By the age of 3 years old, most pets will have some evidence of early periodontal disease. As your pet gets older and preventive measures aren’t performed this will get progressed. Periodontal disease can affect your pet’s mouth, but can cause other health problems with their kidneys, liver and heart muscle. It is best if your veterinarian checks your pet’s teeth at least yearly and with some dogs twice a year to check for signs of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease starts when plaque on the teeth hardens into tartar. Tartar above the gum line is easy to spot and remove, but tartar below the gum line is most worrisome.
While many pets may not show any signs of discomfort, but they may have pain in their mouth.
For cats, some symptoms of oral pain are:
- Bad breath
- Seems to be hungry but backs away from food bowl
- Dropping food
- Eating slowly
- Pawing at face and mouth
- Grumpy
- Losing weight
- Failing to groom
- Blood in saliva
For dogs, some symptoms of oral pain are:
- Head shyness – not wanting their head touched
- Difficulty picking up food
- Only chewing with one side of their mouth
- Nasal discharge and sneezing
- Loose teeth
- Bad breath
- Pawing at face and mouth
- Losing weight
