Your dog can seem like it is healthy as a horse, what with its energy, strength, and active lifestyle, but the truth is that it is just as vulnerable to disease and illness as you are; in fact, it is even more vulnerable, as you have the benefit of your knowledge and experience and self-awareness as a human being. Your dog, on the other hand, isn’t quite so knowledgeable about medical science, which leaves him or her at a disadvantage. Even something as small as gum disease can cause your dog suffering and even serious health problems.

What is Gum Disease?

When your dog has “gum disease,” what they really have is gingivitis – the same thing that you or I can suffer from when not treating our gums and teeth as they ought to be treated. Gingivitis is what happens when plaque and tartar are left on your gum tissue, causing inflammation; gingivitis can inevitably lead to periodontal disease, an infection and inflammation of a tooth’s support below the gum line, in an area where you can’t even see it.

This “stealth disease” lead to the soft tissues and bone in the area around the tooth to be eroded, which leads to your teeth becoming loosened and painful. In the long term, that bacteria can gain access to your blood stream, leading to liver damage, kidney damage, and even damage to your heart. Yet while all of this can happen to a human being, it can also happen to a dog. Worse, a dog can have a hard time expressing that they need dental care.

What to Watch For

So you’ll have to be on the lookout for gingivitis and periodontal disease on behalf of your pet. Some symptoms to look out for include bad breath, discolored teeth, excessive drooling, reluctance to eat or play with toys, chewing with only one side of the mouth, bleeding from the mouth, swelling below the eyes, chronic sneezing, and excessive tartar build-up on the teeth. Any of these could mean that your dog needs medical attention for their mouth; see to it ASAP and you won’t regret it.