Good dental health is important for your pet’s overall well-being because if left untreated, dental disease can lead to serious health issues for your four-legged friend. Our Kauai Veterinary Clinic team recognizes that pet owners often overlook their pets’ dental care, and we explain why promoting your pet’s oral health is so important.

Pet dental disease

If your pet is older than 2 years of age, they likely have some degree of dental disease (i.e., periodontal disease), which is infection and associated inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. When your pet eats, bacteria are attracted to food particles left behind in their mouth, and these pathogens multiply to form plaque on the tooth surface. If not removed, mineral deposits from the saliva cause the plaque to thicken and harden into tartar, which is a coarse material that allows more bacteria to stick to the tooth surface. 

Pet dental disease consequences

Dental disease can have various consequences that extend beyond your pet’s mouth. Severe dental disease can cause the following in your pet:

  • Bad breath — Many pet owners think stinky breath is normal for their furry pal, but if your pet’s kisses make your nose wrinkle, they may have periodontal disease.
  • Gingivitis — As bacteria invade under the gumline, the infection causes inflammation, which can result in swollen, bleeding gums.
  • Tooth loss — When infection spreads to a tooth’s supporting structures, they can be compromised, becoming loose or falling out.
  • Abscesses — In some cases, tooth root abscesses can develop. These are painful and can create draining holes in your pet’s face. 
  • Oral-nasal fistula — Invading bacteria can also create passages between the mouth and the nasal cavity, potentially leading to respiratory infection.
  • Systemic health issues — Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect organs, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver, potentially leading to serious health problems.
  • Oral tumors — Poor dental hygiene can predispose your pet to oral tumors that may be cancerous.
  • Reduced life span — Chronic dental issues can contribute to your pet’s overall health decline and possibly reduce their life span.

Pet dental disease signs

Pets affected by dental disease often don’t exhibit signs until their condition is advanced. However, signs you may notice include:

  • Bad breath — Bad breath is the most common, and sometimes only, dental disease sign in pets. 
  • Difficulty eating — Inflamed gums and loose or missing teeth can make eating difficult, and your pet may chew on one side of their mouth, drop food, or avoid eating.
  • Drooling — Excessive drooling can be an oral discomfort sign.
  • Red or bleeding gums — Healthy gums should be pink, not red or inflamed. Bleeding gums, especially during or after chewing on toys or eating, may indicate gum disease.
  • Visible tartar — Yellow or brown deposits on your pet’s teeth indicate periodontal disease.
  • Facial swelling — Swelling around the face or jaw can indicate a tooth root infection or other serious complications associated with periodontal disease.
  • Behavior changes — Oral pain may cause your pet to exhibit behavior changes such as irritability, aggression, or hiding. 

Pet dental disease diagnosis

The only way to examine your pet’s mouth thoroughly and determine dental disease’s presence and extent is by allowing our Kauai Veterinary Clinic team to perform a professional veterinary dental examination. This must be done with your pet under general anesthesia so our team can fully evaluate every aspect of your pet’s oral health. X-rays are also necessary because we need to evaluate the teeth’s supporting structures, including the tooth root’s viability and the surrounding bone. 

Pet dental disease treatment

Treatment will depend on the severity of your pet’s dental disease. Your pet’s dental disease treatment may require:

  • Removal of tartar above and below the gumline using ultrasonic dental cleaning tools
  • Tooth extraction
  • Antibiotics
  • Surgery to correct oral-nasal fistulas or remove tumors

Pet dental disease prevention

The good news is that pet dental disease is easily prevented, involving regular veterinary checkups and at-home care. Effective pet dental disease prevention strategies include:

  • Veterinary professional dental cleaning — By scheduling your pet’s regular veterinary professional dental examinations and cleanings, you help keep their mouth as healthy and clean as possible. Most pets need a dental cleaning every one to two years, but some pets, such as small-breed dogs and brachycephalic (i.e., flat-faced) breeds, may need more frequent treatments.
  • Toothbrushing — The best way to promote your pet’s oral health between veterinary dental cleanings is to brush their teeth daily using a pet-specific toothpaste. 
  • Dental chews and toys — Dental chews and toys approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can help reduce plaque and tartar accumulation by encouraging chewing and saliva production. 
  • Water additives — Water additives can help reduce bacteria in your pet’s mouth.
  • Dental diets — Dental diets are formulated to support oral health and decrease plaque and tartar accumulation.

If your pet’s breath is less than appealing, schedule your furry pal’s professional dental cleaning appointment with our Kauai Veterinary Clinic team so we can help maintain their healthy, happy smile.