Recognising dental disease at home
Puppies and kittens
The most commonly seen dental concerns in young pets relate to either trauma sustained to their baby teeth or developmental abnormalities to the teeth or jaws. These problems will be covered briefly here but will be discussed in more detail in our “malocclusions” information sheet.
Trauma to baby teeth
Puppies and kittens put everything in their mouths, it is their way of exploring the world around them, unfortunately, their long and fragile baby teeth are often not capable of sustaining this level of abuse (as seen in this picture of a badly fractured upper canine (fang) tooth in a puppy that will need removing). If your puppy or kitten is showing pain when eating or playing with toys, it may be a normal part of the teething process, however it may be an indication of a broken or damaged tooth, if he/she will let you, then examine the mouth and if you are unsure then check with your Vet.
Malocclusion
Occlusion is the term used for normal alignment of the top and bottom arcades of teeth (top photograph), therefore, malocclusion refers to an abnormality in this alignment. This can occur due to an abnormal shape or position of the bottom jaw in relation to the top jaw or due to an abnormal position or angle of a single (or multiple) tooth/teeth. There are multiple types of malocclusions, some can be related to the puppy’s breed and will never cause the puppy any issues, however others cause sharp teeth to make contact with sensitive soft tissues (bottom photograph).
Over time this can cause big problems. If noticed early, then some of these malocclusions can be corrected. Your vet will check for problems with your pet’s occlusion at his/her primary vaccinations however, some can only become evident as the pet ages therefor regular check-ups are recommended in young pets.
Retained baby teeth
The majority of a puppy or kitten’s baby teeth should have been replaced by adult teeth by the age of eight months. Occasionally the adult tooth erupts, and the baby tooth fails to fall out (this is most common in the upper canine (fang) teeth of small breed dogs but can happen to any tooth). This can be problematic as it causes overcrowding and can predispose the healthy adult tooth to disease by encouraging plaque formation and in extreme cases, pushing the adult tooth into an abnormal position. Your Vet will check for retained teeth at your pet’s general check ups and will likely recommend extraction if one is found.
Adult dogs and cats
Adult dogs and cats are faced with a different set dental of problems to puppies and kittens; some traumatic, some autoimmune and some caused by poor hygiene.
Tooth fracture
Tooth resorption
Feline juvenile periodontitis
Chronic Gingivostomatitis
Lumps and bumps
Caries
Dental tartar
Periodontitis
Discoloured teeth
Tooth fracture
As previously discussed with puppies and kittens, it is also possible for adult dogs and cats to fracture their teeth, although much larger forces are required to do so. These can vary in severity depending upon the type of fracture and which structures of the tooth are exposed. If any of your pet’s teeth appear abnormal, please get them checked by a vet; if treated quickly then some teeth can be preserved.
Tooth resorption
Otherwise known as “Feline oral resorptive lesions” or FORLs and causes a loss of tooth structure, starting with the outer enamel surface, usually at or below the gumline. It is the most common cause of tooth loss in the cat (very occasionally dogs can also be affected). Studies have shown 28-67% of adult cats to be affected and purebreds are overrepresented. These lesions can be extremely painful, so it is important to check for them at home, they appear as a red or pink mark spreading from the gum-line onto the tooth surface.
Feline juvenile periodontitis
A very painful gingivitis seen in cats under a year of age (most common in pure breeds and Maine Coons seem to be overrepresented). This requires treatment and sometimes tooth extraction but can settle with age. It is important to check your pet’s gums as well as their teeth.
Chronic Gingivostomatitis
This is a severe and debilitating condition involving severe inflammation. You may notice that the pet has stopped grooming and has stopped wanting to eat hard/sharp foods. They may also be pawing at the mouth and drooling excessively. This is an excessively painful condition that always requires treatment, therefore if your pet is showing signs of mouth pain it is important to get vet check as soon as possible.
Lumps and bumps
Both cats can dogs can develop lumps in their mouths. Lots of these can be harmless but some can be more sinister, and it can be tricky to tell these apart by looking at them. Your Vet will be able to tell you if a lump can be left alone, needs removing or if a biopsy is required to get more information. Some benign lumps may also need removing to prevent the pet from biting it and causing infections.
Caries
The equivalent of cavities in human teeth and occurs when the enamel becomes demineralised by trapped organic matter followed by decay of the dentine. The hole created can cause further entrapment of food and worsening of the problem. These lesions can be painful due to exposure of the sensitive pulp and can lead to secondary infection and bone loss. If there is an unpleasant smell coming from your pet’s mouth, it could be a sign of caries and trapped food decay.
Dental tartar
Tartar is the hardened form of plaque (a bacteria containing paste that coats the surface of the tooth if not brushed). Excessive tartar can cause gingivitis, periodontitis, infection and even loss of bone surrounding the tooth, eventually leading to tooth loss or abscess formation. Plaque can be removed easily at home with regular brushing, but once this hardens into tartar, this is much harder to remove and generally requires ultrasonic scaling under general anaesthesia to remove.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is irreversible damage to the gum’s attachment to the tooth causing damage to the bone of the jaw, the periodontal ligament (which supports the tooth in socket) and the tooth’s root surface. Damage to the tooth’s supporting structures associated with periodontitis also results in tooth mobility. This mobility will result in pain and can damage the blood supply to the tooth, eventually causing tooth loss in some cases.
Discoloured teeth
If a tooth has an unusual colour (normally purple at the tip of the crown), then this is a sign that the tooth has sustained trauma and has suffered an internal bleed. This leads to an inflammatory process called pulpitis which often needs treatment with either extraction or root canal therapy. If your pet has an abnormally coloured tooth, please consult your vet about the best treatment options available.
Home care
This is not a comprehensive guide but gives you an idea of common dental diseases that you may identify in your dog and cat at home. Frequent home care is key to good oral health. If you are frequently examining your pet’s mouth then you will quickly get to know what is normal for him/her, meaning you are much more likely to spot any abnormalities. We would recommend that your pet has a full general health check including an oral health assessment at least every six months with a Veterinary Surgeon. If you ever have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health, please contact your Vet directly.
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