It’s not reversible, so being diligent and keeping a healthy dental routine is important. Preventive care includes: Brushing your dog’s teeth. Use a toothpaste and toothbrush designed specifically for dogs.
Dogs frequently develop periodontal disease, which poses a threat to not only your dog’s overall health and wellbeing but also his oral health. Our Huntersville veterinarians define the condition here, along with its symptoms, causes, and available treatments. Plus: How to prevent it.
Periodontitis is an infection caused by a bacteria that can affect your dog’s mouth. Gum disease typically doesn’t show any overt symptoms until it has progressed to an advanced stage, but it can result in bone loss, tooth loss, gum erosion, and chronic pain. Supporting structures of teeth can be weakened or lost.
Food and bacteria can form plaque along the gum line if they are not removed by brushing, which then hardens into tartar calculus. This causes gum inflammation and irritation, or gingivitis, which is the beginning stage of gum disease.
The connection between teeth and gums deteriorates in the second stage, which worsens in the third stage, and progresses to advanced periodontal disease in the fourth stage. Here, you can see that the gums are receding and that only 50% of the gums are still attached to the teeth. Tooth roots can become exposed.
What If My Pet Has Periodontitis?
When left untreated, periodontal disease can be harmful to animals and, in some cases, shorten a pet’s lifespan by two years or more. It’s time to get going if your pet has this illness.
Your veterinarian can offer surgical procedures that can clear out your pet’s gums, help the bone heal, and restore the health of his mouth to its ideal condition. In short, periodontal treatment will largely depend on which stage of periodontitis your pet is currently experiencing. If you’re wondering what periodontal surgery looks like, read on. Discover what each stage of treatment entails by reading on.
Stage 1 Treatment:
First Stage of Periodontal Disease in Pets
At this stage, the pet’s mouth is still basically healthy. However, without yet being visible, plaque is slowly starting to accumulate.
Calculus may have begun to appear, but it is not yet guaranteed. The gums will become inflamed and sensitive in mild cases of gingivitis.
A thin red line on the animal’s gum next to its teeth is one of the simplest signs of stage one periodontal disease to spot.
There will probably also be some plaque that can be seen. It is a thick, creamy film that can be removed fairly easily.
It’s crucial to determine whether calculus has already formed even at this stage. Calculus, which is essentially hardened dental plaque accumulated in specific areas, poses a serious threat to the health of the gums.
Calculus is brought on by the precipitation of minerals and other fluids onto the pet’s teeth, creating a hardened surface that serves as the ideal foundation for the development of additional plaque.
If a calculus hasn’t yet developed, periodontal disease can still be reversed at this point. After thoroughly removing all plaque buildup, using Pet Dental Water Additive every day will work.
FAQ
How do you get rid of periodontal disease in dogs?
- removing plaque and tartar from the teeth by scaling them above and below the gum line.
- Polishing the teeth.
- Taking full mouth x-rays.
- Probing around each tooth to check for abnormal pocketing.
How Long Can dogs live with periodontal disease?
When left untreated, periodontal disease can be harmful to animals and, in some cases, shorten a pet’s lifespan by two years or more.
How much does it cost to fix periodontal disease in dogs?
The average cost for cleaning a dog or cat’s teeth can vary depending on the animal’s age and size, whether anesthesia is required, and the location. In general, the cost will range from $50 to $300. In the event that your pet has periodontal disease, the average cost of treatment for a dog is $519, and for a cat, it’s $7682.
How fast does periodontal disease progress in dogs?
Plaque on your dog’s teeth can start to accumulate in just a few weeks. If left unchecked, periodontal disease will grow rapidly. In a study of 52 miniature schnauzers, it was discovered that after 30 weeks without brushing, 98% of the dogs had some form of periodontitis.