How to Stop & Prevent Periodontal Disease in Dogs

Periodontal disease can negatively affect your dog's oral health (along with his general health and well-being). In today's post, our Voorhees vets define the disease and list symptoms. We also offer tips to prevent and treat the condition.

Periodontal Disease in Dogs

Periodontitis bacteria can silently invade a dog's mouth, infect the oral cavity, and cause periodontal disease (similar to how the process happens in people's mouths). Typically, dogs won't display any signs of periodontal disease until the condition has progressed to its advanced stages. However, gum disease can lead to chronic pain, gum erosion, and even bone and teeth loss. The teeth's supportive structures can also be weakened or lost. 

Bacteria and food particles naturally accumulate along your dog's gumline (also similar to ours). If teeth aren't brushed regularly, the plaque remains there and hardens into tartar (calculus). This causes the gumline and surrounding areas to become irritated and inflamed – a condition referred to as gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. 

Signs of Periodontal Disease in Dogs

Hallmark symptoms of canine periodontitis include:

Since you are with your dog on a daily basis, you're likely the person most well-acquainted with their physical health, habits, and behaviors. If your pup has periodontal disease, you may notice these signs, in which case you should contact your vet right away to schedule a dental cleaning and exam. Your vet can also look for these signs during your pup's exams.  

By the time a veterinarian or pet owner notices signs of advanced periodontitis in a dog, the dog may be suffering from significant chronic pain. If this is true for your dog, he may instinctively self-isolate, since dogs tend to do this in the wild to avoid showing weakness to predators. 

Unfortunately, periodontal diseases does not remain confined to your dog's mouth. This condition can lead to issues with other major organs in the body. Since bacteria can enter the bloodstream and surround the heart, leading to heart disease. 

Causes of Periodontal Disease

When bacteria collect in your dog's mouth, they develop into plaque and combine with other minerals to form tartar within just two to three days. After tartar has developed on the teeth, it becomes more difficult to scrape away. 

The immune system then starts to fight the accumulation of bacteria, causing the gums to become inflamed and more obvious signs of gum disease to appear. 

Poor nutrition and diet can also contribute to the development of periodontal disease in dogs, in addition to environmental factors such as dirty toys, alignment of teeth (dogs with crowded teeth are more vulnerable to gum disease), oral hygiene and grooming habits (does your pup lick himself frequently?).

How to Treat Periodontal Disease in Dogs

If your dog has periodontal disease, your veterinarian may recommend a professional dental cleaning or other treatments depending on the severity of your dog's oral health problems. 

Costs of dental procedures such as teeth cleanings may vary widely depending on the level of care provided by your veterinarian, your pet’s needs, and other factors. Your pet will need to have blood work before being put under anesthesia to ensure she’s healthy enough for the medication, which can cause problems for dogs with organ diseases.

Any dental procedure should include:

• A complete set of dental radiographs
• IV catheter and IV fluids
• Pre-anesthesia blood work
• Circulating warm air to ensure patient stays warm while under anesthesia
• Endotracheal intubation, inhaled anesthetic and oxygen
• Anesthesia monitoring
• Scaling, polishing and lavage of gingival areas
• Local anesthesia such as novocaine, if any extractions are needed
• Pain medication during and after the procedure

Preventing Your Dog From Developing Periodontal Disease

Fortunately, we pooch parents can prevent our dogs from getting periodontal disease, and the condition can be treated and reversed - if detected early.

When it comes to your dog’s oral health, don’t neglect it or procrastinate. Similar to their people, they require regular dental appointments to keep up with oral hygiene and identify any trouble spots. Your pup should see the vet at least once each year to have her oral health evaluated.

You’ll also have the chance to ask any questions you may have regarding at-home care, and find out how often your pet should come in for professional teeth cleanings (as those with issues may need to come more frequently).

Prevent issues from developing into unmanageable situations between appointments by doing a daily brushing of your dog’s teeth to prevent bacteria and plaque from getting a foothold (choose a toothpaste made specially for dogs).

There are also dental chews, dog food and chew toys designed to address dental disease and reduce tartar development. But fair warning: don’t try to replace brushing with these - think of them as an add-on to regular oral care). If you notice inflamed or swollen gums, missing teeth or even appetite changes, book an appointment immediately.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.