Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is the most common oral disease in dogs. By the age of five, more than three quarters of all dogs have periodontitis. If left untreated, the disease can have serious consequences for the entire body.
The periodontium consists of the tooth socket in the jawbone, the root membrane, and the gums. Plaque, a film consisting of food debris, shed cells from the oral mucosa, and bacteria, accumulates at the transition between the tooth and the gum, causing the gum to become inflamed, a condition known as gingivitis. The adhesion between the tooth and the gum loosens, creating an increasingly deep groove in which more and more bacteria can accumulate. The inflammation continues to progress and can spread to both the root membrane and the bone. Unlike simple gingivitis (gum inflammation), periodontitis is irreversible and therefore leads to irreversible damage to the tooth-supporting structures.
In addition to bacterial pathogens, there are a number of other factors that have a favorable influence on the development of periodontitis. These include malocclusion, which is common in small dog breeds, insufficient salivation, which leads to poor self-cleaning of the oral cavity, incorrect weight bearing, and poor nutrition, with the calcium-phosphorus ratio playing a particularly important role.
Since the disease develops very gradually and does not immediately lead to visible symptoms, it often goes undetected for a long time. The owner usually first notices that the dog is eating less and has bad breath, although these signs are often attributed to the animal's advanced age. The gums may be reddened and inflamed or even bleed, but periodontitis can also occur without gingivitis. Gum recession and loosening of the teeth only occur as the disease progresses. Due to the close contact of some tooth roots with the nasal cavity, nasal discharge is also common.
The inflammatory changes in the periodontium are very painful for the animal, making it reluctant to allow anyone to touch the area around its mouth. General symptoms such as apathy, lack of playfulness, or social withdrawal may also occur. If periodontitis is not treated in time, germs can be carried through the bloodstream and cause severe inflammation in other organs, such as the heart.
If you suspect that your pet is suffering from a disease of the mouth or teeth, take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The veterinarian will perform a thorough clinical examination and then focus on the animal's mouth. It is important that the entire set of teeth and gums are examined closely. In order to make a reliable diagnosis, some further examinations are necessary. Special instruments are used to measure the depth of the gum line, which provides important information about the severity of the disease. An X-ray examination is also always recommended, as the exact location and extent of the damage is often impossible to assess from the outside. Deeper damage to the root and jawbone can be visualized using X-rays.
Treatment depends on the severity and extent of the disease. The animal should always be anesthetized for treatment. In most cases, the veterinarian will first thoroughly clean the visible parts of the teeth and remove plaque and tartar. The deeper areas, the tooth pockets and roots, must then be cleaned and rinsed with special instruments. Severely inflamed teeth with partially or completely destroyed periodontium must be removed as they cannot be restored.
The prognosis for periodontitis depends largely on the timing of diagnosis and the extent of the changes, as well as on follow-up care and cooperation from the pet owner.
Mouth and dental diseases are among the few illnesses that can be effectively prevented through good dental hygiene and regular check-ups at the vet. Ask your vet for advice on individual dental care for your dog. You can make an appointment directly via petsXL.
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