Understanding the Signs of Canine Gum Disease

Gum disease is serious business, no matter who it affects. From the neighborhood stray cat to your beloved canine companion, it can lead to more serious illness and disease if left untreated. Fortunately, once gum disease has started to occur, it is relatively easy to detect when you know what to look for. However, always take your dog to the veterinarian for positive identification of what is ailing your dog's mouth.

An Individual Tooth

According to PetMD, gum disease generally starts as inflammation around a single tooth. The gums around this tooth may be red, especially along the gum line. There is often inflammation present in the gums around the tooth as well. This first stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis.

Change in Tooth Color

Gingivitis can also cause discoloration on the surface of the teeth. Plaque and tartar build-up can cause the affected teeth to be various shades of yellow. In some instances, the tooth can have extremely dark yellow coating, with build-up in the crevices being brown or even black.

Halitosis (Bad Breath)

As gum disease progresses, you may notice that your dog is starting to suffer from continual bad breath. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be mild to severe in nature.

However, it should be noted that halitosis is significantly different than the normal dog breath you may associate with canines. While there are several products on the market to treat bad breath in dogs, the reality is that this symptom can also indicate more than just gum disease. In fact, both kidney disease and lung disease can both cause halitosis to occur in a dog.

Loss of Appetite, Difficulty Chewing or Eating

If you've got an aching tooth, chances are you don't have much of an appetite. This may be due to the fact that you know that attempting to eat will only cause you physical pain. The same holds true for canine companions.

Dogs who are suffering from gum disease, which can worsen over time and cause damage to the exterior visible portions of the affected teeth as well as the interior portions of the teeth, will often show a lack of appetite or have difficulty chewing and eating their food. This may mean that whenever food is presented, the dog may show no interest, or he may try to eat and whine and cry while attempting to chew.

Irritability

Pain causes even the best of us to become cranky or irritable. This too, can happen to a dog. This is especially true if the gum disease has become serious, with lost teeth and serious oral damage.

This irritability could lead to additional, non-related issues. For example, a young child trying to play with a beloved canine may get snapped at because the dog is in so much pain.

These five symptoms are just some of the many symptoms a dog with gum disease may suffer from. Always check with your veterinarian to confirm the presence and severity of any oral disease and be sure to talk with your veterinarian about a plan to get your dog's oral health back on the right track.

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Additional Sources and Information:

PetMD: Gum Disease in Dogs

Dental Pet: Photographs of Various Stages of Dental Disease

Pet Education: Periodontal Disease

Pet Place: Halitosis