Gingivitis in the dog? (Gingivitis Tips)

Inflammation of the gums in dogs, also known technically as gingivitis, is not a harmless condition. You should take it seriously. Untreated gingivitis often leads to periodontitis.

This is an extremely serious form of inflammation with fatal consequences.

Periodontitis causes irreparable damage to the gums and the periodontium and attacks your pet's jawbones. After some time, the teeth lose their hold and fall out. As with humans, these diseases are associated with great suffering and severe pain.

In addition, persistent gingivitis with all its multiple consequences can also lead to organ damage.

So don't leave your dog alone with gingivitis!

For this article, we sought advice from veterinarian Mag.med.vet. Emin Jasarevic for this article.

Artboard 26

What is gingivitis? (Gingivitis)

Gum inflammation in dogs is not a rare phenomenon.

In the course of their lives, up to 85 percent of all dogs contract gingivitis.

However, the causes of this clinical picture vary greatly. As a rule, it is a combination of different factors. In the long term, they lead to inflammation of the gums. This is why gingivitis is also referred to as a multifactorial disease.

The decisive factors mentioned include husbandry, the general living conditions of the animal, nutrition and genetic requirements.

In the course of the disease, the gum line becomes inflamed, redness occurs and bleeding from the gums is more frequent.

In veterinary practice, gingivitis in dogs is classified in an index from zero to three. So the severity of the disease here has several levels.

What happens in untreated gingvitis?**

• Gum recession
• Formation of gingival pockets
• Exposure of the tooth roots
• Suppuration formation
• Attacked jaw bones (parodonditis)
• Teeth failure

As this is an extensive inflammation, the process is extremely painful. In most cases, the disease ends badly if left untreated. Only in rare cases does gingivitis disappear on its own.

The consequences of gingivitis are considered reversible. This means that the damage can be repaired with reasonable treatment. Periodontitis, on the other hand, leaves permanent traces.

If the jawbone has already been affected by extensive inflammation in the final stage, it cannot be restored. Your pet will therefore have to deal with the consequences for the rest of their life.

Larger dog breeds mainly develop the disease at an older age, i.e. from the age of 5 or 6.

Of course, your four-legged friend's diet plays an important role when it comes to the bacterial flora in his mouth. It is always recommended to give hard dog food regularly. Chewing and gnawing on hard dog cookies or bones removes dental plaque. This also keeps the formation of tartar in check.

If you provide your furry friend with hard food on a regular basis, it is very likely that he will maintain a healthy mouth and teeth.

In some cases, however, dental hygiene is not responsible for the development of gingivitis. Tumors in the soft mouth tissue can also be the decisive factor. General injuries in the mouth area of your four-legged friend also promote inflammation.

A regular checkup at the vet leads to a quick diagnosis and immediate treatment. For you as a dog owner, it is important to check your pet's mouth, teeth and gums yourself.

As gingivitis is a complex inflammatory process, bacterial plaque plays a central role. In dentistry, this bacterial plaque is also known as plaque. Just as in humans, plaque on the teeth can lead to inflammation of the gums in the long term.

Itthere are two types of bacterial plaque: **

• It appears in a soft form at the beginning. With the help of good dental hygiene, these plaques can be easily removed. However, dogs have a natural antibacterial saliva that benefits them.
• The mineralized, i.e. solid form of bacterial plaque is called tartar. It must be removed by the veterinarian.

The extent of plaque formation depends on various factors. Each quadruped has an individual bacterial composition of the mouth flora.

Some dog breeds are genetically more prone to gingivitis. These breeds include small dogs in particular, such as pugs, Pekingese, Shi Tzu and miniature poodles. They can develop gingivitis at a young age.

The problem with gingivitis is that it seems extremely difficult to notice this disease in its early stages:

In most cases, your pet will continue to eat as usual and will not show any unusual behavioral patterns or symptoms. You need to be very vigilant here. The only indication of gum inflammation is the distinctive mouth odor.

If the disease continues to progress unnoticed, the following symptoms will occur:

• purulent and bloody saliva
• Refusal of food
• Careful chewing or chewing on one side
• Weight loss
• Tooth loss
• Pain in the head and jaw
• Rubbing the head on the floor
• Holding the head between the paws
• Fever spikes
• Weaknesses

In the long term, gingivitis affects your pet on all levels. It can even damage internal organs, such as the heart or kidneys. The reason for this is bacteria that are washed out of the mouth deeper into your dog's body by the gum inflammation. If gingivitis is suspected, your faithful companion needs to see a veterinarian immediately. He will be able to diagnose the disease and find out more about the severity.

Tartar can be removed with certain dental-medical devices. In complicated cases, treatment must take place in a specialized veterinary clinic. In the vast majority of cases, the normal veterinarian can provide assistance.

The type of treatment is decided based on the severity of the disease. If the gingivitis is mild, removal of the bacterial plaque is already often sufficient.

However, the entire oral cavity must be disinfected, as gingivitis is an extensive inflammation. It may therefore also be necessary to disinfect the areas in the gum pockets. Special rinses made from saline solution and chlorhexidine are available for this purpose. The latter can also be rubbed into the gums as a gel.

Sometimes there is no choice but to extract the already loose teeth.

During the examination, the veterinarian also measures the recession of the gums and jawbone. The entire procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia of the animal.

Subsequent, but short-lived treatment with antibiotics may be given. This is especially the case if the bacteria from the oral cavity have already spread throughout the body and are attacking the internal organs.

There are even homeopathic approaches to treating gingivitis in dogs. Some vets offer this approach specifically. The most common substances include calcium sulphuratum, sodium, ferrum phosphorum and silicea. These can be used separately or in combination.

Even with a hereditary predisposition, gingivitis can be excellently prevented. This is where your care and attention counts. Some dogs have perfect teeth well into old age and have absolutely no problems with bacterial plaque or tartar.

To ensure an active and lasting Dental care your protégé should be accustomed to it at a young age. There are two approaches here:

• Your darling should be sufficiently fed with hard dog food. In specialized stores there are special chewing bones, which are advertised directly under the teeth cleaning. Dogs need to chew, gnaw and bite intensively. This rubs off the unwanted plaque. Also, the increasing production of saliva rinses and disinfects the mouth.
• There are special brushes and toothpastes for active prophylaxis and teeth cleaning. The Toothpaste usually has a pleasant taste for your pet. However, you need to introduce him to it slowly and get him used to it. The sooner you start, the easier it will be for both of you.

To the general diet can be added that the so-called BarfenFeeding only raw and unprocessed food has proven to be a good prophylaxis against gingivitis.

Basically, you should make sure that your dog has to chew a lot and intensively. For example, as a dog owner, you can make sure that the chunks of dry food are so big that your fur bearer can't swallow them in one go. Then he will have to bite them and chew on them. In case of gingivitis, only the vet can help! However, if a certain amount of time needs to be bridged until the appointment, there are methods to ease your charge's pain and give them some strength.

As your dog has problems eating and may refuse food altogether, offer him food that he can eat without any problems or pain. There are special liver sausages for dogs. But a little yogurt or cottage cheese will also improve his morale. In principle, you can also Gentle diet at first.

For pain relief chamomile tea is often used.

You can give him the tea in a cooled state as a fresh water substitute. If he lets you do it, you can also try to actively rinse his mouth with the chamomile tea.

Sometimes it happens that your dog suddenly has bad breath.

Unless you've recently changed his food or given him a snack he doesn't normally get, you should take this bad breath seriously.

**This is because bad breath can not only be a sign of gingivitis, but can also indicate another disease in the mouth, throat or internal organs.**That's why I advise you to call your veterinarian if you suspect anything.