How you can help prevent dog dental problems
You love your dog more than anything, and always want to do what’s best for your four-legged friend. As dogs get age, there’s a lot pet parents can do to ensure their dog’s golden years are as healthy and happy as possible. If you’ve noticed your senior dog is losing their teeth, you might be wondering: Do dogs lose teeth? Contents
While it’s natural for puppies to lose their teeth as their adult ones come in, this is a sign of concern in older dogs. Here’s what you need to know.
What are the stages of periodontal disease?
| Stage 0 | Tartar is present but no bone loss. |
| Stage 1 | Tartar is present along with gingivitis; the alveolar bone is intact. |
| Stage 2 | Tarter and mild to moderate gingivitis are present; 25% bone loss around the teeth. |
| Stage 3 | Tartar and moderate to severe gingivitis are present; 25-50% bone loss. |
| Stage 4 | Severe tartar and gingivitis are present; visible bone loss of > 50%). |
Why is my older dog losing teeth?
If you’ve noticed your senior dog losing teeth and you can’t chalk it up to a fall, slip, or other form of trauma, it’s quite possible your dog has some degree of periodontal disease (i.e. dental disease).
Periodontal disease is inflammation or infection of the tissues around the teeth. These include the gums (or gingiva), the periodontal ligament that anchors the tooth in place, and the alveolar bone that surrounds the tooth roots.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common health problems diagnosed by veterinarians. It is estimated that over 80% of adult dogs will develop some degree of periodontal disease by the time they are three years old.
This disease starts when plaque, a sticky substance made from saliva mixed with food particles, builds up on the teeth. Bacteria in the plaque can cause an inflamed gum line (i.e. gingivitis) and infect the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth.
Plaque can be removed from the teeth by consistent routine brushing, but if allowed to remain, over time it will harden into tartar (i.e. calculus). This tartar cannot be removed by brushing alone. It’s like cement on the teeth.
As tartar accumulates, inflammation increases and bone loss occurs. When alveolar bone loss exceeds 50%, teeth loosen and fall out on their own.
If your vet suspects periodontal disease, he or she will classify the disease into one of the following stages. Dental X-rays under general anesthesia will help your veterinarian determine the stage of periodontal disease.
¿When do PUPPIES LOSE BABY TEETH?
One of the many questions dog owners have is when do puppies lose their teeth? A new puppy can bring both joy and hours of fun, as well as the tendency to chew and teethe on not only your shoes, and the remote control, but your fingers as well. It can take at least eight months for puppies to finish teething, and to learn that chewing on your shoes is not a good idea.
There’s enough to think about and keep track of when caring for a puppy, including feeding, walking, training, and potty training that you might not give their teeth much thought. However, in their first eight-nine months, puppies develop two sets of teeth, and there’s more to caring for them than just making sure they don’t leave marks on your furniture. If you have a new puppy and you’re wondering when your youngster will grow out of the teething phase, read on.
Before we talk about when puppies lose their teeth, let’s look at the puppy dentition. Puppies start getting teeth once they start the weaning process, and this typically starts around five to six weeks of age, and for some breeds, it might not start until eight weeks of age. The puppy dentition contains a total of 28 baby teeth, and puppies are known to have sharp, pointy baby teeth that can wreak havoc on not just your shoes, but your hands, arms, and fingers too.