02 May Signs Your Dog Needs to See a Veterinary Dentist
How do you know when your dog needs a visit to the dentist? I’m sure your dog is extremely smart, but it’s unlikely that they keep a calendar or have their own phone. Our dogs rely on us to manage their healthcare for them. Routine dental care has been shown to increase dogs’ lifespan by preventing and/or resolving sources of pain, inflammation and infection. Let’s review some of the top signs telling you it’s time for your dog to see a veterinary dentist.
Signs a Dog Needs A Veterinary Dentist
- Bad breath: This is one of the most common concerns that owners may have, but others don’t realize that it isn’t normal for a dog’s breath to smell terrible. While dental disease is not the only reason for bad breath, it is certainly one of the top explanations. Populations of bacteria in the mouth change with periodontal disease. The bacteria can produce foul-smelling chemicals that lead to further damage to oral tissues. Because smell can be very subjective, if you have any doubts, ask your veterinarian.
- Swelling on the face: An abscessed tooth can cause a rapid onset of swelling on the face. Most commonly, the swelling will be under the eye if one of the upper back teeth is the cause. Swelling can also occur on the top of the muzzle or under the lower jaw. An awake oral exam may show an obvious dental issue, such as a broken tooth. While medication may help with the swelling, it will recur until the tooth problem is addressed.
- A growth on the gums: Oral cancer is common in dogs, but not all growths are cancerous. An anesthetized exam, diagnostic imaging and a biopsy are all ways to find out what is happening. Symptoms of cancer include rapid growth, bleeding, pain and teeth that are displaced or loose. Most oral growths are benign, but even those that are not may be treatable if addressed quickly.
- Broken tooth: If a tooth breaks and exposes the pulp, it can abscess. If you want to try to save the tooth, a board-certified veterinary dentist™ can perform root canal treatment to keep the tooth in place and prevent painful infections.
- Nothing at all!: The best time to see the dentist is BEFORE you notice any problems. Oral examinations and diagnostic imaging, such as dental radiographs and cone beam CT, can help diagnose and treat problems before they become obvious. And an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure (and often much less expensive)!
Dog Dental Care in Fort Collins
At Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery, we advocate that all pets receive an annual exam with their family veterinarian, including an oral exam to look for any broken, missing or diseased teeth or growths in the mouth. If there are any concerns that require advanced diagnostics or procedures, or if your pet has health conditions that make anesthesia a concern, please contact us or give us a call! We are always ready to help keep your pet’s mouth as healthy as possible.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (05/02/2025) Photo by Christopher Ayme on Unsplash