Antibiotic for a dog with inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis in dogs - poor hygienic care of the dog's mouth, dental deposits, carious lesions, mechanical injuries of the teeth. Gum disease in cats

All mammals have identical diseases of the oral cavity. Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is common in both humans and dogs. The only difference is that you and I can seek help from a specialist at the first symptoms of an illness, and pets cannot complain of pain. So it remains for the owners to be attentive to changes in behavior, taste habits, mood of dogs. So what causes gingivitis in pets? How does it manifest itself and how is it treated?

Briefly about the pathology

It would seem that at first glance, an insignificant disease can have serious consequences in the form of a deterioration in the functioning of internal organs. Therefore, it should not be treated with disdain.

The reasons for its development may be a lack of vitamins and trace elements, helminthiases, tartar.

Poor, unbalanced nutrition, such as poor quality food, the constant presence of bones in the diet, or, conversely, eating soft food (canned food) leads to the development of acute gingivitis in dogs. The latter contributes to the rapid formation of plaque on the teeth, and loosening of the gums. They become flabby and susceptible to bacteria. Often, a dental disease develops in young dogs during the period when milk teeth are replaced by molars. The process is heavily tolerated by the body, immunity decreases, and it becomes easier for bacteria to attack the gums.

Severe allergic reactions can also contribute to the development of the disease, because a lot of histamine is released into the blood and the porosity of the vessels and their permeability increase. As for the chronic form of the disease, it is the result of an acute one, which is not treated and is started by the owner of the dog. And it does not matter whether this happens due to lack of knowledge or simply because of an irresponsible attitude towards the dog. Chronic gingivitis leads to deep functional disorders in the body of a pet, including diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

In rare cases, hormonal disorders contribute to the appearance of pathology in dogs.

Types and symptoms of gingivitis in dogs

Inflammation of the gums in pets can be local and generalized. Gingivitis is also divided into catarrhal, purulent, hypertrophic and necrotic.

What can tell the dog owner that something is not right with the pet's gums? The first and main symptom of a dental disease is a putrid odor. The second is a decrease in appetite. An attentive owner will notice that the dog begins to turn up his nose even from his favorite food. Eating it a little, the dog takes a break, then again approaches the food, but does not risk eating because of the pain. Pet due to malnutrition loses weight, and quickly.

If we are talking about an acute form of gum disease caused by pyogenic microflora, then the animal's body temperature rises. The dog may lie on its side and whine in pain. He will only drink water. Looking into the dog's mouth, the owner will see swollen and reddened gums, sometimes bleeding. If gingivitis is purulent, then exudate is clearly visible.

The most dangerous and sad sign of the disease in dogs is loosening of the teeth. With an advanced disease, the chewing organs in swollen gums barely hold on. When gingivitis is hypertrophic, the oral mucosa is covered with erosions of different depths. In this case, the dog's mouth is constantly salivating (hypersalivation).

About Treating Gingivitis in Dogs

It is better to entrust the treatment of dental disease to specialists. But not all owners have the funds for this and the opportunity to immediately contact the veterinary clinic.

At home, you can carry out activities aimed at improving the general condition of the dog. You can wipe the gums of the animal with a solution of baking soda. It is recommended to use infusions of calendula, sage, oak bark or chamomile for washing. All of these medicinal plants have anti-inflammatory properties. Try to carefully remove the remaining pieces of food, clots of pus to the sick pet.

It is recommended that dogs suffering from gingivitis wipe their mouth twice a day with a swab dipped in a solution of chlorhexidine. It would be useful to give the pet ascorbic acid, add echinacea tincture to the water. In no case should erosion and ulcers be cauterized - this leads to severe pain that worsens the condition of the animal.

Veterinarians routinely prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics for dogs. If the case is neglected, then it will not do without the removal of a tooth or several teeth.

There can be several reasons for the appearance of blood in the mouth of a dog. Different causes of bleeding suggest different ways to eliminate it. In order to determine the cause of the appearance of blood, it is necessary to conduct a small examination of the dog's mouth. How to do it? First, examine the outer surfaces of your dog's teeth and gums.

To do this, take the dog's muzzle with one hand from below (as if putting the muzzle in your palm), without squeezing your fingers. With your other hand, gently lift the dog's lips, exposing the teeth and gums. The inner surface of the mouth can be examined only by opening the jaws of the dog.

Without removing the hand that supports the muzzle from below, with the other hand, gently grab the upper jaw of the dog and open the mouth. You need to do these manipulations near the light source, otherwise you are unlikely to be able to notice anything. Be very careful when examining a dog like this. Even the most affectionate and accommodating pet can get scared and clench their jaws hard, causing you pain. Therefore, first calm, relax the dog, talk to him, pet, praise and do not continue to stroke during the examination.

This can be done with the hand that holds the muzzle from below. The most common causes of blood in the dog's mouth are: Mechanical damage Bleeding in the dog's mouth most often occurs as a result of some kind of mechanical damage. Dogs can injure the gums, palate, or tongue by chewing on bones, sticks, and other hard objects. On examination, you may notice a cut or other injury to the tissues of the oral cavity, from which blood oozes.

