Common Doggy Dental Problems

Did you know that bad breath is often a sign of dental issues in dogs? Other symptoms include tartar buildup, swelling, excessive drool, and dribbling food. These red flags can be indicative of many different dental issues in our furry pals. A San Antonio, TX vet lists some common ones below.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the most common issues in our canine buddies. It affects a whopping 80 percent of pooches over the age of three. Just like with people, gum disease is painless and asymptomatic in its early stages. However, as it progresses, it can cause tooth shifting and loss, and can contribute to some other serious health issues, such as heart and liver problems. Some of the things to look for here include tartar buildup and bleeding gums, which may cause Fido to leave bloody smears on his toys and food.

Cracked/Broken Teeth

This one is somewhat par for the course for Fido. Many dogs love playing Fetch and Tug of War. These games can be pretty hard on your furry friend’s choppers. It’s not uncommon for pups to damage their teeth playing with hard objects.

Abscesses

Abscesses are infections in the teeth and gums. These can be extremely painful for pups. They are also very dangerous, as any sort of infection in the vicinity of the brain is a huge concern. Swelling is often a sign of this. Your pet may also act glum or grumpy, and may have trouble chewing his food.

Misalignments

Misalignments in dogs isn’t a cosmetic concern. The trouble is that misalignments can cause problems with the way Fido chews his food, which can cause trouble with his digestion. Believe it or not, doggy braces do exist. However, in most cases, a simple extraction may be the better option.

Overcrowding

Overcrowding is quite common in little dogs. Most of our canine pals have 42 teeth by the time they are adults. That’s a lot of choppers to fit into a small mouth! This one you can often observe with the naked eye.

Tips

We recommend having your dog’s teeth examined at least once a year, starting at age one. You’ll also want to contact your vet if you notice any of the symptoms listed above.

Do you know or suspect that your pooch has dental issues? Contact us, your San Antonio, TX animal clinic, today.