Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats: Signs, Treatment and Prevention

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Dental disease is a common health problem in dogs and cats, but the signs are not always easy to recognise.

Pets can continue eating and behaving relatively normally despite experiencing dental discomfort, which means problems may not become obvious until dental disease is more advanced.

Regular dental checks and appropriate at-home care can help identify problems earlier and protect your pet’s teeth and gums.

At Capital Veterinary Hospital, we use a staged approach to dental care, completing the initial assessment and cleaning before scheduling any necessary extractions.

What is dental disease in dogs and cats?

Dental disease is a broad term for conditions affecting your pet’s teeth, gums and the structures supporting the teeth.

Plaque naturally builds up on the teeth. If it is not removed, it can harden into tartar and contribute to inflammation around the gums.

As dental disease progresses, inflammation and infection can affect the tissues and bone supporting the teeth.

Dental problems in dogs, cats and rabbits can include:

Plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth
Gingivitis, or inflammation and bleeding of the gums
Periodontal disease, which affects the gums, ligaments, and bone supporting the teeth
Bad breath, drooling, or reluctance to eat due to oral discomfort
Infected, damaged, or decaying teeth
Loose teeth or tooth loss
Tooth-root infections and dental abscesses
Fractured or worn teeth
Oral lumps, ulcers, or inflammation that require veterinary assessment

Cats can also develop specific dental conditions, such as feline tooth resorption, a painful condition in which a cat’s body gradually breaks down part of the tooth.

What are the signs of dental disease in dogs and cats?

Dental disease is sometimes referred to as a “silent” problem because dogs and cats can hide signs of pain or discomfort.

Possible signs of dental disease include:

bad breath
red, inflamed or bleeding gums
visible plaque or tartar
difficulty chewing
dropping food
chewing on one side of the mouth
avoiding hard food or treats
pawing at the mouth
excessive drooling
loose or damaged teeth
swelling around the face or mouth
changes in appetite or behaviour

Some pets may show few obvious signs even when dental disease is present.

A veterinary examination can help identify dental problems that may not be immediately noticeable at home.

Can my dog or cat have dental disease if they are still eating?

Yes. A pet continuing to eat does not necessarily mean their mouth is comfortable or healthy.

Dogs and cats can adapt how they chew and may continue eating even when a tooth or gum is painful.

This is why regular dental examinations are important even when your pet appears to be eating normally. Identifying dental disease earlier can allow your veterinarian to recommend treatment before the condition becomes more advanced.

What causes dental disease in dogs and cats?

Dental disease commonly begins with plaque accumulating on the surface of the teeth.

Over time, plaque can harden into tartar. Bacteria and inflammation around the gum line may then contribute to periodontal disease and damage to the structures supporting the teeth.

Same as humans, some pets are more prone to dental disease than others.

Factors that may influence dental health include:

age
breed and jaw shape
tooth alignment
diet
chewing habits
previous dental disease
at-home dental care

Your veterinarian can assess your pet’s individual dental health and recommend an appropriate preventative care routine.

Can dental disease cause other health problems in dogs and cats?

Advanced dental disease can cause pain, infection and damage to the gums, teeth and surrounding bone.

An infected tooth can also develop into a tooth root abscess. An infected tooth has the potential to release bacteria into the bloodstream. Poor oral health has been associated with inflammation and disease affecting other parts of the body, including the heart, kidneys, and liver.

Treating dental disease can help address pain and infection and reduce the risk of the condition becoming more advanced.

Can a dog die from a tooth infection or abscess?

A tooth infection or abscess can become serious if left untreated. While death is uncommon, a severe infection can cause significant pain and may spread beyond the affected tooth, particularly in pets that are already unwell or have other health conditions.

Untreated dental infections may lead to:

Severe, ongoing pain and reluctance to eat, chew or play with toys.
Facial swelling, particularly with infections involving the upper teeth, or swelling beneath the jaw with lower-tooth infections.
A draining tract, where infection and discharge break through into the mouth or through the skin near the face, jaw or chin.
Damage to the surrounding bone and tissues, which can cause teeth to become loose and may eventually result in tooth loss.
Infection of the jawbone, known as osteomyelitis, and in severe cases of dental or periodontal disease, weakening of the jaw.
Reduced food intake and weight loss when eating becomes uncomfortable or painful.
Spread of bacteria beyond the mouth. Bacteria associated with periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream and have been linked with effects elsewhere in the body, although dental disease should not be considered the sole cause of conditions such as heart or kidney disease.

