One of the most overlooked aspects in preventative maintenance
is dental care. It is very important to the health of your pet.
Dogs and cats do have problems with their teeth. Many of these
problems are very slow in onset. Reluctance to eat, odor from
the mouth, loss of energy, and reluctance to play are a few of
the signs that may point to dental disease. Periodontal disease
is the most common cause of dental problems. It starts as
bacterial growth on the surface of the tooth and the tissues
around the teeth. The bacteria produce toxins that injure this
tissue. As periodontal disease progresses, bacteria enter deeper
into the soft tissue and destruction of the connective tissue
begins. This will appear as a reddened and somewhat swollen gum
at the base of the teeth. As the tissue loss continues, the
pocket deepens. Calculus, a hard calcium deposit, forms under
the gum tissue. The bone holding the tooth in place recedes as
the inflammatory process progresses. Serious problems occur at
this time, resulting in