There is no cause for great concern in this case. Usually the wound heals itself, and quite quickly. Your task is to observe the damaged area. Sometimes fragments of objects that the dog gnawed can get stuck in the tissues, causing severe discomfort.

If you notice something is wrong, for example, the dog has lost its appetite, began to lick its lips more often, swallow saliva more often, cough, as if trying to burp something, contact your veterinarian. It will help determine if there is a splinter left in the wound, and remove it, if so. Changing teeth Bleeding gums in a dog can also be a period of teeth change - usually this change occurs at 4-6 months of age. The appearance of a small amount of blood in the puppy's mouth at this time is normal.

The alarm should only be beaten if the bleeding is significant. Regularly examine the oral cavity of your pet, because now the bite is forming. Avoid double dentition and other bite problems that will cause discomfort to your dog in the future. Gingivitis If this disease is the cause of blood in the dog's mouth, on examination you will not only see swollen, red, inflamed gums, but also, most likely, you will clearly hear an unpleasant, putrid smell from the mouth. Gingivitis in dogs is usually caused by improper care of the teeth and gums, feeding the dog only soft wet food, and overgrown tartar.

You can't do it without the help of a veterinarian. Be sure to take your pet to a specialist, preferably a veterinary dentist. Gingivitis treatment usually consists of removing dental deposits, transferring the dog to dry food, which must be chewed, massaging the gums, and the use of special oral care products. We emphasize once again that the appointment should be prescribed by a veterinarian - self-medication can be not only useless, but also harmful.

Neoplasm (tumor) A tumor in a dog's mouth can look different. It can be several growths, and a protruding tubercle, and something like large warts. "Extra" in the mouth, these formations are often injured by the dog's teeth, so blood may appear in its mouth. To the touch, the tumor can be either soft (reminiscent of poorly frozen jelly) or hard, hard.

If you find something like this in your dog's mouth, take it to the vet immediately. Not every tumor is malignant, but, nevertheless, it is not worth the risk. Especially careful should be the owners of older dogs, more prone to the appearance of neoplasms than young ones. In the latter, some types of neoplasms may appear and after a while disappear almost without a trace. But it is better to control this process under the guidance of an experienced veterinarian.

The need to get food for a dog is one of the main needs of an animal. If the process of food intake is carried out without any disturbances preventing it, then for a beloved pet it will bring only joy, however, if complications arise, the dog may develop serious diseases associated with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and severe exhaustion of the body. One of these "interfering with normal eating" disorders is gingivitis.

Etymology of the disease

Gingivitis is called gum disease in dogs. It would seem that gingivitis should not be considered a serious disease, it can be easily cured. But in fact, this is not so, this ailment in a complicated form can cause abscesses not only in the dog's oral cavity, but also in all the internal organs of the animal. Such a disease should not be treated negligently.

Types of gingivitis

Inflammation of the gums in dogs is divided into:

Acute.
Chronic.
Local.
Bulk (generalized).
Catarrhal gingivitis.

Many veterinarians distinguish, along with this classification, a necrotic form of the disease.

Causes of the disease

When it comes to gingivitis, a dog owner can easily think of scurvy, a human disease associated with gum inflammation and subsequent tooth loss. In humans, this pathology occurs due to a lack in the body of a number of vitamins and trace elements that are especially important for humans (vitamin C, ascorbic acid). In a dog, a lack of these elements can also cause gingivitis, but a lack of ascorbic acid rarely causes this ailment.

The worms living in the dog's body feed on vitamins, depriving the dog's body of them, which is why gingivitis occurs. Veterinarians consider this reason rare, based on the fact that vigilant owners, monitoring the health of their beloved pets, fight helminthic infestations in a timely manner.

One of the most common causes of gingivitis in dogs is the presence of tartar, presented in the form of a plaque of dark green color. Its occurrence is accompanied by the appearance of a huge number of microbes, which not only can cause inflammation of the gums, but also cause more serious diseases.

Often, veterinarians attribute the occurrence of gingivitis in dogs to poor quality food. Owners who do not want to take care of the health of their dog are literally stuffing the animal with low-quality dry food and bones. If the dog constantly eats hard, low-quality food, this can lead to inevitable injury to the tissues of the oral cavity, as a result of which pathogenic microflora will occur.

Surprisingly, soft foods can also cause flare-ups in dogs. Soft canned food can also cause gingivitis, this is due to the fact that:

Such feeding leads to the accelerated appearance of tartar on the dog's teeth.
The lack of hard food in the dog's diet adversely affects the gums, which in turn become flabby, soft and susceptible to various bacterial infections.
With this type of feeding, autoimmune diseases can occur.

It is not uncommon for an absolutely healthy dog to suddenly develop severe ulcerative gingivitis, which do not even have the slightest sign of the appearance of tartar, and they receive a balanced diet in the form of high-quality food. In this case, the canine body itself becomes the culprit for the occurrence of gingivitis, which, for unknown reasons, attacks its own tissues.

Gingivitis is very common in young animals when their teeth change from milk teeth to molars.

