There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
Dental Discomfort in Dogs: Signs and Solutions
Regular visits to the dentist are an important part of anyone's life. Of course, if you were to chew on sticks, pieces of rope, raw bones and if you used your teeth to bite other people (whether aggressively or playfully), then chances are that your dentist would have a lot of extra work to do in keeping your teeth healthy. So what about your dog, who probably does all these things (and more) with their teeth? Your vet will inspect your dog's teeth during their annual visits, and yet sometimes a dental issue can arise and become a source of discomfort between those visits. What are some of the signs that your dog might be experiencing dental discomfort? And what are the treatment options?
Eating and Playing
Noticeable hesitancy and discomfort when your dog is eating is perhaps the clearest sign that something might be amiss with their teeth. They might also be reluctant to play with their favourite chew toys. You can inspect their teeth by firmly (but gently) holding their lower jaw with one hand and parting their lips with your other hand. Do not touch your dog's teeth as this can cause further discomfort. Some types of dental trauma might be obvious, such as worn teeth. Others might not be possible to spot but could still be present. In any event, your dog will need to have their teeth professionally examined.
Dentistry for Dogs
Pet dentistry offers many solutions that are quite similar to human dentistry, with some exceptions. When a single tooth has become damaged and is causing discomfort, your vet might decide to remove the tooth. With humans, an extracted tooth could be replaced with an implant or partial dentures, but this isn't the case with dogs. Your dog can still eat and play with a missing tooth, and once the source of discomfort has been removed, it should be business as usual. And yet when the tooth could conceivably be saved, your vet can perform a root canal, and then fit the tooth with a dental crown, just like with a human patient.
Lifestyle Changes
Dental crowns need special care to ensure their longevity, and this means that you might need to amend your dog's diet to remove hard, crunchy food. Some of their toys might need to be thrown out and replaced with soft counterparts. You will also need to discourage them from chewing on sticks and anything that could damage the crown. But these sacrifices are minor and are certainly worth it for your dog's dental health.
So if your dog seems to be off their food or doesn't want to play with their favourite toys, it might be time to have their teeth seen to.