Periodontal Disease or Gum disease is usually silent. When it starts, there are no outward signs and symptoms.
Yet, once it advances, gum disease can devastate your Dogs and Cats mouth, causing chronic pain, eroded gums, missing teeth, and bone loss -. a fate hardly fair to our beloved best friend.
The mouth is home to thousands of bacteria.
Bacteria is to blame for gum disease in people as well as in pets. Almost immediately after eating, bacteria, along with food, saliva, and other particles, begin forming a sticky film over the teeth called plaque.
If allowed to remain on the tooth's surface, plaque thickens, becomes mineralized
and creates tartar (calculus) This tartar accumulates above and below the gum line leading to inflammation or infection called Gingivitis. Gingivitis which is seen as a reddening of the gums directly bordering the teeth is the early stage of periodontal disease.
This inflammation or infection of the tissues surrounding the tooth causes pockets or gum recession around the tooth's attachment. When left untreated, the infection often spreads deeper into the tooth socket, destroying the bone which can lead to tooth extraction.
By then, your pet may be living with chronic pain. Some symptoms of severe gum disease include
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Bleeding or red inflamed gums
- Loss of appetite or dropping food from the moth while eating
- Loose teeth
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Blood in the water bowl or on chew toys
- Bad breath (halitosis)
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"Talking" or making noises when a dog eats or yawns
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Bumps or lumps in the mouth
- Sneezing or nasal discharge (advanced gum disease in the upper teeth can destroy the bone between the nasal and oral cavity)
Unchecked gum inflammation can allow bacteria access to the blood stream and put your Loved One in high risk of heart, kidney, and liver disease.
Brush your Pets teeth every day.
You know that the best home care for your teeth is daily brushing. It is the same for your Beloved Best Friend !
There are four recognized stages of periodontal disease
in dogs and cats
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Stage 1 In stage 1 periodontal disease (also called “gingivitis”), the gums are inflamed but there is no evidence of support loss. Treatment involves plaque and calculus removal plus daily plaque prevention.  |
Stage 2 In stage 2 periodontal disease (“early periodontitis”), the tooth begins to lose its support. Treatment involves removal of plaque and calculus, specific periodontal therapy based on examination findings as well as daily plaque prevention.  |
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Stage 3 In stage 3 periodontal disease (“established”), the loss of tooth support has progressed. Advanced periodontal procedures and stringent plaque prevention may result in saving a tooth.  |
Stage 4 In stage 4 periodontal disease (“advanced”) greater than half of the tooth’s support is lost. Extraction is the recommended treatment of choice. 
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