Symptoms of the disease

The appearance of a putrid odor from the dog's mouth.
The dog refuses food, even his most beloved.
The animal is rapidly losing weight.
In acute inflammation, the body temperature rises.
The dog's gums swell and turn red.
Purulent gingivitis is accompanied by the accumulation of exudate at the base of the teeth.
The appearance of loose teeth.

Diagnosis of the disease

The disease is established by a veterinarian by visual examination and identification of clinical and anamnestic signs.

Treating Gingivitis in Dogs

If the above symptoms are detected, the dog owner should immediately seek help from a veterinary clinic. There is no need to start this disease in any case. At home, it is impossible to cope with it, but it is quite possible to improve the health of the dog.

Veterinarians recommend wiping the teeth of a sick animal with a cotton pad dipped in a weak solution of baking soda, they also recommend washing the dog's mouth with a decoction of sage, chamomile, and infusion of oak bark. All of these agents have an astringent effect and give an anti-inflammatory effect. Before carrying out this procedure, you should thoroughly clean the dog's teeth from food debris.

The treatment for gingivitis is:

Complete removal of tartar from the teeth.
The use of electrophoresis (heparin solution).
Passing a course of physiotherapy.
gum massage.

Gingivitis in dogs is one of the most common dental problems in pets. More than 80% of pets are affected by this condition. Problems usually begin after 2 years of age, when plaque and plaque begin to spread on the teeth.

What are the reasons and how to protect the dog

The main cause of gingivitis is the accumulation of bacterial plaque - plaque on the surface of the teeth. The flight consists of:

glycoproteins - salivary proteins;
bacteria;
leukocytes - immune cells.

The structure and environment of the oral cavity create favorable conditions for the spread of bacteria on it. As the stone grows, there is an intensive spread of pathogenic pathogens that begin to attack the gums, which leads to the development of local inflammation.

Initially, gingivitis in dogs involves a small area of the gum line just below the tooth. The place blushed softly. As the inflammation progresses, the calculus turns into a temporary gum pocket, and the gum surface begins to come out of the teeth. The edges become irregular, dark red. The gums in this condition often bleed, show great pain in the scab. Changes are usually accompanied by bad breath.

Stages of plaque formation and their consequences

Plaque appears in the teeth as a yellowish rash. Plaque is the remains of food, bacteria. Under the influence of saliva, rich in minerals, calcified plaque appears on the teeth in the form of a rough, brown-yellow hue.

Mineral-rich food contributes to the deposition of additional plaque, which after a while also undergoes some mineralization. Where tartar slides under the gums, bacteria become widespread, hence gingivitis and bad breath. Unusual inflammation in the mouth causes periodontitis, and then, tooth decay. This leads to the mobility of the teeth and after a while to their loss.

Factors contributing to the formation of plaques:

breed predisposition;
personal predisposition, such as saliva;
type of food - dry food contributes to the abrasion of plaques;
oral hygiene - regular brushing of teeth eliminates plaque.

Symptoms associated with tartar:

yellow or brown plaque on the teeth;
bad breath;
excessive salivation;
gingivitis in dogs - visible reddened, swollen gums, often bleeding;
hormonal changes.

As the disease progresses, the dog may become reluctant to eat due to pain in the mouth. A periosteal abscess may also develop - there is a bulge under the eyeball that can be perforated, then the abscess is visible from the lesion. There is general apathy, weakness, fever, caused by hypolipins of the pituitary gland in the gums. Another consequence of the disease is the loss of teeth, gum ulcers.

Why Gingivitis Occurs in Dogs

The problem of gingivitis affects more than 80% of animals over the age of 3 years. Several factors influence the development of this condition. One is the age of the dog. The older the dog, the more plaque covers the teeth. As a result, the risk of inflammation increases significantly. The second factor is the construction of the skull and the type of bite.

Miniature dogs as well as short-legged dogs (bulldogs, pugs) have heavily crowded teeth - this weakens the natural self-cleaning mechanisms of the teeth. The result is faster stone growth in these rocks than in other animals. Another factor is the type of food the pet eats, its biting habits. Dogs bite everything: dirty sticks, stones, tires, damaging the gums, which become a gateway for pathogenic bacteria.

Treating gum disease in dogs

Gingivitis in dogs is treated by precise removal of plaque from all teeth. Animals should be given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended that oral hygiene is as high as possible. To do this, it is advisable to change the habits of the pet so that it does not bite the infected objects. It is also important to change the diet to something that will be good for the condition of the animal's teeth. There are a number of dry foods supplemented with ingredients that limit plaque growth.

It is recommended that pets have access to leatherettes to help clean their teeth. Another option for maintaining oral hygiene is brushing your teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste. However, not every animal allows daily cleaning. To improve the general condition of the animal's teeth, it is necessary to give vitamins (B, C, D).

Pathological changes in the mouth are always accompanied by pain. Despite advanced periodontal inflammation in dogs, they feed perfectly masking the pain. If your pet has problems with the mucous membrane of the mouth, gums and teeth, contact your veterinarian who will prescribe additional diagnostic methods.

To prevent gingivitis in dogs, brush your teeth daily and take your pet to a specialist at least once a year. When caring for a dog, you need to pay close attention to the condition of his teeth.

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