Loosen Tootg

Question
QUESTION: Dear Allen

I just knew that brushing my dog's teeth once in a week is not enough and now the results is my dog's lower set of teeth is getting loose. I'm hoping that by starting to practice a good dental care for him, would it be too late?

So far, there;s no serious gum infection just that the lower teeth are loose. Please HELP!!!!

My dog is age 3 and a Pomeranian... :)

ANSWER: Hi Choya:

Just like people, dogs do need regular dental cleanings & care. If his lower teeth are showing signs of becoming loose I would urge you to have your vet examine him ASAP. It may already be too late to save those teeth but with a good dental cleaning, possible extractions if necessary & antibiotics to clear up any possible infection that might be unseen but present it will at least resolve the problem for now. Many dog owners fail to get yearly dental cleanings & are shocked to learn that dental disease can lead to a myriad of much more serious health issues - bacteria from the mouth can follow the bloodstream & become lodged in the heart, for example, leading to major cardiac concerns. Once you're able to get his mouth back in shape after your vet has performed whatever is necessary I would encourage you to make it a top priority to have at least annual dental exams & cleanings performed to ensure his overall health. I hope this helps!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks alot Allen.

But I'd like to know if he looses his teeth, will it affect its health in such a way that he is unable to chew and eat properly?? In short, can he survive without those lil teeth there?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Choya:

Dogs can adapt extremely well to most situations. I'm sure your vet won't remove any teeth unnecessarily - he should try to preserve as many as possible that are viable. Depending on the outcome, he may advise a change in food - for example, if a number of teeth have to be removed & it impedes his ability to properly chew he might advise changing to a softer food. Usually the front teeth aren't nearly as likely to cause such problems as a back tooth or molar would, so with any luck once he's examined his mouth & has diagnosed exactly what needs to be done it may be that very few will actually need to be extracted. Since he's a young dog the odds are in his favor that very many are to the point of being beyond salvaging. Once your vet is able to assess the degree of problem it will hopefully be that few to none may need extracting & the rest may become more solid once any infection is treated & a thorough cleaning has been done.
Regardless, I'm sure no matter the outcome your dog will quickly adapt - just be sure to communicate thoroughly with your vet about your concerns & follow his treatment advice.