Good Dog - Bad Teeth
© Colleen Paige

Do you know what the most common health problem is with dogs? It's periodontal disease. 75-80% percent of dogs 2.5 years and older may start to have trouble with their teeth. Tooth and gum problems can become painful and serious if left untreated and may possibly cause your dog to become aggressive or stop eating.

Symptoms of possible Periodontal Disease are:

Bad breath

Yellow or spotty teeth

Swollen gums

Difficulty in chewing

Weight loss

Broken or missing teeth

Nasal and eye discharge

Blood in the saliva

Drooling

Tearing or swelling below one eye
 

How does your dog get periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease starts with plaque. This is the white film that accumulates on our teeth. If the plaque is not removed through regular tooth brushing, it will mineralize (harden) and turn into tartar. As the tartar builds, the plaque continues to accumulate and infect the gums. Plaque and bacteria unchecked over time can enter the bloodstream and cause disease in the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.

How can periodontal disease be prevented?

Unfortunately, periodontal disease cannot be reversed. It can, however, be slowed or stopped with proper dental care. There are several things you can do to prevent this disease from affecting your best friend. At least once a week you should brush your dog’s teeth and feed a nutritionally balanced dry diet, void of wheat and corn that can act as sugar between the teeth and cause decay.

You can purchase toothbrushes made especially for dogs, or you can use a soft child's toothbrush, a finger toothbrush, a gauze pad around a finger, or a cotton swab. Use toothpaste specially formulated for dogs and focus on the back molars as they tend to develop plaque more quickly than more frontal teeth. Dog toothpaste contains ingredients that continue to be effective in preventing decay long after brushing. Most toothpastes have a special food flavoring to make it more appealing to your dog. Stay away from human toothpaste, baking soda or salt, as many dogs don't like the taste, and these products might possibly upset their digestive systems or create an allergic reaction.

Feed a nutritionally balanced diet, preferably dry. A hard, crunchy premium food will scrape against the teeth and help to inhibit bacteria from growing.

Provide dental chew toys and chew items. Not only are they fun for your dog, but he doesn't even realize how good they are for him. Supply your dog with plenty of "teeth cleaning" chew toys and bones, especially knobby toys, rope toys and floss toys. Rawhide is another chew item that rubs against the dog's teeth and removes harmful plaque but I advise against rawhide, as it swells to five times the size in your dogs’ stomach and can take two weeks to digest, posing the threat of intestinal blockage. So a great alternative to rawhide is pork skin.  Anything you can find in the form of rawhide, you can now find in pork skin.  It's easily digestible, more nutritional and still provides a great tartar scraping effect on the teeth.

Lastly, get regular dental exams by a veterinarian and schedule your dog for a yearly teeth cleaning. With a little effort, your dog could end up having a smile as good as yours!