My dog is losing permanent teeth. Is it gum disease? What's next?

Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. Thank you for the photo, it is helpful. I agree with you and am also concerned Shilo has dental disease (and potentially periodontal disease). I can't know for sure the full extent until the plaque is removed but it looks like there is some gingival recession affecting both of the smaller teeth behind her upper canine tooth. It also looks like there is a far amount of plaque or potentially infection around the base of those teeth. Depending on severity, there may be a pocket of infection under the gum line. Plus exposure of the tooth roots can be uncomfortable and this could make Shilo not eat well. Here is a link about Periodontal Disease: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ Here is a link with general information about pet dental care: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ I recommend to make an appointment this week with Shilo's veterinarian for an exam. They can give her a thorough exam and then discuss with you appropriate therapy. If they find that those teeth are in bad shape, they will most likely recommend to remove them. This is the best course of action long term and Shilo will still be able to eat, chew and play normally after they are healed. I hope this helps and that things get figured out quickly!

That's not good that Charlotte has lost most of her teeth! This is a sign of severe dental disease, as her teeth should not be falling out. I would make an appointment with her vet tomorrow to discuss having a dental procedure done. The vet can examine her remaining teeth, extract those that are diseased, and can clean her remaining teeth. It's very important to have this done because leaving dental disease untreated leads to further health problems such as liver abscesses and endocarditis from the bacteria from the teeth traveling through the bloodstream. The vet can also discuss an appropriate diet for her now that she is missing teeth. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Good on your for recognizing that loose tooth may affect dogs the same way as they do humans. You are absolutely correct it will affect them the same way, and I would have Mercee seen by a vet tomorrow. The tooth likely needs to be pulled, which the vet can do, and she will likely need a dental cleaning, scaling, and polishing. Like humans, dogs need dental care and cleanings, and they can and do get periodontal disease. Definitely have her seen by a vet for this issue. Great job for picking up on this!

Your dog is missing some of the upper incisor teeth. They probably fell out either due to trauma or infection; infection is most likely. There is nothing you can do for that now. But you can make sure the rest of her teeth stay healthy so she doesn't lose any more teeth. The ones I can see in the photo have a lot of tartar so I suggest you have your vet evaluate the teeth and schedule a dental cleaning. ( https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/dental-disease/ ) ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/your-pets-dental-cleaning-what-to-expect/ ) After the teeth have been cleaned you can start a regimen to prevent further tartar build-up like daily brushing of the teeth, dental pads and/or water additives. Your vet can tell you more.

It’s time for Nena to have her teeth professionally cleaned by her veterinarian. That is very heavy tartar on her teeth and over time, she will start to get a separation of her gums from the teeth. This will lead to infections, loose teeth, dental pain and can lead to endocarditis, kidney and liver problems. She also had a retained puppy tooth that needs to be extracted as it is causing problems and stretching the socket (there should only be one tooth there). Small breed dogs tend to be prone to dental disease. They need the teeth cleaned at least once a year by the veterinarian in order to maintain good oral health. At home, brushing the teeth with dog tooth paste every day can help. Special dog foods, treats and toys can help but they don’t help clean the front of the mouth as pets don’t use that to chew. Even with this action, she will still need her teeth professionally cleaned. Better to get this taken care of soon. Once the damage is done to the teeth, it’s permanent. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I’m sorry to hear about the tooth loss. It sounds like you are trying hard to maintain good oral health and you should continue this. Definitely try to brush the teeth every day, even twice a day if possible. Pet tooth paste helps but the main benefit is the physical brushing. They also make dental diets which can improve oral health. Some pets also go on pulse therapy antibiotics to help control bacterial populations in the mouth. Unfortunately despite best efforts, dental disease can progress resulting in a he tooth loss. A fair amount of dental disease is found under the gumline and so it is hard to address without a proper dental cleaning. You may ask your veterinarian if there is an option to have you pup cared for by a specialist who may be able to preform a dental cleaning. If this is an option. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Daria. She is adorable! You are correct in that she is missing two teeth on the top in the first picture you attached. She also appears to have tartar on the teeth and gingivitis (red and inflamed gums). These are indications that she needs to see her veterinarian. She will need to be anesthetized and have her teeth cleaned. X-rays can be taken of the mouth to evaluate the missing teeth. I hope this information helps!