Detecting oral pain in our pets might be challenging. This is because pets are skilled at covering up any external signs of distress. Our doctors benefit from speaking with us when we are in pain, but our pets can not communicate. As a result, we must be able to detect little cues to determine when our pet dogs are experiencing tooth pain and take proactive measures to alleviate the suffering.
Causes
Numerous conditions could trigger oral pain in dogs. Gingivitis, periodontitis, damaged teeth, lacerations, jaw fractures, and oral cavity cancer are among the excruciating situations that our pets may face. The most prevalent cause of dental pain in our dogs is gingivitis, which can lead to periodontitis. Gingivitis and periodontitis are not treatable conditions; they’re ongoing problems that need continuous care.
It has been claimed that by the age of two, more than 80% of dogs have medical indicators of periodontal disease. Imagine if we ceased brushing our teeth and going to the dentist. What would the feeling be in our mouths? Proactive measures such as frequent brushing and visits to the Rock Spring veterinary dental expert can keep these diseases under control.
Signs
When dogs experience pain, they may express it in various methods. Some instances are as follows:
- Drooling
- Whimpering
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Behavior change or protective behavior
- Resisting head pets
- Loss of appetite, eating slowly or dropping food
- Swollen gums
If you notice any indications of this behavior in your pets, you can consider cold veterinary laser therapy to help your pet recover quickly from oral pain.
Treatment
To prevent dental pain in our dogs, we should be hands-on. Some oral disease or tooth pain indications can only be seen during a vet’s oral evaluation. Swollen or red gums indicate inflammation and infection of the oral cavity. Plaque or calculus buildup reflects the development of many mouth illnesses.
Dogs with severe periodontitis or sore teeth may sneeze or have a nasal discharge since the bacteria has eroded from the oral cavity into the nasal passage. Our objective as pet owners and vets should be to prevent the oral disease from occurring. A preventative approach will ensure our pet’s dental health and minimize mouth discomfort caused by frequent dental problems.
Regular cat teeth cleaning, proper diet, suitable chew toys, and comprehensive oral health assessments and treatments (COHATs) by your veterinary dentist are all part of a proactive course of action for our pet’s dental health. Under anesthesia, a COHAT with ultrasonic scaling of the teeth above and below the gum line and polishing the teeth is strongly recommended one to two times yearly. Oral diseases may respond better to treatment if found early. Our pets will be happier and healthier when they receive dental treatment beforehand.
In the End
Assessing oral pain in canines is complex and often missed. Even if the signs are not noticeable, we must be aware of how to recognize them. A proactive plan that involves frequent home assessments and annual or semiannual vet dentist inspections can help detect problems before they become troublesome. It helps us bond with our pets by looking after their dental health and providing the best life possible.
