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Gum Disease in Dogs
What is Gum Disease?
Bacterial colonization results in erosion of the gums, teeth and bone, causing chronic pain and tooth and bone loss. Gum disease increases the risk of heart, kidney and liver disease in dogs and is preventable if dental hygiene measures are taken throughout life. Symptoms are often noted in older dogs with advanced periodontal disease, though over 80 percent of dogs have early stages of gum disease by age three.
Periodontal disease (or gum disease) is the weakening and eventual loss of the supporting structures of the teeth. Gum disease can cause significant harm to a dogs mouth, including eroded gums, bad breath, missing teeth, bone loss, and chronic pain.Gum Disease Average Cost
From 154 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,500
Average Cost
$800
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Symptoms of Gum Disease in Dogs
There are often no obvious signs in the early stages of gum disease. By the time symptoms are noticed, the pet may be in advanced stages. Symptoms of advanced periodontal disease include:
- Bleeding or red gums
- Pawing at the mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty eating
- Drooling
- Irritability or anti-social behavior
- Loose or missing teeth
- Blood in water bowl or on chew toys
- Bad breath
Types
There are various stages in the development of gum disease. The stages are based on observations of the teeth and gums.
- Stage I: Mild redness and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) is seen near the teeth.
- Stage II: Probing indicates periodontal pockets have formed between the gum and tooth. Pockets over 3mm in depth indicate abnormal gingiva.
- Stage III: Periodontal pockets are measured at deeper than 5mm and bone loss is observed.
- Stage IV: Greater than 40-50 percent bone loss, extensive tarter buildup and gum recession.
Causes of Gum Disease in Dogs
Gum disease begins with bacteria, food and salvia combining to form plaque. The plaque coats the teeth and, within 2-3 days, combines with minerals and hardens into tartar. Our body’s immune system attempts to fight the bacteria in plaque and in turn causes the gums to become red and inflamed. Tarter continues to build and begins to pry the gums away from the teeth. This creates pockets of open space between the teeth and gums where bacteria can multiply. Abscesses can form and tissue is destroyed. Teeth become loose and bone deteriorates.
Some factors that contribute to the development of gum disease include:
- Age
- General health
- Diet
- Chewing behaviors
- Genetics
- Tooth alignment
- Grooming habits
- Dental hygiene
Diagnosis of Gum Disease in Dogs
If you suspect your pet may have symptoms of gum disease, or in order to prevent gum disease, bring your pet to the veterinarian for an oral examination. Your vet will want to know your pet’s eating habits, chewing habits, and the onset of any symptoms of gum disease.
A brief physical exam can detect inflamed gums and tartar buildup, however a full oral examination can only be conducted under general anesthesia. If the veterinarian suspects gum disease, she will recommend a dental prophy, a procedure that will further examine the teeth and gums and provide a full cleaning under anesthesia. So the pet doesn’t have to undergo anesthesia more than once, it is recommended to initiate treatment or perform any extractions at the same time the cleaning is done.
Dental Examination
During a dental prophy under anesthesia, the pet’s teeth and gums will be scaled, cleaned and polished. A calibrated periodontal probe will be inserted between the gumline and each tooth to measure the presence and depth of pockets. If more than 3mm of distance is noted, some form of periodontal abnormality is present.
Dental X-Ray
Up to 60 percent of periodontal disease takes place below the gumline. Dental x-ray is an invaluable tool in visualizing bone loss and deterioration.
Treatment of Gum Disease in Dogs
If the veterinarian suspects gum disease is present in your pet, she will likely schedule an appointment for a dental prophy and any surgery or extractions. Since these procedures are conducted under general anesthetic, pre-anesthetic bloodwork will be recommended. Depending on the stage of disease, antibiotics may be administered prior to a dental procedure to prevent the spread of bacteria as a result of dental work. A complete oral exam and probing is only possible under anesthesia. Once the oral examination is done, including x-rays, then a treatment plan is created. Only then will the veterinarian know if any teeth need extraction or other treatments are needed. The oral examination and then the required treatments will all be done under the same anesthesia.
For stage I or II periodontal disease, a complete dental cleaning above and below the gumline will remove plaque. Tartar will be removed with an ultrasonic scaler. Polishing will fill in crevices on the surface of the teeth to prevent bacterial attachment and plaque buildup.
For stage III or IV periodontal disease, after cleaning and scaling, probing and dental x-ray will allow the veterinarian to determine the degree of damage and treatment protocol. Several treatment options are available:
- Planing and subgingival curettage – These techniques remove tarter, diseased tooth and diseased tissue and smooth the root surface.
- Gingivectomy – Refers to removal of excess or diseased gingiva (gums).
- Periodontal surgery – A procedure that opens the gum to expose the tooth root for deeper cleaning and treatment. Slow-release antibiotics, sealants and bone growth stimulants can be added to promote attachment and healing.
- Extraction – In cases of loose, cracked or dying teeth, extraction can be the best option.
Periodontal disease does irreversible damage. However, the treatment of current conditions combined with future preventative care (proper diet, teeth brushing, chew toys, dental treats) can keep disease from progressing further and keep your pet in good health.
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Recovery of Gum Disease in Dogs
Depending on the treatment, follow-up appointments may be required to assess healing. If surgery or extractions are involved, pain medications and antibiotics will need to be administered for several weeks. You may need to feed your pet a soft diet or his normal kibble soaked in warm water and eliminate hard chew toys for 3-4 weeks to allow the teeth and gums to heal.
Periodontal disease is irreversible and only controllable. Therefore, preventative dental hygiene is the best way to keep your dogs teeth healthy. Start with brushing your dog’s teeth as a puppy and schedule annual dental cleanings with your veterinarian.
