Signs That Your Dog May Have Dental Pain

Just like small babies or children, our four-legged friends are unable to verbally communicate with us when they are having issues with their health. Therefore, we must rely on behavioral changes and external evidence. Oral issues and dental pain are very hard to identify. However, there are some indications that your dog has dental pain that your veterinarian should address.

Refusal to Eat – Dogs love to eat, even if they are not hungry! This means that if your dog suddenly refuses to eat or seems disinterested, they may be experiencing a dental issue.

Bad Breath – This may be an indication of an infection caused by an abscessed tooth or other gum infection. Bacteria builds up at the site of the infection which causes the bad breath.

Red and Swollen Gums – If your dog’s gums turn red and swollen, they may have an infection that leads to gingivitis or periodontitis. Keep in mind that swollen gums are a good indicator that something is wrong with your dog’s dental health.

Excessive Drooling – Drooling is normal.  However, constant drooling is an indicator of pain in dogs.

Depression or Low Energy – Some dogs will isolate themselves if they are experiencing teeth pain. They will hide and seem disinterested in some of their favorite play activities. In addition, dogs may become more irritable and choose to sleep more than usual to try and escape the pain.

As you can see, there are a lot of indicators that your dog may be experiencing teeth pain. The good thing is that you can be proactive with regular veterinary checkups. You will find out that most veterinarians recommend that you have your dog’s teeth cleaned annually.