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Treating Dog Gum Disease: Restore Your Pet's Oral Health

Dec 12,2024 | puaintapets

Oral health is essential for a dog’s overall well-being. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common but serious condition in dogs. It can lead to pain, tooth loss, and even systemic infections if left untreated. In this article, we’ll cover how to recognize, treat, and prevent gum disease in dogs to keep your furry friend healthy and happy.

Gum Disease in Dogs

What Is Gum Disease in Dogs?

Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar build up on a dog’s teeth, leading to inflammation and infection of the gums. It typically progresses in four stages:

  1. Gingivitis: Red, swollen gums that may bleed easily.

  2. Early Periodontitis: Mild gum recession and bad breath.

  3. Moderate Periodontitis: Severe inflammation, gum recession, and potential tooth mobility.

  4. Advanced Periodontitis: Significant tooth loss and potential systemic health risks.

  5. Dental abscess: This is a suppurative inflammation due to pulpitis or root infection, which can lead to severe pain and difficulty in eating for your dog. Symptoms include localized swelling, redness of the gums, and purulent discharge from the periodontal pockets. 

  6. Mouth ulcers: these are ulcerative injuries to the oral mucosa, most commonly found on the inside of the dog's lips and tongue. Symptoms include a sharp painful sensation and in severe cases, mental confusion. 

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

  • Early Symptoms:
    • Red, swollen gums
    • Bad breath
    • Difficulty chewing food
  • Advanced Symptoms:
    • Bleeding gums
    • Loose teeth
    • Abscesses or pus around teeth
    • Reluctance to eat or play

Regularly inspecting your dog’s mouth can help you catch these symptoms early.

What Causes Gum Disease in Dogs?

  • Tartar 

When tartar (mineralized tartar) builds up on your dog's teeth, bacteria can colonize between the bottom of the teeth and the gums, causing inflammation. 

  • Bacterial and Viral Infections

Bacterial and viral infections are also common causes of gum inflammation. These microorganisms can enter your dog's mouth through food debris, saliva, etc. and cause infection. 

  • Dietary problems

A poor dog's diet, such as eating too much soft food or lacking enough fiber, can also lead to inflamed gums

  • Dental Problems

Problems such as uneven, misshapen or decayed teeth can make the gums susceptible to irritation, which can lead to inflammation. 

  • Genetic factors

In some dogs, the health of the teeth and gums may be compromised due to genetic defects. 

  • Other Factors

Low resistance, medication side effects, and trauma may also lead to inflammation of your dog's gums. 

  • Physical factors

If the dog accidentally eats wood slag, wire, fish hooks, burrs, sewing needles and other foreign objects, it will pierce the mouth leading to oral inflammation or ulceration; in addition, accidental ingestion of heavy metals and irritating medicines, accidental biting of electrically charged wires can directly lead to corrosive inflammation and burning inflammation of the oral cavity. 

  • Oral lesions

Dogs with other oral diseases, it is easy to cause damage to the original site, which leads to the spread of scattered ulcers from the lips and oral mucosa to the tongue and gums, and lesions. 

  • Other disease factors

Chronic renal dysfunction (such as diabetes mellitus, nephritis, etc.), can lead to dryness of the oral cavity due to dehydration resulting in periodontitis; hypothyroidism and parathyroid hypoparathyroidism, which can lead to oral mucosal ulceration and periodontitis; vitamin deficiencies can be a direct cause of oral disease, especially B vitamin deficiencies can exacerbate such diseases; chronic gastritis, gastritis can also cause oral disease. 

To prevent gum disease in dogs, it is recommended to clean your dog's teeth and mouth regularly, provide appropriate chews to help clean teeth, maintain a balanced diet, and take your dog to the vet for regular oral exams. If you notice any symptoms of gum disease in your dog, you should take him to the vet for examination and treatment.

Gum Disease in Dogs

How to Treat Gum Disease in Dogs?

The main treatments for gum disease in dogs include the following.

1. Professional scaling

Professional teeth cleaning is one of the common ways to treat gum disease in dogs. The process usually involves being under anesthesia and the veterinarian removes tartar and calculus from your dog's teeth and then polishes the teeth to prevent bacteria from re-attaching to them. 

