Periodontal Disease
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal Disease is known to be one of the most common dental diseases in our pets. It has been reported that more than 80% of dogs over the age of three are affected to some degree.
Periodontal Disease is defined as inflammation and infection of the tooth supporting structures that consist of the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, gingiva (gum tissue), and cementum.
What are the signs of Periodontal Disease?
Pets that suffer from Periodontal Disease usually show signs of gum inflammation (gingivitis), bleeding gums, difficulty eating, oral pain or discomfort. However, not all patients show clinical signs, and the condition is easily missed.
How is Periodontal Disease diagnosed?
Periodontal Disease is easily detected through an oral exam during your pet’s annual health visit at your primary veterinarian. Your primary veterinarian may recommend further examination under general anaesthesia along with full-mouth dental radiographs to fully evaluate the extent of the Periodontal Disease.
How is Periodontal Disease treated?
Periodontal Disease comes in different stages depending on the amount of bone or attachment loss. In the early stages, it may only manifest as mild gum inflammation that is reversible following professional dental cleaning under general anaesthesia. Further oral hygiene can be maintained by you at home through oral home care.
However, the condition may progress further into an irreversible condition where the surrounding bone is lost due to the inflammation and infection, which can lead to severe inflammation, tooth mobility and even tooth loss. This creates the oral discomfort that our pets may feel on a daily basis.
In certain cases, your primary veterinarian may also recommend further referral to our Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist for dental evaluation and dental procedures. In addition, your primary veterinarian may refer your pet to us if your pet has higher anaesthesia risks due to other conditions such as diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and many more.
At Queensland Veterinary Specialists, our dentistry team works closely with our anaesthesia veterinary consultant and other specialists within our hospital, to give your pet the best care possible.
If you have concerns for your pet in connection to this condition we recommend discussing it with your primary care vet in the first instance, or get in touch with our team for more info.
If you need urgent medical help, contact our 24 hour Pet Emergency team at Stafford, Northlakes, or Sunshine Coast on 1300 QLD VET (1300 753 838)