Keeping our dogs healthy does require performing some unflattering tasks — like daily poop patrol in the backyard and the often-avoided regular brushing of teeth. It’s time to step up the dental care of our dogs — for the sake of their health and for maintaining the size of your wallet. Win-win, right?
With the help of two leading veterinary dentists — Dr. Debra Nossaman and Dr. Ben Colmery III — Dogster identified key dog dental issues facing pups of all ages and sizes. “Dogs can be so good at hiding pain, so that by the time a person realizes something is wrong with their dog, the problem may be advanced,” says Dr. Nossaman, a board-certified veterinary dentist and co-founder of the Dallas Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in Texas.
Dr. Colmery, a board-certified veterinary dentist who co-founded the American Veterinary Dental Society and who owns the Dixboro Veterinary Dental clinic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, adds, “When we can find the issue in the mouth and fix it, the dog has a new lease on life.” Here’s the rundown on the top dental issues and how to deal with them:
Red Swollen Gums
As a rule, healthy gums should be bubblegum pink, but they can also have pigmentation that’s black or sports black spots. But swollen, red and painful gums signal gingivitis, a condition caused by a buildup of bacteria and tartar on the teeth.
The solution calls for a veterinarian to take dental X-rays, study them and then conduct a thorough teeth cleaning while your dog is under anesthesia.
“We have made quantum leaps in the improvement of anesthesia and sedation in veterinary dentistry,” says Dr. Colmery. “Giving pain medication before, during and after dental procedures has been shown to speed recovery and lessen the level of general anesthesia.”
Dr. Nossaman adds, “When you can see the rim next to the teeth get red and inflamed, that is gingivitis and the teeth need to be professionally cleaned. Don’t wait for severe gingivitis to occur, because your dog will be at risk for bone loss or painful, periodontal pockets.”
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