Tooth Loss In Dogs

Pups will lose their first set of baby teeth as part of their normal development. The small, sharp baby teeth are shed from the mouth to make space for the larger, adult teeth.

Tooth loss is not normal at any adult age. If an adult dog loses teeth, this is usually because they’ve had some sort of trauma to their mouth or that they have periodontal disease.

Our furry friends can cause injuries to themselves when out on walks, running, or playing. If they knock into anything with force, they can cause unwanted trauma which can dislodge a tooth. Dogs can also cause trauma to their mouths by chewing on hard objects such as bones or stones.

 

This is a very common issue for our pooches. There’s a genetic component involved but it also depends on how well we as owners look after our furry friend’s teeth too. Periodontal disease is a serious business. It’s often irreversible and can cause other problems for our dogs if it’s not treated.

Clinical signs of dental disease include:

●      Increased amounts of drool

●      Stinky breath

●      Red gums

●      Bleeding gums

●      Receding gums

●      Scratching at the mouth

●      Chewing food on one side

●      Loss of appetite

●      Food falling out of one side of the mouth

●      Wobbly teeth

●      Teeth falling out

●      Swelling on face

The disease starts with only very subtle signs. Most owners won’t even notice. Bits of food and bacteria start to accumulate near the gum line. Over time plaque is formed from the starches and sugars in the food mixing with bacteria in the mouth. Plaque hardens on the gumline and transforms into tartar. Tartar sticks to the teeth and will continue to form. The presence of plaque and tartar causes inflammation of the gums (also called gingivitis). The gums recede and eventually, large pockets form between the teeth and the gums. More plaque and tartar build up in these spaces and gradually there’s a loss of bone and other tissue. Teeth start to fall out as there’s nothing to anchor them in. Dental disease is a common problem. One recent study carried out by The Royal Veterinary College involving over 22,000 dogs found that 12.5% of dogs were affected by dental disease.

Some breeds of dogs are more at risk of developing dental disease than others. These breeds include:

●      Toy Poodles

●      King Charles Spaniels

●      Greyhounds

●      Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

●      Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs

All pups come into the world without any teeth. They begin to develop their baby teeth between three and six weeks of age. These baby teeth usually start to fall out around the twelve-week mark to make space for the adult teeth. At around six months of age, all of your furry friend’s adult teeth should’ve erupted and all those tiny baby teeth should’ve fallen out.  When exactly the baby teeth fall out depends on the breed of your canine companion. Smaller pups tend to lose baby teeth at an earlier age as they generally mature faster than bigger dog breeds. Some owners don’t even notice their pup's teeth falling out as they’re so small. Often there is a small amount of blood present around the gums. This is normal and nothing to worry about. Pups often swallow their teeth if they fall out when they’re eating. This is not harmful to your pooch before you start panicking! The only other time our furry friends lose teeth is when they’ve had an injury to their mouth or if they have dental disease present.

If your pooch is under six months old, it is highly likely that the tooth they’ve lost is a puppy tooth that was due to be evicted soon anyway! Check your dog’s mouth for any damage and if you’re worried or have any concerns, take them to your vet so they can examine them. If your older dog loses a tooth, keep the lost tooth and take it, along with your furry pal, down to the vet. It will be useful for your vet to know if any of the roots can be saved by looking at the part of the tooth missing. If a tooth snaps below the gum line, this can be very painful for your dog and leaves them vulnerable to infection. Your vet will need to extract the remaining section of the tooth to prevent further problems from developing.

 

Puppies losing their baby teeth is not a problem and can’t be prevented, even if we wanted to!

Tooth loss in older dogs can be prevented if certain steps are taken throughout our furry friend's life. Daily brushing of your furry friend’s teeth is the best preventative care. Plaque and tartar only take a few days to become well established so brushing daily is important to remove the inevitable build-up. You can use a toothbrush if your dog will tolerate it. Alternatively, use your finger to rub toothpaste onto your dog’s teeth. Gentle pressure is required while moving back and forwards over all surfaces of your dog’s teeth. You can also invest in some dental chews for your canine companion. These chews can potentially help to remove food particles and debris from the surface of the teeth. Beware though, they can be super calorific and may cause unwanted weight gain. There are also water additives and special diets as well as mouthwashes for dogs. Just make sure you speak to your vet before buying any of these products for your dog. The Veterinary Oral Health Council has a list of approved dental products for dogs that you can use as a guide.

It is also important to attend frequent checkups at your vets so that they can regularly examine your dog’s mouth and advise you if they need to be booked in for a scale and polish procedure. This is done under general anaesthetic, your vet will remove all the plaque and tartar with an ultrasonic scaler. Some dogs will require more frequent scale and polish appointments.

Dogs lose teeth during their lifetime. Puppies will shed their baby teeth before they are six months of age. Older dogs should not lose any teeth once all their adult gnashers are in place. If you do see your mature dog losing teeth or you witness any of the other clinical signs mentioned above, you need to take your dog to your vet for an examination immediately.