Severe tooth and gum disease can cause your pet to go off their food and may cause an infection that can spread to the rest of the body. Teeth can abscess, resulting in facial swelling and discomfort.
Recommendation:
- If your dogs will let you, check their gums and teeth for redness, discomfort, discharges, or odor.
- An older pet may need a general anesthetic to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. Some teeth may have to be removed.
- To help prevent the problem, your veterinarian can show you how to clean your pet's teeth (there are toothbrushes and toothpaste made especially for animals)