Canine Dental Diseases & Disorders To Watch For There are a number of mouth and tooth problems which your dog could develop and so it is important to know exactly what to look out for. Here you will find some of the most common problems along with how they could have been caused and how you can treat them should they occur. The Various Problems That Could Occur Some of the most common problems which could occur in a dog’s mouth include: Excessive Drooling Not Wanting to Chew Misaligned Bite

Excessive Drooling Generally with excessive drooling it can seem like a disgusting problem to us, but for the dog it is not very pleasant either. The problem could well be caused by a salivary cyst, a periodontal disease, a foreign object in the mouth or a tongue injury. You will know if it is a cyst because it looks like a blister and it usually appears on the tongue. Periodontal disease can be serious and it affects the cement which keeps the dogs teeth in place. Tongue injuries are quite common in dogs and some even accidentally chew their tongue when going to catch a toy.

Depending upon what is causing the problem, you will probably have to take your dog to the vets. Try and take a look yourself to see what you think is causing it and if it does look serious then your vet will be able to tell you what the problem actually is. Cysts usually are drained and if there is any damage to the saliva glands then that will also have to be removed. With Periodontal disease the teeth usually need to be removed from the affected area. Tongue problems could be anything and if it is causing your dog discomfort or it is stopping them from eating then it will need immediate veterinary attention.

Not Wanting to Chew

If you notice that your dog does not want to chew on something then it could be that they have any one of a number of problems. It could be a fractured tooth, distemper teeth, a tooth root abscess or a tooth cavity. You will know if it is a tooth cavity because you will be able to see the damage caused on the tooth enamel. An abscess is not usually easy enough to see and a vet will only be able to diagnose this. All teeth can get fractured but generally it is the molar teeth which dogs have the most problem with. Finally with distemper teeth if your dog developed the distemper virus when they were younger they will have an eroded look to them as they grow older.

If you notice that your dog is in pain with their teeth then it would be best for the vet to remove the teeth that are causing the problem. It is possible to protect a decaying tooth through the use of a filling and abscesses are treated with root canal treatment. Distemper teeth will also have to be removed due to the fact that the damage will be permanent and nothing else can be done.

Misaligned Bite

A misaligned bite is quite common in a lot of breeds and generally it is nothing to worry about. Some dogs tend to have an overshot jaw, whilst others have an undershot jaw. It is best to know your breed of dog to know whether they have a misaligned jaw usually or not and that way you will know if there is a problem. Usually nothing does need to be done for a misaligned jaw but that depends upon how much discomfort it is causing your dog. If it is causing no problems then it should be fine but keep an eye on your dog just to check. If you are concerned take them to the vet and they will advise you of what can be done. Overall several problems can occur with dogs when it comes to their teeth and mouth. Just be aware of what can go wrong and that way you will know exactly how to treat the problem if it ever does occur. 

Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies

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