Symptoms
Common signs of dental problems in dogs and cats include:
- Loss of appetite
- Red, swollen and bleeding gums
- Drooling
- Blood in the saliva
- Yellow-brown tartar at the gum line
- Broken teeth
Dental Care for Dogs and Cats
A healthy mouth smells better. Does your dog's breath smell like something died down there? That's a strong clue that there may be something pretty awful going on in his mouth. Dental problems develop gradually. It is easy to miss the other signs, like reluctance to eat or lack of activity, until things are pretty bad.
Pets with healthy mouths live longer. Pets with comfortable mouths eat better and play more. Their improved nutrition and exercise makes them generally healthier.
Common Problems
Gum disease is very common in dogs and cats. Many dogs and cats over the age of 2 or 3 have either gingivitis or periodontitis.
Gingivitis, or gum disease, is an inflamation of the gum tissue.
Periodontitis, or periodontal disease, is the most common dental problem in dogs
Tooth fractures, the second biggest problem for dogs and their teeth is that hard chews can break the teeth, leading to infection inside the tooth (called endodontic disease).
Cleaning
Another important part of making sure that your dog's teeth and gums are clean and healthy is to have the teeth professionally cleaned. All Pets Vet Hospital offers free oral examinations and consultations where you can discuss with Dr. Sam the best course of treatment for your pet. Please call us to ar range an appointment (908) 707 -1555.
All Pet Vet Hospital uses state of the art equipment. We do pre-anesthetic blood work and use special anesthetic agents to minimize the risks of anesthesia for your pet including seniors and sighthounds. During the procedure we scrape all of the plaque buildup from above and below the gum line, and then polish the teeth.
At Home
C.E.T. provides a complete line of safe healthy dental chews. Dental Chews not only satisfy your dogs chewing needs they will also help clean your pets teeth and reduce tartar build up. Please check out the complete line at our office.
Margin of attached gingiva (gum) is inflamed and swollen. Plaque covering teeth. Treatment can reverse condition.
Entire attached gum is inflamed and swollen. Mouth is painful and odor begins to be noticedable. Professional treatment and home dental care can prevent this from
becoming irreversible.
Cherry red and bleeding attached gum is being destroyed by infection and calculus (tartar). Sore mouth affects eating and behavior.
Bad breath is present. Beginning of periodontal disease. May become irreversible.
Chronic bacterial infection is destroying the gum, tooth and bone. Bacteria may be spreading throughout the entire body via the bloodstream and may damage the kidneys, liver and heart.