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During
this time, puppies may eat slightly less
and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide
toys made especially for dogs are a good
investment to help prevent household
damage during this time.
Common
signs of dental problems in dogs
include:
Dogs
sometimes suffer from broken teeth,
often a result of biting on sticks or
rocks. A cracked or broken tooth can be
painful if the nerve tissue is exposed;
if it becomes infected, there is the
danger of the infection spreading
through the bloodstream. Prompt
veterinary attention is recommended.
Dental Problems
To ensure your dog's dental health, they
require dental care on a regular basis.
Otherwise they may develop problems.
Dental
problems may also result from injury,
foreign bodies such as porcupine quills
or foxtail, malnutrition or systemic
diseases which infect the mouth as well
as other parts of the body.
Occasionally a puppy or kitten will
retain some deciduous (baby) teeth after
the permanent teeth have appeared. This
may damage the soft tissues of the mouth
and may even accelerate wear of
permanent teeth. A veterinarian should
be consulted to determine whether or not
removal is necessary.
However,
the most common dental problems dogs
experience is buildup from plaque and
calculus. Food, bacteria and saliva may
accumulate and adhere to the tooth
surface, forming a soft plaque. If
plaque buildup continues, solutions of
chalk-like materials form a hardened
dental calculus on the tooth surface.
Calculus is seen more frequently in
older pets fed large quantities of soft
foods. If left unchecked, plaque and
calculus buildup can eventually cause
inflammation of both the gums
(gingivitis) and the membrane lining of
the tooth socket (periodontitis).
Without proper treatment, the teeth may
become infected and fall out. The
infection resulting from these
conditions may spread to other parts of
the body such as the kidneys or valves
of the heart.
Dental
problems can be minimized or even
prevented through regular cleaning and
scaling under anesthesia, done by a
veterinarian.
Unfortunately, signs of dental problems
are often subtle and may go undetected
for months, or even years. Regular
dental examinations by a veterinarian
are recommended. Your dog's yearly
physical examination is a good
opportunity for a dental checkup.
Additionally, dry, crunchy foods such as
Purina® Dog Chow® brand dog food,
Purina® Biscuits® brand dog snack and
Purina® Cat Chow® brand cat food can be
helpful in keeping teeth clean. As the
pet chews, particles from the dry food
scrape against the teeth, acting like a
toothbrush to help remove plaque. Still,
there is no substitute for regular
dental care.
If
possible, accustom a young puppy or
kitten to having its teeth cleaned on a
regular basis at home. Gently rub the
pet's teeth with a soft cloth or a
child's soft toothbrush dipped in a
solution of baking soda and water. Do
not use toothpaste formulated for
humans. Because pets swallow rather than
spit out the preparation, this can cause
stomach upset. |