Brush your pet’s teeth twice daily to minimize bacteria. Animal approved toothpastes are available at most pet stores and are flavored so most dogs learn to tolerate and even enjoy tooth brushing. A child’s soft-bristled toothbrush can be used. Position your pet comfortably , and gently introduce the brush with the toothpaste, adding a few seconds each day to brushing time until the pet adapts.
Take your dog for regular oral examinations and schedule annual cleanings to remove any tartar that has built up and give the teeth a full cleaning.
Gum Disease Average Cost
From 154 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,500
Average Cost
$800
Top
Gum Disease Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Welsh Corgi, Pembroke
Candy
11 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None. Diagnosed During Regular Check
Our veterinary says our Corgi's gums are covering over or drooping over her teeth ( between her front and back teeth) and need to be cut back. Our Corgi is 11 and just had her teeth cleaned 1 year ago. No mention was made at that time of any gum issues. Is this a common issue in older dogs. Our Corgi is healthy and has given no signs that her teeth are bothering her.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
This condition is called gingival hyperplasia and may occur rapidly in cases of infection or irritation, a year is a long time; age is also a contributing factor. Each case is individual depending on the severity and progression, some cases maybe treated easily with a cleaning and course of antibiotics whilst others would require surgical intervention. Your Veterinarian is in the best position to determine a course of treatment. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVMhttps://www.vetary.com/dog/condition/enlarged-gums
July 26, 2017
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Bichon Frise
Zen
4
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Mouth Odor
My dog is 4 years old, he has had to have surgery, when they extracted 5 teeth. 2.5 months later, his breath smells bad again, and the vet said he needs to have surgery again to extract more teeth out. I have been brushing his teeth daily so am very surprised. What am I missing?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Some dogs are more prone to dental problems, these include small breeds like Bichon Frise; these problems may include gum disease, dental overcrowding etc… Cleaning teeth in dogs can be challenging, ensuring that all surfaces (especially near the gum line) are adequate brushed. Many owners feed their pets wet food which can linger around the teeth, dry food can help scrape the teeth; giving dental sticks to your pet may help improve oral health. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
Hello, my pug has inflammation around his gum
his tooth are loose in the front is there anywhere to save his teeth with some home remedy
And reduced his redness in his gum??
July 26, 2017
Chris H.
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Westie
Coco
6 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None. Diagnosed During Regular Check
I brought my Six year old westie to the vet for a checkup and vaccines. I found out she has gum disease and needs to have a tooth extracted! Why can't we treat the gum infection and save the tooth? I would like a second opinion.
July 26, 2017
2 Recommendations
As with any condition, gum disease is split in to two main categories according to severity; gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum due to bacteria and from the accumulation of calcified plaque; periodontal disease is the damage and loss of soft (gums) and hard (bone) tissue surrounding a tooth or teeth. Depending on the severity, teeth may need to be extracted regardless of other treatment methods (antibiotics, scaling, polishing etc…) and would be determined on a case by case basis. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Australian Silky Terrier
Chloe
5 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Increased Appetite
Tooth Discoloration
My dog has a tooth with lots of tartar and another coming in at 90 degree angle. The tooth that's coming in (seems to have been for five years) is surrounded by inflamed gum that appears to be pulling away from the tooth. Also, she seems more tired and more cuddly and she's eating food she usually spits out. Mostly I'm worried that the tired and cuddly indicate infection. She's a terrier and usually a maniac and stubborn rather than a compliant snuggler.
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
In cases of severe gum disease with calculi (calcified plaque) and loss of gum tissue around the tooth usually indicate infection and loss of both hard (bone) and soft tissue support around the tooth. The pain and discomfort from the possible tissue loss around the tooth would cause pain and discomfort which may lead to a loss of appetite and in turn lethargy. Chloe would need to go in to have her teeth scraped, scaled, polished and possibly removal of a tooth or two depending on the underlying damage to the surrounding tissue, without visually examining Chloe’s mouth I cannot give any further information. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Dommie
9 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Mouth Odor
My dog is 9 years old. Maltese poodle excellent health all teeth present. Went for annual non anesthetic cleanings every year.Found out today that my dog has never had xrays and now needs 5 extractions. Because I was concerned about his oral odor. I brought up, why hasnt he had xrays are you kidding me I feel failed by my vet for not having informing us that my dog has advanced perio disease , and don't understand how we went from excellent reports to today's findings. It's starts with reversible gingivitis then advanced perio. Also understand that xrays are necessary to unveil any abnormal pathology but should have the dental tech indicated gingivitis, xrays, more frequent cleanings if there was a concern? I'm now out $900(after raising concern to dr) and feel my dog could have kept all of his teeth if any concerns were noted sooner! Advice??
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
Non-anaesthetic cleaning is a misleading name for the procedure. The procedure doesn’t involve cleaning at all, it is actually just a scraping; when you visit the dentist, he will examine your teeth and will scrape off layers or spots of plaque (which causes the teeth to become yellow) that has build up on the teeth giving the appearance of whiter teeth. Imagine taking a young child to the dentist and all the problems you have to keep them still when you explain to them what the Dentist is doing; now imagine Dommie having to be held down with no anaesthesia, mouth forced open and having his teeth scraped not understanding why this is happening (some dogs actually tolerate this well). The scraping doesn’t actually prevent periodontal disease as it isn’t possible to clean beneath the gum line; so whilst the teeth look visibly cleaner, the result is mainly (unfortunately) cosmetic. X-rays are not routinely taken unless requested or part of a package. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
My pug teeth is lose and looks red and inflammation around the gum, can I save his tooth is there any home remedies that can help his gum??
July 26, 2017
Chris H.
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Gum Disease Average Cost
From 154 quotes ranging from $500 - $2,500
Average Cost
$800
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
