While pets are typically good at hiding their discomfort, it’s important to watch out for warning signs of disease or pain in your pet’s mouth. Common signs that may indicate your dog or cat needs to see a Veterinary Dentist include decreased appetite, facial swelling, broken or missing teeth, bad breath, or a bleeding mouth. Please contact your veterinarian or Veterinary Dental Specialists of Missouri for a consultation so that we can identify the source of your pet’s discomfort. So, let’s dive in and explore several signs that your pet needs to see a veterinary dentist.
Decreased Appetite and Abnormal Chewing
A pet that has changed from their normal eating behavior could be experiencing oral pain. Abnormal eating behavior can include refusing previously accepted dry food, chewing on only one side of the mouth, decreased appetite, excessive drooling, abnormal color or consistency of saliva, letting food fall out of the sides of the mouth, and vocalization while eating. If you notice any changes in your pets eating habits, contact your veterinarian for an exam including a thorough check of the mouth.
Fractured Teeth
A recently fractured tooth with exposure of nerves in the pulp is very painful. The pain persists until the death of the pulp tissue. The pain returns when an abscess is formed around the root tip. Even fractures that occur near the pulp tissue can result in oral pain. The most important thing to remember when a pet fractures a tooth is that most dogs and cats do not show overt signs of pain. Even if your pet is not showing signs of pain, call your veterinarian and schedule an evaluation of the tooth.
Oral Bleeding
Bleeding from the mouth of an animal is not a normal condition. While some dogs can cause self-trauma from aggressive chewing, other causes for oral bleeding include severe periodontal disease, oral tumors, trauma, and blood clotting abnormalities. An exam by your veterinarian along with blood work can help to determine the cause.
Red Gums (Gingivitis)
Red gums, also known as gingivitis, are most commonly seen with periodontal disease. Plaque is a build-up on the tooth surface which is composed of bacteria and food residue. The gingiva respond to plaque on the teeth by becoming inflamed which creates a red or dark pink discoloration. As the plaque layer deepens the proportion of bacteria switches to a more aggressive population. Just as in humans, this can lead to bone loss and loosening of teeth over time. If your pet has gingivitis, a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) should be performed.
Facial Swelling
Facial swelling can occur related to infection, allergic reactions, tumors, and trauma. Any facial swelling should be evaluated by your veterinarian to determine if immediate treatment is indicated, as is the case with allergic reactions and some traumas, or if a diagnostic and treatment plan can be created for the near future. Facial swelling should not be ignored since pain is often involved and disease processes are most easily treated when caught earlier.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Bad breath is not normal for a companion animal. Causes for bad breath may be periodontal disease, oral tumors, infections, foreign bodies, organ failure, and diet. An exam by your veterinarian can often determine which of these issues might be present. The sooner these issues are discovered, the better the chance of treatment and recovery so do not wait to call for an appointment.
Missing teeth
When a tooth is missing from an animal’s mouth and there is no history of it being extracted, it is important to have oral imaging performed to see if there are any abnormalities in that area. A cone beam CT (CBCT) is the most accurate tool to determine abnormal structures. If a CBCT is not available, dental radiographs can be helpful as well. A missing tooth can be impacted in the jaw, fractured off below the gingiva, or can cause cyst formation in the jaw that can lead to loss of stability of the jaw structure.
Pet Veterinary Dentist in St. Louis
Keep in mind, this is not a complete list of all the things that can be a problem in your pet’s mouth where you may need to seek advice from a pet veterinary dentist. If you have any concerns about your pet’s oral health, the best action is to ask your veterinarian to examine your pet and share all the concerns you have.
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms or conditions in your pet, it’s important to seek care from a veterinarian quickly to work to identify the origin of these issues. Your veterinarian may refer you to our clinic to restore proper function back to your pet’s mouth. Ready to book an appointment? Contact our team at Veterinary Dental Specialists of Missouri today!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (03/03/2025) Photo by Madalyn Cox on Unsplash