Signs Your Dog Needs Their Teeth Cleaned And Examined

Did you know that dogs need dental care, too? Vets who specialize in dentistry can give your dog's teeth a thorough cleaning to remove tartar, x-ray their teeth to see whether there are any internal issues, and remove any damaged or infected teeth. They often prefer to do this all during one appointment, since your dog will need to be sedated for it to occur. But how do you know your dog needs one of these dental appointments? The following are some top signs.

Turning their head when chewing.

Does your dog seem to turn their head to the side as they chew? They may look like they are only willing to chew on one side of their mouth, and food may even fall out the other side. This is usually because they have a painful tooth or teeth on the side they're not chewing on, which is something a pet dentist should look into.

Bleeding from the mouth.

It's not normal for a dog to have bleeding gums, just like it is not normal for a human to have bleeding gums. This is usually a sign of gum disease, which is really hard to clear up without a thorough dental cleaning, since it is caused and made worse by the accumulation of tartar along the gumline. Tartar can only be removed by a dental specialist, and once it is removed, the gum disease will start to subside.

Bad breath.

If you can't stand being near your dog because of their bad breath, then they may have gum disease, tooth decay, or both. The bacteria that cause these conditions release smelly gases, and your dog's mouth probably won't smell better until you have their teeth cleaned — and maybe a few teeth extracted.

Pain around the mouth.

If your dog refuses to let you touch their mouth, or if they react by pulling away or yelping when you touch their mouth, this is likely because they have some dental pain. Infected and decaying teeth are painful for dogs, just like they are painful for a human. Having the painful teeth removed will alleviate the pain.

If your dog is dealing with any of the issues above, call and make an appointment for a dental examination and cleaning. Once your dog is sedated, the vet can take a thorough look and determine exactly what's wrong before moving forward with pet dental care.