The most common signs of periodontal disease that you will see in your pet are:
- Persistent bad breath
- Sensitivity around the mouth
- Pawing at the mouth
- Loss of appetite, difficulty eating
- Plaque (may not be obvious)
- Bleeding, inflamed or receded gums
- Tartar/calculus (yellow/brown, hard material)
- Loose, missing or infected teeth
In fact one of the most common questions that pet owners ask veterinarians is: Why does my pet have bad breath?
The most common cause of bad breath is excessive calculus and plaque deposits on the teeth. Bacteria live and feed in the plaque and produce gum and bone infection, pain and bad breath. Calculus (also referred to as tartar) is a crusty collection of food particles, minerals and bacteria that forms at the teeth/gum borders. Calculus formation eventually leads to gum disease, mouth odors, receding gums, and bone destruction and infection.
The rate at which plaque and calculus forms on your pet's teeth is mainly due to genetic predisposition, but can be slowed with a good daily oral hygiene program and regular professional cleaning and polishing. Inflamed, infected gums (pyorrhea) is often the cause of kidney infections and inflammation of the heart in older cats and dogs. This pressure and inflammation is quite painful for your pet, just as it would be for yourself.
If your pet is showing any of the above signs, the first step would be to have him/her examined by your veterinarian to evaluate the mouth for periodontal disease.
6011 Jackson Road - Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734.769.5391
e-mail: clinic@westarbor.com