How can you tell when your dog or cat has dental problems?

What can you tell when your dog or cat has dental problems?

. Sometimes it is difficult to discover, that your pet has dental or gum problems. Unfortunately, as owners, we often only notice problems with the teeth, molars or gums in our pet's mouth too late.

The following symptoms can be a sign of a problem in the mouth:

Eating appetite seems to decrease:

Your dog or cat seems less eager to eat especially hard kibble. This may gradually decrease but often this happens overnight. However, it is very important here to rule out other conditions, as a sick animal often eats less or not at all.

Unfresh breath,

Tartar is an accumulation of bacteria that makes your pet's breath smell less fresh. Bad or not fresh-smelling breath is something dogs and cats do not normally have. Of course, breath always smells a bit different right after eating, but it should not smell. A unfresh breath can indicate dental problems but, of course, it can also have other causes.

Staining of the teeth

. Deposits from plaque or tartar give a somewhat brownish haze on the teeth. In addition, cavities in the enamel also give discolouration, this is often visible as blackish dots. In young animals, the use of certain medication, disease or trauma can also discolour one or more teeth.

Your pet seems to be behaving differently.

Behavioural changes in your dog or cat may be a sign of discomfort or pain. It is then always important to have the cause of the pain or discomfort identified. So this could very well be a sore mouth due to chipped teeth but an (advanced) gum infection can also cause these symptoms.

To prevent advanced dental complaints, it is advisable to regularly look in your pet's mouth. Then you will notice changes of gums, teeth and molars faster and more often than not you will catch them in time. If you get your dog or cat used to lifting its lips or opening its entire mouth at a young age, it will also allow this well in later life.

-This is an automated translation-