Signs that may indicate a dental infection include facial swelling, discharge near the eye or jaw, bad breath, difficulty eating, dropping food, pawing at the mouth or obvious discomfort.

If you notice any of these signs, your pet should be examined promptly by a veterinarian. A tooth-root abscess usually requires treatment of the affected tooth, most commonly through extraction or root canal treatment. Antibiotics may sometimes be used to help manage infection, but they do not remove the underlying diseased tooth.

Can a dog’s tooth abscess heal on its own?

A suspected tooth abscess should be assessed by a veterinarian rather than left to resolve without treatment.

The underlying diseased or damaged tooth generally needs to be addressed for the problem to be properly treated.

Depending on the tooth and the severity of the problem, treatment may involve dental surgery and tooth extraction.

How is dental disease in dogs and cats treated?

Treatment depends on the condition of your pet’s teeth and gums and how advanced the dental disease has become.

A veterinary dental procedure may involve:

a comprehensive examination of the mouth
dental X-rays
professional scaling to remove plaque and tartar
cleaning below the gum line
polishing the teeth
assessment of individual teeth and supporting structures
extraction of teeth that cannot be preserved

Dental X-rays are particularly important because much of each tooth lies below the gum line and cannot be fully assessed by looking inside your pet’s mouth.

At Capital Veterinary Hospital, dental treatment is performed using a staged dental procedure, where the initial dental assessment and cleaning are completed before any necessary extractions are scheduled.

Learn more about staged dental procedures for dogs and cats.

Why are dental X-rays important?

A large portion of each tooth sits below the gum line.

Dental X-rays allow veterinarians to examine the tooth roots and surrounding bone and identify dental problems that may not be visible during a routine examination.

Dental X-rays may help identify:

tooth root disease
bone loss around teeth
tooth root infections
retained tooth roots
damaged teeth
unerupted tooth

How can I help prevent dental disease in my dog or cat?

Preventative dental care can help reduce plaque build-up and maintain healthier teeth and gums.

Depending on your pet, your veterinarian may recommend:

regular tooth brushing using pet-safe toothpaste
an appropriate dental diet
suitable dental chews or treats
other veterinary-recommended dental products
regular dental examinations
professional dental cleaning when required

Not all dental products provide the same benefit, and some may not be suitable for every dog or cat.

Your veterinarian can recommend dental care options based on your pet’s individual needs.

How often should my dog or cat have a dental clean?

There is no single dental cleaning schedule that is appropriate for every pet.

How frequently professional dental cleaning is required will depend on factors including your pet’s age, breed, dental health and at-home care.

Plaque begins accumulating again after a professional dental clean, so regular veterinary checks are important to monitor your pet’s teeth and gums.

Your veterinarian can recommend when another dental clean may be appropriate.

Dog and cat dental care in Canberra

Capital Veterinary Hospital provides dental assessments and veterinary dental procedures for dogs and cats and rabbits at our hospital in Phillip.

Our veterinary team can assess your pet’s teeth and gums, identify signs of dental disease and recommend appropriate treatment based on their individual needs.

Contact our team if you are concerned about your pet’s teeth, gums or breath, or if it has been some time since their last dental examination.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my dog has dental disease?

Signs can include bad breath, tartar, red gums, difficulty chewing and changes in eating behaviour. However, some dogs show few obvious symptoms, so regular veterinary dental checks are important.

Can bad teeth cause health problems in dogs?

Yes. Bad teeth and dental disease can cause pain, infection and damage to the gums, teeth and supporting bone. In more advanced cases, bacteria from the mouth may also enter the bloodstream and have effects elsewhere in the body.

If your dog has bad breath, difficulty eating, loose teeth, facial swelling or signs of mouth pain, a veterinary dental assessment is recommended.

Can dental disease kill a dog?

Most dental disease does not become life-threatening, but untreated dental infections can become serious. A dog with suspected dental infection should be assessed by a veterinarian.

Can bad teeth in dogs cause coughing?

Coughing can have many possible causes and should not automatically be attributed to dental disease. If your dog is coughing, a veterinary examination can help identify the underlying cause.

Does my pet need to be anaesthetised for a professional dental clean?

Professional veterinary dental procedures are performed under general anaesthesia so the veterinary team can safely examine, X-ray and clean the teeth, including areas below the gum line.

Why does my pet need another dental clean after having one last year?

Plaque and tartar can begin accumulating again after a dental clean. How quickly this occurs varies between pets, which is why regular dental examinations are important.