Dental problems in dogs are one of the most common silent conditions in daily clinical practice. Although it often goes unnoticed, an untreated oral infection seriously compromises your pet's overall wellbeing and can lead to severe kidney, liver or heart conditions as bacteria travel through the bloodstream. If you have noticed bad breath, difficulty chewing or reddened gums in your companion, it is vital to act quickly.
Below, we show you an analytical symptom table to assess the severity of their oral health at a glance:
| Detected Symptom | Urgency Level and Action |
|---|---|
| Persistent bad breath (Halitosis from bacterial plaque) |
Moderate Requires an in-clinic check-up and a home hygiene routine. |
| Red or bleeding gums (Gingivitis / Accumulated tartar) |
High A professional veterinary dental cleaning (prophylaxis) is necessary. |
| Tooth loss or pain (Refusal to eat / Infection) |
Urgent Call the clinic at 942 51 00 66 to arrange surgery or surgical extraction. |
Prevention and oral hygiene: the origin of tartar
Against oral conditions, rigorous preventive care is the only viable path. A proper daily hygiene routine will allow your dog to enjoy a functional mouth with strong teeth. With this we will manage to stop the adhesion of bacterial plaque, an invisible film made up of food debris, cellular detritus and saliva.
If it is not removed mechanically, this plaque mineralises due to the minerals in the saliva itself and turns into dental calculus or tartar, a yellowish or brown crust that is extremely hard and impossible to remove with ordinary home brushing. Accumulated tartar advances destructively towards the subgingival area (below the gum line), destroying the tooth's supporting tissues and causing gum recession, deep alveolar infections and, finally, the irreversible loss of the affected teeth.
Symptoms of dental problems in dogs: warning signs
Just as happens in humans, pets show clear signs of suffering pain or infections in the oral cavity, although by natural instinct they tend to mask the suffering until the injury is very advanced. You should inspect their mouth regularly if you detect any of the following clinical anomalies:
Severe halitosis: Constant bad breath caused by the sulphur compounds generated by anaerobic bacteria.
Marginal gingivitis: Intensely red, inflamed gums that bleed extremely easily at the slightest touch or during play.
Gum recession: Loss of gum tissue, exposing the tooth root, which multiplies sensitivity and pain.
Chewing alterations (Dysphagia): The dog chews only on one side of the mouth, drops food, eats very slowly or drools excessively (sialorrhoea) while eating.
Behavioural changes: Shows apathy, refusal of their usual hard toys, constant rubbing of the snout with the paws or the sofa, or defensive aggressive reactions when you try to touch the head or lip area.
How often does my dog need a dental cleaning?
There is no fixed universal rule applicable to all dogs, since the speed of bacterial plaque mineralisation varies according to the animal's size, its salivary pH, its inherited genetics and its type of diet. By strict anatomical morphology, small and toy breed dogs (such as the Yorkshire Terrier, the Chihuahua, the Pomeranian, the Maltese or the Poodle) have a small jaw but the same number of teeth as a large dog; this crowding of the teeth makes it easier for food debris to be retained in large amounts, requiring a professional veterinary dental cleaning every 12 to 18 months from two years of age.
On the contrary, medium and large breed dogs have much wider interdental spaces and exert far greater mechanical friction force during the chewing of dry food or chew toys. This allows them to space clinical prophylaxis every 2 or 3 years, as long as the owner maintains a strict home brushing protocol. Carrying out a complete dental examination during the annual vaccination check-ups at our centre is the safest way to schedule the ideal moment for the procedure.
How much does a veterinary dental cleaning cost?
The financial cost of a prophylaxis and oral cleaning procedure is a recurring query from families and is determined directly by the medical safety protocol the patient requires. In veterinary medicine, a professional dental cleaning must always and compulsorily be performed under general anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation. Cleaning the mouth of an awake animal is unfeasible and dangerous: it would cause intolerable stress, acute pain from the scaling and, most seriously, would cause it to directly aspirate the atomised water and infected tartar fragments into its airways, causing lethal aspiration pneumonia.
Consequently, the total cost of the service usually ranges between €150 and €350, a budget that encompasses a medical protocol with maximum guarantees:
Mandatory pre-anaesthetic study: Complete blood test to verify the patient's correct kidney and liver function before metabolising the anaesthesia.
Induction and continuous monitoring: Constant monitoring of the animal's vital signs by a veterinarian (electrocardiogram, pulse oximetry and body temperature).
Ultrasonic cleaning: Use of advanced ultrasonic dental equipment to remove tartar from both the dental crown and the deep periodontal pockets.
Enamel polishing: Use of a prophylactic rubber cup with abrasive paste to smooth the micro-grooves of the tooth, drastically slowing down the future adhesion of new bacterial plaque.
Complementary treatments: In advanced cases where the infection has destroyed the alveolar bone, it will be compulsory to perform the surgical extraction of the unviable teeth and prescribe a therapy with postoperative systemic painkillers and antibiotics.
How do I brush my dog's teeth at home? Step-by-step guide
Home mechanical brushing is the most effective preventive medicine tool for disrupting bacterial plaque before it solidifies. If you want to establish this hygiene routine at home successfully and without creating trauma in your pet, follow this progressive protocol:
Prior habituation and positive conditioning: Do not try to put a brush in their mouth on the first day. During the first two weeks, get your dog used to letting you handle their jowls and lips. Gently rub their external teeth using only the tip of your bare finger or a soft silicone fingertip brush soaked in a broth they find very appealing.
Use tools exclusive to pets: Use a soft-bristle toothbrush adapted to the size of their oral cavity. Using human toothpaste is strictly forbidden; human toothpastes contain fluoride, foaming agents and sweeteners such as xylitol that are highly toxic to dogs, causing severe gastric irritation or serious liver failure when ingested. Always use toothpastes specifically for veterinary use with attractive flavours (such as chicken, meat or malt).
Correct brushing technique: Gently lift the side lip and make soft circular movements, focusing primarily on the outer face of the premolars, molars and canines of the upper jaw. This is where the main salivary glands drain and where tartar forms most quickly. Do not obsess over opening their mouth completely; cleaning the outer surfaces is sufficient in the vast majority of home cases.
Final positive reinforcement: Always reward your companion at the end of the session with words of encouragement, intense petting or some play time with their favourite toy. If you turn oral hygiene into a pleasant experience and repeat it 3 to 4 times a week, you will keep their gums healthy and their breath fresh throughout their life.
Advanced dentistry at Clínica Veterinaria Somo: Caring for your local health in Cantabria
Untreated periodontal disease not only painfully destroys your dog's oral structure, but also seriously undermines their quality of life and shortens their longevity. At Clínica Veterinaria Somo we maintain a firm commitment to cutting-edge veterinary medicine and the continuous training of our technical team, which allows us to offer maximum-precision diagnoses and pioneering treatments individually adapted to each patient.
We have fully equipped operating theatres and high-definition ultrasonic prophylaxis systems to resolve everything from ordinary preventive cleanings to complex emergency extractive surgeries. If you live in the Ribamontán al Mar region or in any town in Cantabria, do not leave your best friend's wellbeing to chance.
Book your dental check-up appointment by calling us directly at 942 51 00 66 or visit us at our premises at Calle Isla de Mouro 7, 39140 Somo, Cantabria. We will help you protect the smile and health of those you love most.
