Learn 5 threatening effects of neglecting your dog’s dental health

One of the most important jobs for a dog owner is maintaining a good dental hygiene routine for their dog. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is essential to keeping them healthy and strong. It is important to ensure you take the right measures to prevent your dog from having dental issues. Unlike most animals, the dental health of dogs is easier to maintain thanks to new and innovative products like dental chews.

The Common Signs Of Deteriorating Dental Health in Dogs

It is fairly easy to identify deteriorating dental health in dogs. Here are some of the telltale signs to be on the lookout for:

  • Swelling of gums
  • Loss of appetite
  • Excessive drooling
  • Bleeding from gums
  • Swelling under the eyes
  • Reluctance to chew
  • Bad breath

Alarming Consequences Of Ignoring Your Dog’s Dental Health

Although the signs of deteriorating dental health in dogs are easy to spot, a negligent owner may miss them. This leads to complications of dental diseases and can have a severe impact on the health of your dog.

Here are five alarming consequences of not paying attention to your dog’s dental health:

Loss of Teeth and Jaw Structure

  • Ignoring a dog’s dental health can lead to the development of cavities in their teeth that decay the entire tooth over time. When the dog chews on food and toys, these decayed teeth are prone to cracking and can cause injury to the gums as well. In the worst-case scenario, the jaws of the dogs can shatter especially if they have disproportionately large teeth. Such periodontal diseases and fractures are difficult to cure once they reach such a severe stage.

Bacterial Infections That Can Be Lethal

  • Another important aspect to consider is the bacterial infections that can develop in your dog’s teeth as they decay. This causes infections to the root of the teeth and bone of the jaw. It can sometimes cause the jaw to swell, or even spread to the ears and eyes of the dog. In instances like these dogs seldom eat their food as they are unable to chew or swallow food.

Can Lead To The Development Of Diabetes In Dogs

  • In most cases, diabetes and periodontal diseases in dogs occur side by side. The worse the dog’s dental health, the more chances its diabetic condition worsening as well. This is because chewing is an essential part of the digestive system and for the production of enzymes and digestive hormones. Inflammation due to bad dental health can fluctuate the insulin levels in dogs and cause insulin sensitivity or resistance.

Issues In The Dog’s Immune System

  • your dog’s dental healthDental issues can weaken the dog’s immune system. This is because as diseases of the gums and teeth spread, they can enter the bloodstream of the dog as well. This severely weakens their immune system and constant inflammation makes it harder for white blood cells to attack the bacteria. This means the dog’s body has to put in a lot of work to combat the disease.

Excessive Pain That Humans Can’t Detect

  • Most pain that is caused by dental issues cannot be detected by human beings since dogs do not express it well. Instead of whining when it hurts to chew, dogs will simply stop eating food or show a loss of appetite. This could seem like normal mood swings to an owner, but the dog in question could be in excruciating pain.

At Autumn Trails and Veterinary Center, we provide you with the best pet dental care services that keep your pets healthy and happy.  We offer our veterinary services in the city of Charlottesville, VA. To book an appointment contact us on our number 434-971-9800.