Pets and Puberty: A Guide for Owners and Breeders

3 Forms Of Periodontal Disease To Look Out For In Your Dog

Some of the most common dental diseases among canines are those known as periodontal diseases. These illnesses differ a lot in gravity and symptoms, but they all stem from irregular teeth cleaning. The problem usually starts with minor discolouration, which then builds up into plaque that soon turns into tartar and starts digging under the gums. At this point, the bacteria trapped in the gums start to cause infection and damage to your dog's gums and even teeth. There are many forms of these diseases in dogs, from plaque to gingivitis and periodontitis, and they will all be explained below to help you work out which form of the disease your dog is experiencing.

1. Plaque build-up

Plaque is a soft substance of food debris that surrounds your dog's teeth. This substance gets accumulated every day, but its soft nature makes it easy to remove by simply brushing your dog's teeth. Dogs' teeth can become very infected with plaque if the dog's teeth are not brushed or flossed daily. If plaque is successfully removed from your dog's teeth on a daily basis, the gums and the teeth will stay healthy and infection-free.

2. Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an inflammation or infection of gum tissue. This inflammation results from a bacterial infection caused by plaque and tartar formation. Gingivitis will cause pain, swelling and sensitivity in the mouth that will lead to redness in the gum tissue along with bleeding during brushing or flossing. Gingivitis can lead to ill-formed teeth if the dog eats hard food items or chews on their paws.

3. Periodontitis

Another form of periodontal disease in dogs is periodontitis. This is a more severe form of gum disease that will lead to tooth loss and eventual decay. Periodontitis is a deep-seated infection that causes the soft tissue surrounding the teeth to become ulcerated and inflamed. During the early stages of periodontitis, your dog will have pain when eating, a bad breath odour will be noticed, teeth will become loose and, eventually, periodontitis will cause the loss of both teeth or teeth and bone around the tooth roots.

If your dog has not yet been diagnosed with periodontal disease, it is important to start cleaning their teeth regularly with a veterinarian-recommended formula. Professionally cleaned teeth will prevent the infection from progressing to advanced periodontal disease in dogs. If you notice redness or inflammation of the gums, foul-smelling breath, any looseness of the teeth or other oral symptoms, then book a dog dental appointment at your earliest convenience.