Our dogs' teeth and mouths can suffer from numerous diseases. Good oral hygiene and visits to a specialist veterinary practitioner will eliminate every problem.
Problems with teeth, mouth and gums are now a constant among the four-legged population. To prevent them, first and foremost, proper oral hygiene is essential. An adequate diet from the first months of life – dry food is preferable to wet food precisely because it encourages chewing – and a specific daily dental care programme are the foundations of oral cavity health.
From puppyhood, the dog must be accustomed to daily teeth-cleaning routines. For this purpose, animal toothbrushes and specific toothpastes exist – perhaps meat-flavoured – capable of making the brushing less unpleasant. In cases of significant tartar build-up – a veritable antechamber of oral cavity diseases – one can turn to the so-called scale and polish, the treatment involving the removal of tartar and the polishing of the enamel. The procedure is always carried out under general anaesthetic.
The diseases that can afflict our dogs' teeth and oral cavity are numerous. Some problems can date back as far as birth: such is the case of palate defects. "Congenital palate defects can affect both the primary palate – which extends from the lip to the distal margin of the incisive bone – and the secondary palate," explains Dr Paolo Squarzoni, veterinary practitioner. The soft palate, for example, if longer than normal, can cause respiratory difficulties. "The resolution of the problem – which is frequently found in brachycephalic breeds – is, in this case, exclusively surgical," Squarzoni continues.
Disorders of the oral cavity, however, can also arise due to bad habits. "Dogs that are in the habit of playing with tennis balls, for example, can rapidly wear down the occlusal portion of the crown, exposing the dental pulp," the expert continues. The same occurs in individuals that continuously rub their muzzle against hard surfaces. "In these cases it is necessary to assess whether to protect the pulp of a still-vital tooth or, in the case of non-vital pulp, to proceed with root canal treatment or even extract the affected tooth," concludes Dr Squarzoni.
Stomatitis in dogs shares common clinical features, but can have various causes, such as systemic diseases or conditions of immune deficiency. In some cases, there may also be an unknown origin. "Contact with chemical substances (phenols, alkalis, acids) is a cause of stomatitis, and among the physical causes, foreign bodies, radiation and thermal insults should also be mentioned," Paolo Squarzoni clarifies.
Another frequent problem affecting the oral cavity is the so-called periodontal disease. This term defines various pathological conditions including, indeed, gingivitis and periodontitis. "The latter is the most frequent among domestic carnivores, as it affects over eighty per cent of dogs, and is also widespread among the feline population," explains Squarzoni. Not all dogs, however, are affected to the same degree: small or toy breeds develop a more marked incidence of the condition, as do brachycephalic dogs such as pugs or Boston terriers.
Dr Pasquale d'Urso, a veterinary practitioner who was among the first in Italy to take an interest in odontostomatology, had underlined in this regard: "Dogs, and cats too, frequently suffer from these disorders. Owners may perhaps overlook bad breath, the rubbing of the muzzle on the ground, or tenderness to the touch. The bacteria that develop as a result of periodontitis can attack not only the tissues of the mouth, but also the maxillary and mandibular bone, and can be a cause of disease in other, more distant and… unsuspected organs, such as the liver, kidneys and heart."
There are also accidental problems affecting the teeth. "Large-breed dogs in particular can suffer dental fractures of varying severity," Dr D'Urso explained. "Large animals often sustain crown fractures with exposure of the dental pulp during training or in the course of particularly dangerous games (such as retrieving stones and subsequently chewing them) – the so-called pulpitis – which not only cause pain and consequently problems with chewing, but can degenerate, if left untreated, into dental abscesses. With all the consequences that entails." The possible solutions? Reconstruction of the tooth, where possible, or definitive extraction. After a thorough veterinary examination, of course, carried out by a specialist.