2. Medication

Medication usually involves the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications to control infection and reduce inflammation. For example, amoxicillin and metronidazole are commonly used antibiotics that can help control bacterial infections in the mouth. In addition, there are also medications that are specifically designed for dogs with oral problems, such as Lekomat Spray, which can act directly on the oral lesions and have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. 

3. Surgical treatment

In severe cases of gingivitis or periodontitis, surgical treatment may be necessary. This involves removal of damaged gum tissue, removal of bacteria and inflammatory tissue from the periodontal pockets, and extraction of loose teeth if necessary. 

4. Home Care

Home care is vital to treating gum disease in dogs. This includes regular brushing of your dog's teeth, using a pet-specific toothbrush and dental powder, and providing specialized teeth-cleaning toys or chews to help clean your dog's teeth and gums during play. 

5. Dietary adjustments

Adjusting your dog's diet can also help with gum disease. It is recommended to choose dog foods that are specifically designed for oral health, which usually contain less residue and have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients. In addition, avoid feeding your dog foods that are too soft or sticky, as these foods tend to remain in the mouth and harbor bacteria. 

6. Nutritional supplementation

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Inflammation of the dog's gums may be related to malnutrition, so you can supplement some vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in moderation, which will help to strengthen the dog's immunity. 

When treating your dog's gum disease, it is recommended to follow your veterinarian's instructions to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. Meanwhile, taking your dog for regular oral checkups to detect and treat oral problems in a timely manner is crucial to preventing the recurrence of gum disease.

How to Effectively Prevent Gum Disease in Dogs?

I. Daily Oral Care

  • Toothbrushing

Choose the right tools: use toothbrushes and tooth powder specially designed for dogs. The size of the brush head of the dog toothbrush should be suitable for the dog's mouth, and the bristles are soft to avoid harming the gums.

Get the right method: Start by familiarizing your dog with the taste of the tooth powder by letting him lick it first. When brushing, gently lift the dog's lips, the toothbrush will be 45 degrees to contact the surface of the teeth, with gentle movements to brush the teeth and gums, focusing on the gum line area, at least 2 - 3 times a week brush.

II. Reasonable dietary arrangements

  • Choose the right food

Dry food: The texture of dry food helps dogs to clean their teeth when chewing and reduces the formation of plaque and calculus. Compared with wet food, dry food is less likely to stick to the teeth.

Food with beneficial ingredients: Pick dog food that contains ingredients such as fiber. Fiber increases the friction of the food in the mouth and serves to clean the teeth.

  • Avoid bad food

Don't feed your dog human foods high in sugar and fat, such as candies, cakes, and fried foods, which harbor bacteria and increase the risk of gum disease.

Avoid letting your dog chew on overly hard items, such as large rocks and metal objects, to prevent tooth wear and breakage, but provide suitable chew toys.

III. Regular Oral Examination

  • Family self-examination

Owners regularly check the dog's oral cavity, weekly simple check whether the gum color is normal (light pink), whether there is swelling or bleeding, whether the teeth are loose, plaque or calculus, etc., and find abnormalities in time to consult the veterinarian.

  • Professional checkup

Take your dog to the veterinarian once a year for a comprehensive oral examination. Veterinarians use professional tools, such as oral mirror, probe, etc., can find early gum disease, such as gums under the gums of calculus, minor periodontitis, etc. and timely treatment.

IV. Provide suitable chew toys

Selection principles: choose chew toys designed specifically for dogs, such as rubber toys, nylon bones and so on. These toys have a certain elasticity and toughness, suitable for dogs to chew.

Regular replacement: chew toys will wear out and harbor bacteria after a period of use, so they should be replaced regularly to ensure cleanliness and safety.

When to See a Vet?

If you notice any of the following, consult your veterinarian immediately:

  • Persistent bad breath

  • Swollen or bleeding gums

  • Difficulty eating or significant weight loss

  • Loose or missing teeth

  • Pus or abscesses in the mouth

Gum Disease in Dogs

FAQs

Can gum disease in dogs be cured?

Conclusion

Gum disease in dogs is preventable and treatable with the right approach. By combining professional veterinary care, consistent home care, and a focus on prevention, you can ensure your furry friend enjoys a healthy, pain-free life.

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