Just as you can treat a dog for skin conditions and allergies, did you know that you can also have your dog treated for dental problems? Pet orthodontics is a growing specialty and while it is reserved for more severe cases of doggie dental problems, it is an option. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 85 percent of all dogs have dental problems. These problems can begin with plaque and dogs can suffer from more severe dental issues. If you think you dog suffers from serious dental issues, your vet can recommend a course of action. Here are some common problems and how to correct them.
Doggie Plaque:
Plaque is the most common dental issue among dogs. You may believe your dog ahs great teeth, but even if your dog’s teeth look healthy, there can be plaque. Plaque hardening into tartar can lead to tooth and tissue loss. Bacteria and plaque on a dog’s teeth causes the dog’s gums to get swollen and infected. This leads to a more serious problem of gingivitis, which causes gums get ulcers and plaque on the dog’s teeth becomes hard. The most common cause of bad breath in your dog is tartar buildup surrounding the teeth. Small particles of food remain in the dog’s mouth after eating. These particles decompose creating conditions that allow oral bacteria thrive. These bacterial grow to form plaque, and gives your dog “doggie breath”.
Dangers of Doggie Dental Diseases:
Dental disease in your dog can cause a host of serious health problems. Dental disease can lead to disease of the dog’s kidney and liver. Tartar accumulation around the teeth allows harmful bacteria to proliferate, and these bacteria occasionally break loose and enter the pet’s circulation. Once in the blood stream, these particles can lodge in crevices with the kidneys and liver and on the valves of the heart. A result, it can cause liver inflammation, and poorly functioning kidneys.
If you dog suffers from poor oral health, it can cause missing and broken teeth. This can also lead to the tooth wearing down. When the tooth begins to wear down there, will be a dark brown circle at the tip of the remaining tooth, which is a sign that the tooth is repairing itself as it is being worn. When the tooth is dying, it may have a pink or light brown color affecting the whole tooth and the gums are often inflamed in the region of the tooth.
Doggie Braces:
If you do suffers from serious problems, such as overbite or underbite, it can cause pain and it may become hard for your dog to function. In addition, just as there is in humans, your dog could suffer from hereditary problems with his or her teeth. In most cases, a dog will be able to function, however if you notice problems, you might be facing dog orthodontics. This is a growing specialty in pet care. While not very common, your dog can be treated with braces. You will need to be ready to care for your dog’s braces, such as watching for breakage and pain. Rubber bands and brackets are the most common. Should you notice that you pet has problems, you should consult your vet. Some breeders do try to fix these problems alone, but improper care can lead to gum disease. The good news is that if your dog does need braces, you are looking at a time frame of a few months, not years.
In addition, to avoid tooth problems, dog owners should treat their dog’s teeth like human teeth. To ensure dogs’ teeth are healthy owners should brush their teeth daily. Daily tooth brushing is the best way to remove and prevent plaque build up. If you can’t brush your dog’s teeth every day, then look into the wide variety of treats that have dental benefits. The chewing action of pet products of some pet dental treats can help drastically reduce plaque build up. In addition, you can buy your dog toys with dental benefits-and most importantly, see your vet on a regular basis for check ups and cleanings.
