Dental disorders in cats and dogs are the most common diseases in a veterinary practice. Because animals have a high threshold for pain in the mouth, owners rarely notice these kinds of problems. They usually get discovered during veterinary exams. Beside congenital problems, irregular bite and missing teeth, there are many acquired problems like:
- Tooth plaque
- Tooth tartar
- Cavities
- Tooth decay
- Fracture of teeth
- Remnants of baby teeth
- Periodontitis
- Tooth abscess
Symptoms
- Lower food consumption
- Depression
- Bloody hyper-salivation
- Bad breath
- Facial swelling with difficulties with closing the mouth
Long-term, untreated teeth problems not only affect the mouth, they can create problems in other organs like the eyes, kidney, heart, lung and joints.
Treatment
- Mandatory veterinary exam
- Jaw X-ray in consultation with veterinarian
- Therapy procedures that may be recommended by a doctor: Tartar removal, Tooth extraction, Abscess treatment, Bite correction.
Prevention
Because treatment of dental disorders is expensive and a long-lasting process, prevention is a key part for both owner and pet.
The best thing that owner can do is:
- Check pet’s mouth for above mentioned symptoms
- Try to clean pet’s teeth in some kind of manner at least three times a week
- Use special toothpaste because human toothpaste contains substances that can be very harmful to the animal
- Pay attention to excessive chewing and rock biting that can lead to enamel damage that may result in cavities and tooth abscesses
Teeth cleaning can be a very challenging process. The difficult nature of this procedure is a main reason for the high number of pets not receiving treatment and preventive oral care.