Pet parents often hear about the importance of proper oral care to keep their dog’s teeth healthy. But sometimes dog dental problems also occur.
Rachel Hinder, claims manager at Embrace Pet Insurance, says the top canine dental problems among their insured clients are canine dental disease (which can cost $750 on average). for treatment), tartar ($500 on average) and broken teeth ($625 on average). Other related dental expenses may include the cost of cleaning the dog’s teeth (average $246) and the cost of extracting the dog’s teeth (average $187).
Top dog dental problems
Dr. Briana Mirchel, American College of Veterinary Dentistry resides in Animal Dental Services in California, say that far and wide, the most common problem is periodontal disease in dogs. She says it’s a build-up of bacteria, waste, debris and inflammation that affects the supporting structure of the teeth that, when left untreated, can cause teeth to become loose. When teeth are loose, extraction is often the recommended treatment.
“The best course of action is early intervention,” she said. “Start taking care of your teeth early. Daily brushing has repeatedly been shown in studies to be the best at-home oral care alongside an annual anesthetic cleaning. “
Dr. Mirchel says the second most common dental problem they encounter is broken teeth. She says that unlike humans, whose teeth grind and chew in the back, dogs have a scissor-like action, in which their upper teeth slide past their bottom teeth with their largest teeth known as “carnassials” ” (meaning teeth cut meat).
“When dogs try to chew on hard objects, especially cylindrical ones, such as nylon bones, animal bones and bully sticks, and try to crush these objects, their teeth will often break,” she said. broken. “Some dogs will stop at that point while others will then turn to the other side and break that tooth.”
She says that depending on the severity of the fracture and the health of the tooth, treatment may include trying to save the tooth with a canal or performing an extraction.
“When we have a root canal, we clean the diseased pulp, leave the tooth in place, then disinfect the cavity, put inert rubber, and seal the tooth,” she said. “We can then prepare the surface of the tooth and take an impression for a mixed metal alloy crown.”
Signs of dental problems in dogs
Dr. Mirchel says dogs don’t always signal when they have pain in their mouth because they can be motivated by food and also because some pain is worse with hot/cold sensations, which is hard to see in dogs. Dog patients, there are some things to watch out for:
- Your dog avoids one side of his mouth when chewing
- Your dog avoids some toys or treats more difficult
- There is a significant smell coming from his mouth
- There is pus at the gum line
- His gums bleed easily
- There is swelling, such as under the eyes – usually the site of a draining root abscess.
Dog dental problems can be painful and expensive. Prevention is key. Take care of your teeth regularly, including brushing and/or using other dental products, such as dental wipes, toothpaste, and water additives, as well as being careful with chews that can be too harsh. hard on your dog. However, it is important to monitor your dog for signs of discomfort such as avoiding chewing on one side of the mouth or symptoms such as bleeding gums. If you are concerned about your dog’s teeth, visit your veterinarian for an oral exam.
