Dental Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. According to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, 80–90% of dogs over 3 years old have some component of periodontal disease, a prominent form of dental disease in dogs.

Unfortunately, dog dental disease is often overlooked until the symptoms become difficult to ignore. Pet parents can significantly improve their dog’s quality of life by being knowledgeable about periodontal disease in dogs, its signs, and how to prevent it. We’ll cover all this and more in this article.

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What Is Dental Disease in Dogs?

Dental disease is a broad term that refers to any health issue affecting the dog’s teeth or gums. It includes fractured teeth, tooth resorption, tooth root abscesses, periodontal disease, and more.

Periodontal disease is a condition in which there’s inflammation and infection of the structures that support the teeth, mainly the gums, periodontal ligaments, and the bones that support the tooth.

This oral health problem develops because of bacteria that form plaque on the teeth. Over a couple days, plaque mineralizes and turns into tartar. Bacteria housed within tartar will infiltrate beneath the gum line, causing infection of the ligament that holds the tooth in place (periodontal ligament), as well as loss of bony support around the tooth. This inflammation of the underlying tooth-supporting structures is called periodontitis.

If periodontal disease is caught early, it can be stopped. Without intervention, however, the disease will progress, causing irreversible damage to your dog’s mouth, potential loss of teeth, and significant pain.

Stages of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease has 4 stages, with severity increasing at each stage.

• Stage 1: Gingivitis. At this stage, the gums are inflamed along the tooth margin. Gingivitis is a dog gum disease which can be treated and reversed with a proper dental cleaning and polishing followed by home dental care.


• Stage 2: Early periodontitis. At this stage, the tooth has lost less than 25% of its support. While the loss cannot be reversed, progression can be stopped and the tooth saved. Deep tooth scaling will be performed under anesthesia, and local antibiotics might be applied into any pockets that have developed around the teeth.


• Stage 3: Moderate periodontitis. There has been around 25-50% support loss. In some cases, the teeth can be saved with advanced dental treatments and an owner dedicated to providing home care. However, tooth extractions are often needed.


• Stage 4: Advanced periodontitis. There has been over 50% loss of tooth-supporting structures. Affected teeth may be loose and are likely to be extracted.

Common Signs of Dental Disease in Dogs

Pet parents should learn to recognize the signs of dental disease in dogs. These include:

Not all signs must be present for your dog to have dental disease. Remember, periodontal disease in dogs starts with gingivitis, so all you may notice are tartar and redness along the gumline.

Causes and Risk Factors

The main cause of periodontal disease is poor oral hygiene. Dogs cannot brush their own teeth, so unless their pet parent pays attention to the pet’s oral health, periodontal disease is certain to develop.

However, there are other factors that play into the development of periodontal disease and other dog dental problems:

  1. Breed and jaw structure: Small-breed and brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs tend to develop periodontal disease more rapidly because of overcrowded and misaligned teeth, which allows tartar build-up between teeth.
  2. Diet and chewing habits: Low-quality diets may increase the speed at which periodontal disease develops and progresses. Some kibbles are also designed to scrub at the teeth while the dog chews, which is beneficial in preventing dog tartar buildup. Chewing on objects which are too hard may also lead to tooth fractures, which are painful and may allow bacteria to infiltrate the tooth.
  3. Underlying health conditions: Some underlying health conditions affect your dog’s dental health. Dogs with diabetes, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune diseases may have an increased risk of dental disease.

Age alone is not a cause of periodontal disease, but periodontal disease and other dental diseases are more common in older dogs, simply because they’ve had more time to accumulate tartar or cause damage to their teeth.

Why Dental Disease Is More Than a Mouth Problem

Although the pain that a pet experiences from dental disease shouldn’t be overlooked, the issue extends beyond your pet’s mouth.

The bacteria involved in periodontal disease may infiltrate into the bloodstream and spread throughout the pet’s body, impacting the health of other organs. Studies have shown that dogs with significant periodontal disease are more likely to have cardiac disease. Dogs with periodontal disease also have increased markers of systemic inflammation detectable in their blood and may have an increased risk of kidney and liver disease.

