatment requires a dental cleaning done by the vet, along with treatment of the symptoms.

A common sign of stomatitis is mouth ulcers. These are visible sores appearing somewhere in the mouth, causing inflammation and pain. See your vet to check whether it's a simple wound or a bacterial or viral infectious disease.

Bad breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, isn't a condition in itself — it's simply a symptom triggered by the diseases described in this article. Infections, poor hygiene, poor eating habits, esophagitis, or the habit of eating other dogs' feces are some of its causes. It's recommended to see a specialist to find out why your dog has bad breath — remember it's one of the symptoms of periodontal disease.

Bibliography Bacterias subgingivales aisladas de perros con enfermedad periodontal y su susceptibilidad a antimicrobianos. Primera comunicación en la República Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires.