It has been a while since I have touched on the topic of dental disease in our companions, but this overwhelmingly under treated condition is by far and away the most common disease affecting pets over the age of five with an estimated 80 percent having dental disease.
Pets’ mouths are impacted by the some of the same conditions as people with gums, having underlying bone and teeth being structures that can lose the battle if not caught early and treated properly.
The earliest sign of dental disease that is generally easily detected by owners is bad breath. The bad breath arises from a proliferation of bacteria in the mouth. Over time the bacteria leave behind residues that accumulate into plaque and tartar. Eventually the tartar and plaque will start to impact the gums and underlying bone which is the definition of periodontal disease…