Vet shares reason dogs and cats lose teeth – not old age

Anyone with a dog or cat will worry about their furry companions’ health. And one aspect that often worries pet owners is when their animals lose their teeth.

Like us, our dogs and cats grow a set of baby teeth which eventually fall out and adult teeth form. While it is completely normal for puppies and kittens to loose their teeth – as they are replaced by adult teeth – in later life conditions can cause teeth loss.

It is not necessarily to do with old age. So a vet has issued advice on the matter – and warned tooth loss could be a sign of a health condition.

A vet called Ben has shared some important tips about dog and cats’ teeth health. The pet professional, who shares advice on TikTok, said: “This is just a reminder that dogs and cats don’t lose their teeth because of old age.”

He said: “They lose their teeth because of a periodontal disease. Over time, they accumulate more tartar on their teeth and that leads to gum inflammation and gum recession.

“Then the bone around the teeth is lost – and it eventually means that teeth become loose. It’s not because of old age, it’s because they haven’t brushed their teeth twice a day like we do.”

Teeth brushing is a great way to prevent this from happening. Ben added: “I tried to remind puppy and kitten owners at vaccination appointments. When I see them to introduce toothbrushing and the best way to do this is to get a finger brush and get a flavoured pet toothpaste and get them licking the toothpaste off and do it every day, then gradually progress to getting a toothbrush inside their mouth.”

He insists that if you make it a positive activity for the pets, then it can naturally be a part of their routine. Purina states: “For many dogs, a toothbrush is a bit intimidating, so you can start off with rubber ‘fingers’ designed for dog toothcare, which just slip onto your finger like a long thimble and have rubber nobbles to clean teeth and massage gums.”

Ben suggests: “You can start just by stroking this around the outside of your dog’s lips so they get used to the feel of it before starting to slowly build up to sliding it inside your dog’s lips with some tasty toothpaste on it. Once your dog gets used to this, you can progress to cleaning all of their teeth and even a toothbrush if that is easiest.”

The vet warns not to use human brushes in your dog’s mouth or human toothpaste, use specialised pet products instead.

Signs your dog or cat’s teeth might be falling out include loose teeth, difficulty chewing or eating, bad breath and drooling. Cats may also paw at the mouth and have reduced appetite.

If your cat’s tooth loss is accompanied by stinky breath, it could be a sign of infection, such as an abscessed tooth, warns Purina. The major pet food company states: “Watch for excessive drooling, licking or a slack-jawed appearance. If you notice these symptoms, make an appointment with your vet, who will likely give your cat’s teeth a thorough cleaning and extract any that are infected.”

Advising how to care for your cats teeth, Purina added: “Help maintain tooth and gum health by brushing your cat’s teeth, too. It’s best to begin this process when your cat is a kitten, but adult cats can be trained to sit through the process, too. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste specially made for cats. And consult your vet about any concerns you may have.”