K9andSports: Do our dogs have toothaches as often as we do? Do they affect general health?

Dogs experience toothache just as intensely as people do. But they often don't show their pain. In the wild, there is no help for animals who have toothache. A wolf that shows toothache is disadvantaged in the pack when it comes to food intake and only receives the scraps that are left over from the other pack members.

Inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity and teeth can lead to serious health problems. Such diseases often cause permanent blood poisoning, which can have a negative impact on other organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver.

In addition, pain impairs performance. A dog suffering from a toothache will not be able to perform at his best and his grip will not be optimal. It is important for many reasons to detect and treat dental disease in dogs early.

K9andSports: What are the most common causes of poor dental health?

These include tooth fractures caused, for example, by injuries or accidents. In periodontitis, the gums are inflamed and the structures around the teeth are attacked. If left untreated, this disease can lead to tooth loss and serious health problems.

Behavioral problems such as cagebiting, where dogs bite on bars or solid surfaces, can lead to dental damage and are often a reaction to boredom, stress or frustration. Tumor diseases of the oral cavity can be the cause of dental diseases and must be taken into account when making the diagnosis. In addition, genetic factors can influence susceptibility to certain dental problems.

K9andSports: How can owners take preventive action to avoid tooth damage?

Basically, all feed, play and training materials should be designed in such a way that the surface can be pressed in with a thumbnail. If this is not the case, tooth fractures can occur. The best way to promote dental health is to brush your teeth regularly. Brushing your teeth daily effectively removes plaque and tartar, which helps prevent dental disease. In addition to diet, brushing your teeth is the most important measure for maintaining dental health.

K9andSports: How exactly does diet affect dogs' dental health?

The food can help reduce or promote tartar and plaque formation.

You can do well with food that is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is tested and recognized. These foods are formulated to help reduce plaque and tartar. Dry food and bulk raw food are more effective in supporting dental health than wet food because the structure of the food mechanically abrades plaque from the teeth.

Small pieces of raw feeding are not as effective at cleaning teeth because the small pieces do not provide enough mechanical resistance to thoroughly rub away plaque.

Wet food, especially unstructured canned food, is the least effective for dental health. Other dental care measures must be taken here.

K9andSports: What about chews? Do you recommend any specific ones?

You can drive safely if the chewing items are VOHC tested. Any chewing item that cannot be pressed in on the surface with the thumbnail can lead to tooth fractures. I advise against large long bones, antlers, claws and hoof shoes. It is generally known that tennis balls are not suitable as toys or for activities (danger of abrasion!)

K9andSports: There are a variety of dental care products on the market. Which are actually effective and which are unnecessary or even harmful? What do you think of tartar-softening toothpastes like Orozyme? Should/can you scrape off the tartar yourself?

Ideally, VOHC-tested products should also be used here. There are many preparations on the market that are ineffective.

Scraping off tartar and plaque is dangerous and can lead to life-threatening injuries! An injury to the sublingual vessels can lead to severe bleeding. Scraping off tartar is only cosmetic because the area under the gums, which normally requires special care, cannot be reached when you are awake. Thorough removal of bacterial plaque is also not possible while awake.

K9andSports: Does the dental health of dogs change over the course of their lives? What should owners pay particular attention to with older sporting dogs?

The older a dog, the higher the likelihood of dental disease. In particular, diseases of the periodontium (periodontitis) must be viewed as incurable and require (dental) lifelong treatment

K9andSports: Is there a connection between a dog's dental health and its life expectancy?

Yes. The presence of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity can reduce statistical life expectancy by up to 3 years.

K9andSports: Is dental quality/substance genetic or race-related? Are there breeds that are prone to dental problems? Can dental problems in dogs be minimized through selective breeding? Are there specific genetic tests that should be used in breeding?

Yes, misaligned teeth and jaws in particular often lead to dental problems. When breeding, care must be taken to exclude animals with deformities from breeding. In brachycephalic breeds, such as the Boxer, tooth retention of the P1 in the lower jaw often occurs, which can subsequently lead to a jaw fracture. The gingival hyperplasia, which is common in this breed, can also be viewed as genetic.

K9andSports: How do dental strains differ in domestic dogs compared to sports, service or working dogs?

In principle, the strain on the teeth of toy breeds, for example, is naturally lower than that of sport or service dogs. However, feeding unsuitable material (large-caliber bones, antlers, etc.) often leads to tooth fractures in our domestic dogs that are not active in sports or protection work.

K9andSports: What signs should dog athletes or service dog handlers pay attention to in their dogs in order to detect dental problems early? Can dental disease affect a dog's performance in sport/service?

Unfortunately, our domestic dogs only show tooth pain very subtly. There is no dentist in the wild and that is why when our dogs have a toothache they clench their teeth and eat until the pain is so severe that they no longer want to live and eventually starve to death. Common symptoms include: reduced activity, one-sided chewing, tooth loss/loosening, loose grip, salivation, bleeding from the muzzle, scratching of the head or snout, head shyness, mouth breath, hasty eating and behavioral changes.

K9andSports: Does it make sense to have your dog's teeth checked regularly by a veterinarian? How often should (athletically active) dogs be taken for dental exams? Are there any special examinations that you recommend for sports and service dogs?

Dogs should be regularly seen by a veterinary dentist at least once a year. Of course, you should go to the dentist immediately if a tooth is broken.  Bad breath is often an indication of a purulent inflammation in the oral cavity and needs to be clarified. Bleeding from the muzzle, inflammation of the gums, excessive salivation, scratching of the muzzle, etc. should also be taken as an opportunity to see a veterinary dentist. The loss of a tooth should also be followed up by a veterinary dentist.

K9andSports: If a tooth injury does occur, are there any immediate measures owners can take before going to the vet?

example given, if a tooth is “knocked out” as a whole, the root surface of the tooth should not be touched if possible and the tooth should be transported to the veterinary dentist in cold milk (including dog J). It is often possible to reimplant the tooth promptly and to preserve it after stabilization. As a rule, however, a root canal treatment must be carried out afterwards to save the teeth.

Only a specialist can decide whether and what treatment is necessary for tooth fractures. This is particularly urgent in the case of tooth fractures with bleeding or opening of the pulp cavity. Such a tooth can either be saved through root canal treatment or must be extracted.

K9andSports: Are there injuries that do not require treatment or where treatment can even be detrimental?

Purely cosmetic treatments should be rejected and may not be carried out. You should also refuse to have your teeth cleaned by a dog hairdresser or layperson. Simply removing tartar without a thorough examination and selective polishing as well as subsequent oral cavity disinfection can certainly be viewed as a “rip-off”.

K9andSports: What final recommendations would you like to give dog athletes regarding the dental health of their dogs?

We regularly see that dogs are significantly more active after necessary dental treatment and of course also perform better in protection work or at the dog park. It is usually only after the dental treatment that it becomes clear how much toothache affects the general well-being or performance. So don't be afraid to go to the dentist!

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Dr. Martin Florian Buck started his own practice in Rottenburg an der Laaber in 2005. Dr. Buck offers the complete spectrum of dentistry and jaw surgery, i.e. in addition to maintaining the health of the oral cavity and teeth, also diagnostics and treatment of tooth fractures (tooth preservation using vital pulp therapy, root canal treatment, root tip resection, prosthetics, simple and surgical extractions), periodontal treatments, orthodontic treatments; Jaw surgery (treatment of jaw fractures, removal of tumors, treatment of temporomandibular joint diseases, treatment of salivary gland diseases, gum surgery) as well as the treatment of feline chronic gingivostomatitis.