A common problem that adopters experience is witnessing the fall of their dog's teeth.
Many adopters worry and wonder if it is normal or if it is not.
For this reason, it is very important to know to what extent a dog is healthy, even with the fall of its teeth and when it is not.
When dogs are puppies or very old, it may be a normal process to drop their teeth, but it is always important to have an accurate diagnosis by the veterinarian, because the fall may be for another reason.
The caring for a dog's teeth is very important to ensure their overall health.
It seems a lie, but the teeth, despite being somewhat tiny of the dogs' body, have a great impact on their health.
If a dog's teeth are not cared for or protected properly and their care becomes an unwavering habit they can lead to certain diseases.
Many of these diseases could be complicated by not treating them on time with the help of an expert.
Is it normal for a dog to lose teeth?
Dental problems are very common in dogs, especially after they reach 4 years of age, but it becomes some attention if their teeth are poorly maintained, or if they have some type of infection.
Many times the fall of a dog's teeth is due to a natural process, however, always as an adopter, it is necessary to be alert.
You should never trust yourself and think that it is normal to fall a tooth when it could be something really serious.
Therefore, before any fall of a dog's tooth, regardless of age or breed, it is important to visit the veterinarian, especially if a tooth breaks or several teeth fall at the same time.
Puppy dogs and the fall of their teeth
Dogs that are puppies are born without having a single tooth, there are some that do, but it is not normal.
Then, when a few weeks pass, their teeth come out until they have a total of 28.
When they grow up they must have 42 teeth, which would be their definitive teeth, that is, their first teeth are not permanent teeth.
Those 28 teeth of puppies are the famous baby teeth or also known as primary teeth, which must fall between four and six months of the puppy's life.
Once the baby teeth are falling, the ones that will be definitive come out. This change of teeth, is the passage of the puppy dog to adulthood.
I still have Uma's milk teeth in a little box!
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Oral diseases of dogs. What are the most common?
Dogs can manifest some oral diseases due to poor care of their teeth throughout their lives.
Dogs, both when eating and drinking, introduce bacteria into their mouths and these could affect them by not having a proper cleaning and hygiene routine.
Presence of tartar
Tartar infects the root of the dog's teeth. It is painful because of the inflammation and the injury it causes in the dog's mouth.
The remains of food or with the same saliva, a bacterial plaque is formed over time. This plate, little by little grows, develops and is where the dreaded tartar is born.
Tartar is an infection and inflammation and stopping it in time or avoiding it completely will save the dog from an annoying and painful injury and its teeth.
Gingivitis
If the problem of tartar is not solved, this could cause another disease called gingivitis, which is the next phase or stage of tartar and, at the same time, is the stage before periodontitis.
When a dog has gingivitis, in short, something is not right, since gingivitis is a gum infection that can progress and be worse.
The infection of gingivitis is caused by bacteria that reach the gum due to the accumulation of plaque and tartar.
Dental plaque builds up in the teeth and this happens every time the dog eats.
If a few days pass and dental hygiene is not maintained, the plaque is calcified and it will be impossible to get rid of it, even with a common brushing.
At that time, tartar is born that will continue to accumulate bacteria and infection.
This is where the intervention of the veterinarian is needed as soon as possible to avoid other consequences, such as tooth decay or teeth definitely.
Periodontitis
Once the dog goes to gingivitis and again is followed without any care, it will eventually trigger the so-called periodontitis.
In this disease, the root of the tooth is affected considerably, that is to say that it is damaged and the fall of the teeth is one of its effects.
Periodontitis is an infection that passes into ligaments and dental bones and the dog will feel a lot of pain.
Note : Knowing these three most common dental diseases of the dog and that everything has its start in tartar, it means that the dental routine in time could prevent the dog from suffering any oral problems.
By avoiding tartar, everything else, gingivitis and periodontitis, the most harmful phase of all, can be avoided.
Endodontic disease
Another disease, but not as common, is endodontic disease, a condition that weakens the inner part of the tooth.
Normally this occurs due to tooth decay (although they are not very frequent in dogs), some external trauma or abnormalities in tooth enamel.
Some of the symptoms of this disease are observing the dog's teeth in purple or reddish color.
Another symptom that is more difficult to observe is the swollen face.
Can all dogs suffer from oral diseases?
Totally, because these diseases depend on dental hygiene.
Although we must bear in mind that small dogs are the most likely to suffer from plaque and tartar, and hence other diseases can be triggered.
Tartar begins to appear when dogs are 2 years old or even three, only from there.
When they are small dogs they are more exposed, having smaller teeth.
That helps the remains of their food to accumulate more easily, but in the end, all dogs can suffer from some oral disease.
Symptoms of some type of injury to the dog's teeth
It is important as long as from the first day of a dog's life a veterinarian evaluates him so that, as he grows, the adopter is calm about the general development of his dog and his health.
However, it is also necessary that the adopter be alert to the presence of the slightest symptom in the dog's mouth and gums.
Some of those symptoms are:
- Bad breath.
- Swollen gums.
- Loose teeth.
- Broken teeth.
- Much salivation.
- Bleeding gums.
- Balls inside the dog's snout.
dental hygiene resources for dogs : toothbrushes, toothpaste detrimental to dogs, food powders that break up tartar plaque, etc.
Natural and healthy food for the care of dog teeth
Feeding is an important factor that, together with oral cleaning, contribute to the dog's good dental health.
If a dog eats foods that are unhealthy or healthy, that have a lot of sugar or artificial additives, it is obvious that it will significantly harm the dog's teeth.
That is why a natural and quality food is always recommended.
