Article Title: Dog Mouth & Tooth Disorders: Drooling,
Reluctance To Chewing, Misaligned Bite
Author: John Mailer
Excessive Drooling
If your dog is showing sings of excessive drooling then it may
be caused by a salivary cyst, a periodontal disease, tongue
injury, or simply a foreign object. Salivary cysts look like
large blisters that occur under the tongue. If your dog has
periodontal disease then the cement that holds his teeth in
place gets destroyed. Tongue wounds can occur from self
infliction or by getting info fights with dogs.
What to do: If your dog's drooling is the result of salivary
cysts, then they will be need to be drained by your
veterinarian. The damaged saliva gland must be removed as
well. If your dog is suffering from periodontal disease then
his teeth will have to be removed if the problem has persisted
to the point of loosened teeth. Bites and burns will also need
the veterinarian'
your dog to eat under these circumstances, so be sure to feed
him small soft pieces of food.
Reluctance to Chewing
Some dogs develop certain mouth and tooth problems which keeps
them from wanting to chew or bite down all of the way. This
can be a result of a tooth cavity, a tooth root abscess, a
fractured tooth, or distemper teeth. Large cavities are
visible as damage to the tooth enamel and often occur at the
gum margin. Root abscesses may be a bit difficult to see. The
molars are the teeth that most commonly fracture. And your dog
may have contracted the distemper virus as a puppy, which
causes his teeth to look eroded as the dog grows up to be an
adult.
What to do: Most of the time the best practical thing for your
veterinarian to do is to remove the tooth that is causing your
dog's pain. Routine tooth decay can be treated with fillings.
If your dog is suffering from abscesses and/or fractures then
this will require root canal work. And lastly, if there is
tooth damage from the distemper virus, those teeth that are
damaged will have to be removed by your vet, because distemper
damage is permanent and cannot be reversed.
Misaligned Bite
Many dogs have an undershot jaw or an overshot jaw. When
looking at your dog's mouth, the upper and lower teeth should
mesh perfectly when he closes his mouth. Breeds such as the
Pekingese and Bulldog tend to have an undershot bite, while
Doberman and Collies tend to show an overshot bite.
What to do: Fortunately for your dog, no action is typically
necessary unless the bite misalignment is causing your dog
discomfort. Discomfort is most likely to occur with overshot
jaws as opposed to undershot ones. Your vet can fit a
removable tool over the upper front teeth and hard palate,
which will help aid the dog's bit to move to a more comfortable
position.
In order to keep health problems in your dog from getting
serious, you need to detect them early. Sometimes just
watching your pet and catching abnormal behavior can tell you
that there is something wrong, even before the actual signs
start to appear. Therefore, it is necessary to give your dog a
basic check-up about once a week. This check-up takes no more
than a few minutes, and it can help prevent problems as well as
expenses down the road.
Start with a body rub. This makes your pet comfortable. While
giving him his rub, check for any signs of flaking or scabs
which can be a sign of parasites, a skin disorder, or
allergies.
Also check for any lumps and bumps. Although they are a normal
part of aging in dogs, they can also be a symptom that there is
something wrong. Check for any swelling that could indicate
parasites, heart trouble, or cancer.
His breathing should be smooth and quiet, unless he is panting.
If his breathing is raspy or rattling, he could have a
respiratory problem.
Your dog's heartbeat should be regular and strong. To check
for his pulse, place your hand against his chest by his left
elbow. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply it
by four. The rate should range between 60 and 160.
Examine his ears, eyes, and mouth and check for any signs of
abnormalities.
About The Author: John Mailer has written many articles about
dogs and puppies and how to train them.His main business is as
an internet marketer.
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