Dogs can experience common tooth decay issues, much like humans. So, let us discuss canine cavities and how to keep your furry baby from developing them.
Brushing your teeth twice daily can help prevent many oral and dental health problems, so why not inculcate the same habit in your pet? Brushing is a crucial part of maintaining dental hygiene, which is why it can be as important for your pet.
A puppy parent who doesn’t pay attention to their furry pet’s dental care is more likely to deal with gum diseases, teeth problems, and potentially hefty dental bills. This is one reason puppy owners should consider being equipped with pet insurance.
Dog insurance makes providing timely health care possible with minor financial implications during testing times of health and medical emergencies. However, contemplate purchasing a policy including dental cover to avail of particular dental treatments at affordable costs.
Meanwhile, read this article to learn about the common causes, symptoms, and treatments of cavities in canine fur babies.
Causes
Human teeth are outwardly curved at the top, making them ideal places for food to get stuck while chewing. But, dogs have conical-shaped teeth, which makes it hard for the food particles to accumulate and contribute to the risk of developing cavities.
Although teeth cavities are pretty uncommon in dogs, know that canine pets are susceptible to this issue regardless of their ages, size, and breed. Cavities are often caused due to loss of calcium in a tooth’s enamel.
The calcium loss happens due to specific bacteria in a puppy’s mouth. The bacteria multiplies and begins to produce acids that wear out the teeth’ enamel and lead to the teeth’s decay.
Other prevalent reasons for rotting of teeth include poor oral/dental hygiene, carbohydrate-rich diet, general health weakness, gaps between teeth and gum line, crowded teeth, low pH of the puppy’s saliva, and depleted enamel.
Symptoms
The most apparent sign of teeth cavities is the appearance of a pit in the teeth. Cavities are more likely to happen when teeth are too close to each other. Also, if there are significant gaps between teeth on a jaw and gum line, then cavities are possible.
Puppies often develop cavities in the first molar of both jaws because they have deep surface grooves and pits formed when the molar on the bottom jaw meets adjacent teeth on the top jaw. The maxillary molars can be smooth or blunt, just like in humans.
Treatments
Incipient cavities, or cavities that have just begun to form, look more like a spot on the tooth surface; deeper cavities can be identified by structural changes and dark-coloured holes, which are nothing but decayed dentin below the tooth enamel.
Mild cases can be treated to prevent further decay, whereas chronic cavity problems might require tooth extraction or a root canal, both of which can be expensive. This is precisely why you should consider being prepared with pet insurance, including dental cover.
Contemplate purchasing dog insurance with dental coverage so you don’t have to take the entire financial stress associated with unplanned dental treatments and medical emergencies.
