Pets can surely bring a lot of enjoyment to your daily life. Giving them the best health care possible is essential no matter what type of pet you own. When did you last have your pet’s dental health checked? If you don’t take care, small instances of bad breath can rapidly worsen to severe cases of periodontal diseases.
Periodontal illness refers to the infection of the bones and gums holding teeth. It causes halitosis and gingivitis, as well as eventual tooth loss. Even more, bacteria in the mouth can spread via the bloodstream and into the rest of the pet’s body and cause damaging the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Dental Disease and Its Health Impacts
Dogs require a solid dental routine to keep their teeth and gums well-maintained. There is a risk of contracting dental diseases when their teeth aren’t correctly cared for. The consequences can extend to their overall health, not just their mouths, teeth, and gums. Learn more about how dental problems can impact a dog’s health.
1. Heart Disease
Endocarditis, an illness that affects the heart’s inner lining, has been linked to periodontal disease. Dogs with severe gum disease have sixfold more risk of endocarditis than healthy dogs. Endocarditis and periodontal disease are typically found together for reasons still to be discovered. The microorganisms that cause both conditions are the same.
Routine dental checkups and regular dog and cat teeth cleaning are some ways in which you can help your pet achieve dental health and prevent complications, such as heart diseases.
2. Weight Loss
Your dog may have difficulty eating when dental disease is progressing. They may also cease eating altogether if the discomfort of chewing gets excessive. A rapid decline in weight that may result from this issue is a problem for various reasons. Without adequate nutrition, the body is unable to function normally. The dog’s immune system can weaken if the illness isn’t treated. This leaves the dog vulnerable to infections and other diseases.
3. Pain and Discomfort
Even though you don’t feel discomfort, dental problems can cause your pet many issues. It’s typical for dogs to refrain from chewing on the painful side of their mouth or to choose softer, liquid foods over the drier, crunchier chewing kibble.
Symptoms of pain indicate an increased likelihood of secondary infections, which can increase the severity of the problem. Sometimes, something suddenly becomes stuck between their teeth or snaps, causing extreme pain. Though your dog may appear unaffected, the underlying pain may be causing subtle behavior shifts, such as increased aggression or sadness.
In case of a dental emergency, bring your pet to a 24 hr pet vet to receive prompt diagnosis and treatment, preventing further complications or issues.
4. Jaw Fracture
Dental diseases cause a surprising amount of canine jaw fractures. This may sound extreme. Smaller dog breeds with disproportionately large teeth, including Chihuahuas, Maltese, and Shih Tzus, are the most susceptible to this problem. A dog’s jawbone can become fragile due to issues like abscessed teeth or periodontal (gum) diseases, and even a single leap from the couch or eating a bite of crunchy food could cause the jawbone to fracture.
This is especially true to our senior pets, hence, a comprehensive geriatric care in Murfreesboro should be sought and discussed with your trusted veterinarian.
5. Inflammation
Inflamed gum tissue can result from your immune system’s reaction to microorganisms produced by an infection in the dental cavity. Although the inflammatory response eliminates bacteria, it may also affect healthy cells. Because of this, the surrounding tissue could die, the discomfort will increase, and the possibility of infection could arise. Severe dental disease can cause more inflammation, which raises the risk that germs could infiltrate the bloodstream and propagate throughout the body.
