Dogs are known for their bad breath and it is often joked about, but it is not a laughing matter. Dental disease affects up to 80% of pets over the age of three, there can be serious consequences of poor dental health.
Puppies have 28 deciduous (baby) teeth. By six months, these baby teeth should fall out and be replaced by 42 permanent teeth. You may or may not find the teeth as they fall out. As dogs play and chew on toys, you might see a tooth. If the teeth don’t fall out and adult teeth can erupt under them and it can lead to serious problems such as increased tartar formation, malocclusion problems, and gum irritation. Normally these teeth are removed when the dog is spayed or neutered. A dog’s teeth should be properly looked after or there could be consequences.
The earlier you start looking after their teeth the better.With the help of your Veterinarian, watchout for retained deciduous teeth and malocclusion or bad bite problems. A Veterinarian can teach you how to care for your pet’s teeth and gums early on.
Look out for bad breath it often a is first indicator of dental disease.
To check your dogs teeth gently lift the lips and check for tartar, inflamed gums, or missing/broken teeth. Dental disease progresses in stages if it’s caught early you can often prevent further damage so you can save as many teeth as possible.
Infected teeth aren’t just a problem in the mouth it can also affect the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, and the joints. The tartar and any infected areas contain bacteria than can ‘seed’ to other parts of the body. If caught early some of the more serious side effects with regular dental care.
Thank you for reading, and as all ways comments are welcome