Gum Disease in Dogs

Very much like in humans, there are gum diseases in dogs too. This is mostly observed in older animals but, almost all dogs suffer from gum diseases at some point of time. Dogs tend to suffer from gingivitis which means gum loss and periodontitis which means gum as well as bone loss. These gum diseases can have a negative impact on the dog's health. Dogs suffering from gum diseases might experience a problem in eating. There are chances that the bacteria present in the tooth, spreads to the other parts of the body via the blood stream thus affecting the other parts of the body. It may give rise to other kind of dog allergies. It can give rise to pus formation and tissue destruction in the cavities which are present between the teeth and the gum. If not given proper treatment, there are chances of the dog dying.

Dogs are more prone to gum diseases because of their open mouth breathing habit. The amount of acid present inside the saliva may be a reason of gum disease. The accumulation of food particles or bacteria on gum gives rise to plaque which can be a serious dogs gum problem. This plaque along with minerals and saliva forms calculus which leads to the irritation and inflammation of gum thus causing gum diseases. Consumption of wrong food can also give rise to gum diseases in dogs. This gives rise to spaces in between the teeth which helps in the growth of the bacteria. The gum disease can attack a single tooth of the dog or its several teeth. For severe gum disease in dogs, tooth extraction is preferred. Gum disease treatment for dogs involves bone rebuilding.

There are different grades of gum diseases in dogs. The grades range from I to IV, grade I is where the dog is least attacked by the gum disease, while in grade IV, it is highly attacked. These grades are based on different aspects like the distribution and amount of plaque and calculus that has affected the dogs gums, the radiological appearance, the condition of the gums, etc.

Symptoms of Gum Disease in Dogs

• The most commonly observed symptom of dogs gum disease is bad breath. Bad breath is also referred to as halitosis.
• The next most common symptom of gum disease in dog is, difficulty in chewing and eating.
• The color of gums changes to red. Reddening of gums is observed in the initial stages of the gum disease.
• The dog's gums tend to bleed easily.
• The dogs teeth tend to have become loose or they can go missing.
• The dog can suffer from intestinal and stomach upset due to the presence of bacteria.
• You can observe the dog pawing at the mouth.
• You can observe a sudden and abrupt change in the dog's behavior. He may tend to be nervous and depressed.

In order to avoid gum disease in dog, make sure that you brush his teeth regularly and take proper dog care. Take your dog for regular dental check up and for dental cleaning. If taken proper care of your dogs teeth, you can surely avoid gum diseases. Make sure that you feed your dog with proper dog food.