Gum disease in dogs

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and healthy is all part of being a responsible pet owner. Clean teeth and a healthy mouth are a good start to looking after your furry friend’s overall health.

Here we look at the symptoms of gum disease, and how to prevent it. This includes early-warning signs, such as gingivitis – all the way up to periodontitis, which can involve tooth loss.

To best protect your furry pal’s teeth, look for a dog insurance policy with dental cover.

What are the early-warning signs of gum disease?

Like our own teeth, our dog's teeth can develop a build-up of plaque. This is a combination of food, saliva, bacteria and other particles found in the mouth.

After a while, this can become tartar – a hard substance made up of bad bacteria if left untreated. This build-up on the teeth will eventually cause gingivitis, and could potentially lead to more severe periodontal disease.

You’ll know your dog has gingivitis if they have red, swollen gums that can sometimes bleed and cause a bad and unpleasant odour from their mouths.

Gum disease symptoms

Dogs can’t really tell us they’re in pain, so keep an eye out for signs there may be a problem with your dog’s mouth:

• Smelly breath
• Red or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums
• Yellow crusty build-up on the teeth
• Excessive drooling and smacking
• Chews and swallows without having anything in their mouth
• Chewing on only one side or dropping food from the side of the mouth
• Reduced appetite and weight loss

Prevention is better than cure. As such, regular dental check-ups by a vet are crucial. Without such examinations, should your dog develop gingivitis or a more advanced periodontal disease, bacteria may travel through the bloodstream and – in extreme cases – this has been known to cause heart and kidney problems.

Also keep an eye out for blood-stained saliva

Some dog breeds are prone to a lot of drool. But the saliva should normally be clear and almost water-like in colour. Saliva mixed with blood indicates damage to the oral mucosa and can occur with tooth or jaw damage, severe inflammation, tumours or coagulation defects.

If you see this, take your dog to the vet as soon as you can.

Gingivitis in dogs

Gingivitis is mainly caused by bacterial deposits near the gum line. When this occurs, the gums become irritated and reddened or very red.

Symptoms are similar to those listed above. In particular, the gums may become inflamed, and bleed spontaneously.

The changes are usually first seen along the gum line, to eventually cover the entire gum. The surface becomes glossy and shiny. The tissue swells, becomes soft and flabby and may bleed spontaneously. Your dog may also have bad breath.

How is gingivitis treated?

The teeth may need to be completely cleaned of plaque and calculus through professional dental cleaning at a veterinarian.

After that, you need to brush their teeth regularly (more on how to do this below). You should concentrate particularly around the gums. Plaque is continuously formed by substances in the saliva together with oral bacteria and can never be avoided. As such, a regular tooth brushing routine is the only way to prevent plaque.

Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis.

Tooth loss (periodontitis) in dogs

Periodontitis, known as tooth loss, is a chronic inflammation of the supporting tissue of the tooth that first destroys the soft tissue around the tooth and – at a later stage – the jawbone, leading to loose teeth.

Periodontitis can be local in the oral cavity or general. Plaque formation is what leads to periodontitis and calculus (tartar) is seen in varying degrees.

What causes periodontitis?

The tooth loss disease periodontitis starts with inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). The gums become irritated, pockets form under the gums and eventually the tooth may become loose. The tooth can come off (fracture) more easily or fall out altogether. The gums can also recede, exposing the root of the tooth.

If your dog's teeth are attacked by periodontitis, they can never regain normal bone support again. The only way to avoid further development of tooth loss is to thoroughly brush your dog's teeth daily.

Periodontitis can lead to root tip abscess

If the infection spreads to the tooth root, it can eventually lead to infection in the jawbone and give rise to root tip abscesses (see below). The damage caused by the disease is irreversible. Keep an eye out for swelling or cheek sores.

Symptoms of tooth loss (periodontitis)

• Bad breath
• Irritated gums
• Loose teeth
• The dog scratches their mouth
• Decreased appetite and difficulty eating
• Problems with chewing
• Aggression, irritability and depression

How tooth loss is treated

In an early stage of tooth loss, calculus and plaque are removed under anaesthesia. Any gum pockets are cleaned and they are measured in mm. Dental X-rays are performed when a large part of a tooth is under the gums.

If tooth loss is already in a later stage, teeth may need to be extracted and sometimes it may need to be supplemented with gum surgery. After that, the pet owner should regularly (daily) brush their dog's teeth to try to prevent further development of the disease.

Root tip abscesses in dogs

Root tip abscesses, or boils, can be very painful for dogs. It can be difficult to detect as it's not always clear when dogs have pain in their mouths.

What's the cause of root tip abscesses?

Apical abscesses can occur when the tooth roots become infected and exposed to bacteria. This could be due to a broken tooth, or that the tooth's supporting tissues have been affected by an infection and tooth loss (periodontitis).

At a later stage in the disease process, an abscess can form in the jawbone, which can open, for example, just below the eye or in the nasal cavity.

Signs and symptoms of a root tip abscess

• Swelling and sores on the cheek or lower jaw
• Difficulty chewing on chew bones or chew toys
• Lots of drooling
• Chewing on just one side of their mouth
• Difficulty opening and closing their mouth
• One eye bulges
• Was out of one nostril

How root tip abscesses are treated

Your vet may need to x-ray the tooth first to confirm the diagnosis. The most common treatment is to remove the tooth. In some cases the tooth can be filled with a root canal. Medicine and, in some cases, antibiotics are given to reduce the inflammation and pain.

If your dog has a broken tooth, you should always contact your vet sooner rather than later – it’s important to treat the tooth in time. If – for example – a root canal is done at an early stage, root tip infection can be prevented.

Again, it’s worth noting that through regular tooth brushing, you can both prevent and detect disease in the dog's mouth at an early stage.

Brushing your dog’s teeth

If possible, you should brush your dog’s teeth regularly. As a rule, dogs seem to tolerate this reasonably well. And once your dog is used to the process, it’s much easier than you think. 

It’s advisable to get your dog comfortable with having their teeth cleaned from as early an age as possible. Choose a time when your dog is comfortable and relaxed, keeping it to short sessions to get them used to it. Start by getting your dog used to you handling their mouth by stroking their cheek gently back and forth. 

Once they’re comfortable with this, which could take a few days, progress to getting them used to the taste of the toothpaste. Let them lick it before you start rubbing it on their gums. Again, this can take days to build up their tolerance, and you should always be led by your dog’s comfort.

Please note: Only use an animal-friendly toothpaste as human toothpaste is toxic to dogs.

Once your dog is comfortable allowing you to rub the toothpaste on their gums, you can progress to using a gentle toothbrush. Start at the front and gradually move to the back teeth, using slow circular motions. 

Getting your dog to brush their own teeth

Why not let your dog look after their dental health while having fun?! 

Providing your pet with natural chews and toys that have been designed to improve dental health will also help control plaque and tartar build-up. However, try to avoid hard chews, bone and stones that can splinter or wear down or break teeth.

Cover for dental treatment

Dogs insured with an Agria Pet Insurance policy have unlimited cover for dental treatment, providing the cost falls within the annual vets’ fees limit of up to £12,500.

Treatment required for dental disease and accidents is covered, providing a dental check has been carried out within the previous 12 months, and any treatment recommended by the vet has been carried out within 3 months of the advice. Find out more about the terms of Agria’s dog insurance here.