The symptoms of oral disease
include bad breath, excessive drooling, inflamed gums, tumors in the gums,
cysts under the tongue, and loose teeth. . If any of these symptoms suddenly
appear in your pet, you might want to take a look in their mouth, and bring
them to the vet. It’s a good idea to get your dog used to having their mouth
touched by you, so you can monitor how the gums and teeth are looking, and
catch problems early. A symptom of tooth pain could be loss of appetite. Some
dogs will eat no matter what, but if your dog or cat suddenly stops eating, or
seems to be favoring one side of their mouth, you may want to take a look in
their mouth, and bring them to the vet.
You might think your dog always has
bad breath, but their breath could tell you a lot, not only about their dental
health, but also about gastrointestinal problems, or other health issues. Be
aware of what your dog’s breath normally smells like, and if suddenly their
breath smells different, it might be a sign of something else. Sweet or
fruit-smelling breath can be a sign of diabetes. This may also be paired with
excessive drinking and urination. Breath that smells strongly of ammonia,
almost like urine, could indicate kidney problems. Foul breath could also be a
sign of liver problems. Other symptoms of liver problems could be loss of
appetite, vomiting, and yellow in the eyes or on the gums.
Here is a
list, provided by the ASPCA, of oral problems that could appear in your pet,
what they mean and the symptoms to look for:
- Periodontal disease is a painful infection between the tooth and the gum that can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Signs are loose teeth, bad breath, tooth pain, sneezing and nasal discharge.
- Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused mainly by accumulation of plaque, tartar and disease-producing bacteria above and below the gum line. Signs include bleeding, red, swollen gums and bad breath. It is reversible with regular teeth cleanings.
- Halitosis—or bad breath—can be the first sign of a mouth problem and is caused by bacteria growing from food particles caught between the teeth or by gum infection. Regular tooth-brushings are a great solution.
- Swollen gums develop when tartar builds up and food gets stuck between the teeth. Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth at home and getting annual cleanings at the vet can prevent tartar and gingivitis.
- Proliferating gum disease occurs when the gum grows over the teeth and must be treated to avoid gum infection. An inherited condition common to boxers and bull terriers, it can be treated with antibiotics.
- Mouth tumors appear as lumps in the gums. Some are malignant and must be surgically removed.
- Salivary cysts look like large, fluid-filled blisters under the tongue, but can also develop near the corners of the jaw. They require drainage, and the damaged saliva gland must be removed.
- Canine distemper teeth can occur if a dog had distemper as a puppy. Adult teeth can appear looking eroded and can often decay. As damage is permanent, decayed teeth should be removed by a vet.
For more information on dental
health, and bad breath, read the February Newsletter, and talk to your
veterinarian about ways to prevent poor oral health.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-dental-health.aspx
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-bad-breath.aspx