The pain your dog feels when they chew might also impact their willingness to eat, which may result in severe weight loss.

In addition to the impact that pain has on your pet’s quality of life, it’s also important to acknowledge that most dogs love eating. It goes without saying that anything that negatively impacts their ability to enjoy a good meal or treat might also impact their quality of life.

Diagnosis and Veterinary Treatment

To diagnose periodontal disease and other dental health conditions, your veterinarian will first start with a conscious oral exam. They’ll lift your dog’s lips and look at their teeth and surrounding tissues.

To get the best look, however, your dog will need to be anesthetized. This allows the veterinarian to perform a full oral exam and take dental X-rays. Dental X-rays are important because around two-thirds of each tooth is actually hidden beneath the gumline.

Your pet’s veterinarian will use these X-rays to score periodontal disease and identify hidden issues, like tooth root abscesses. Your veterinarian can also use a dental probe to identify pockets around the teeth, which your dog would not tolerate without anesthesia.

A professional cleaning will then be performed under anesthesia. This involves scaling the teeth, including parts of the teeth which are below the gumline, and then polishing the teeth. If necessary, the veterinarian will perform surgical tooth extraction. This generally involves creating a flap in the gingiva over the tooth, drilling away bone, removing the tooth, smoothing the underlying bone, and then suturing the gingiva shut over the tooth socket.

In some cases, teeth may be spared by advanced dental procedures, like root canals. These are usually available with dental specialists but are not generally performed by your pet’s primary veterinarian.

Your dog will recover from their anesthesia and usually goes home on the same day. If teeth were extracted, your veterinarian will have administered pain medications in the clinic and will usually send home pain medications, such as carprofen, for you to administer at home. In some cases, they may also send home antibiotics like clindamycin.

Your veterinarian will let you know what restrictions your pet has, but these may include keeping an e-collar (recovery cone) on, dietary changes, and not playing with toys that require using their mouth. These restrictions usually continue until the incisions in the mouth have healed, which typically takes 10 to 14 days.

Depending on how complicated the procedure was, your veterinarian might also recommend a recheck exam to ensure everything is healing appropriately. If your pet had a simple dog teeth cleaning with no extractions, there are generally no restrictions, other than potentially taking it easy while your pet recovers from anesthesia.

Home Care and Prevention

The best way to prevent and slow the progression of periodontal disease at home is to brush your pet’s teeth with a pet-safe toothpaste. Ideally, you would brush your dog’s teeth at least once daily but every two to three days is the absolute minimum to halt plaque from turning into tartar. You should aim to brush each side for at least 30 seconds, focusing on the outside surfaces of the teeth.

If your pet is averse to a toothbrush, you can try a finger brush or dental wipe.

When choosing toothpaste and other dental products for dogs, look for the seal of the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). This seal indicates that the product is proven to control plaque and tartar when used as directed. In addition to toothpastes, other products you can consider using include:


Even with regular dog dental care performed at home, your pet should still have their teeth examined by their veterinarian at least once annually. If you notice any signs of dental disease, you should contact your veterinarian.

How Often Should Dogs Get Dental Cleanings?

The American Animal Hospital Association released guidelines for dental care in dogs and cats in 2019. According to the guidelines, a small-to-medium-breed dog should have their first complete dental cleaning by 1 year of age. Larger-breed dogs should have their first cleaning by the time they’re 2 years old.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year. Based on your veterinarian’s assessment, they may recommend a dental cleaning. An annual dental cleaning is a common recommendation to prevent tartar build-up and the progression of periodontal disease.

Your veterinarian’s recommendations may vary based on your pet’s individual risk factors. Frequent dentals may be recommended in small breed dogs, brachycephalic dogs, or other dogs with overcrowded teeth.

Oral Care Supports Overall Health

Dental disease is a common but preventable health condition in dogs. Routine care, including brushing your dog’s teeth, can slow the development of periodontal disease. Regular dental cleanings performed by a veterinarian can keep the teeth and their support structures healthy, potentially reversing the earliest signs of periodontal disease. If you notice signs of dental disease in your dog, schedule a veterinary exam to protect both their oral and overall health.