Dental Disease in Shih Tzus: 3 Best Ways to Treat and Prevent

Dental Disease in Shih Tzus - How can you prevent and treat it?

Unlike us humans, our canine pals do not tend to suffer from severe tooth rot, but most dogs over age three do have dental issues. Dog dental disease comes in four phases, usually starting with a build-up of tartar and plaque in the mouth, and then it leads to slightly inflamed gums.

This dental condition is also referred to as gingivitis in dogs. If this is left untreated for long, it could progress into more severe gum problems or periodontal disease, which could involve bone and soft tissue loss around the teeth. Gingivitis could leave dogs more vulnerable to different infections that could affect other internal organs in the body.

Sadly, your Shih Tzu dog is more likely to have problems with her teeth than other dog breeds. Dental problems begin with a nasty tartar build-up on their teeth and develop to a full-blown infection of their teeth’ gums and roots. If we do not treat or prevent dental diseases in Shih Tzus, your pet might lose her teeth and might even risk damage to her heart, joints, kidneys, and liver. As a matter of fact, your Shih’s life span could even shorten by one to three years!

Signs of Dental Disease in Shih Tzus

It is sometimes easy to disregard dental diseases in Shih Tzus as a root of discomfort, especially in older Shih Tzus, as we usually think that behavioral changes are just caused by ‘getting old’. Nevertheless, mouth pain could result in noticeable changes in dog behavior. Watch out for:

• Loss of interest in chewing toys
• Food fussiness— sometimes favoring particular types of food, chewing on one side only, or issues picking up food
• Pawing or rubbing at the mouth
• Salivating more
• Pain or soreness when you try to check their mouth
• Blood in the food bowl

Other clinical signs of a dental condition include foul-smelling breath, swollen and inflamed gums, and missing teeth. Remember that dental disease in Shih Tzus could be very painful, particularly if left untreated.

Dental health is an essential part of your canine buddy’s general wellness and should never be overlooked. Keeping your Shih’s teeth clean has been stressed relatively recently, and many people are still unaware of the risks and dangers. Nevertheless, just like people, there are a lot of oral conditions that dogs could get that can lead to bigger issues down the road.

What to Do If Your Dog Shows Signs of Dental Disease?

It’s critically important that gingivitis or other gum diseases in Shih Tzus are treated as early as possible to prevent both irreversible teeth damage and related health issues. Studies show that dental disease in Shih Tzus make them more vulnerable to develop heart, liver, and kidney disease. This is because bacteria from the gums infiltrate the bloodstream and attach to the arteries in the dog’s heart. You should reach out to your vet immediately if your Shih Tzu is manifesting signs of periodontal disease.

Dog Gum Disease Treatment

It’s possible that your Shih Tzu just needs some oral antibiotics and a hygiene program of teeth brushing for his or her gingivitis, or even some teeth extractions. Nevertheless, the sooner these issues are addressed, the better it would be to avoid further worsening of your dog’s dental disease.

If your veterinarian is worried about your Shih’s gums and teeth, and treatment is needed, they might place your Shih Tzu under general anesthetic. It would enable them to clean and remove any built-up tartar and plaque and proceed with surgery on affected gums, teeth, tissues, and bones. They could then put topical antibiotic gel to your dog’s gums to help alleviate the pain or prescribe antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection.

How to Prevent Dental Disease in Dogs

Although an annual dental cleaning is likely to be recommended by your vet, there are also things we could do at home to help keep your Shih’s teeth clean and free from gingivitis-causing bacteria.

Brush Those Teeth

Brushing there teeth is arguably the most effective method to avoid dental disease in Shih Tzus and tooth rot. Unfortunately, though, it is not the easiest thing to do. Still, do not feel discouraged if the first teeth brushing session does not go as intended – a lot of dogs need to be started gradually. It is a weird sensation for them, but with a bit of positive training, you would be able to brush your Shih Tzu’s teeth without any problems.

Pick the proper toothbrush and dog toothpaste. These particular toothpaste are safe for dogs, whereas our toothpaste has toxic ingredients to dogs, such as xylitol.

Brushing your Shih Tzu’s teeth would remove and prevent tartar and plaque build-up and maintain your pup’s dental health in the best shape. Even though brushing every day is ideal, the ideal interval, even once or twice every week would provide major and noticeable benefits.

Use Dental Chews

Top-quality dental chews can help improve your dog’s general health and well-being. Dental chews are designed particularly to clean your Shih Tzu’s teeth just as effectively as brushing using a toothbrush and toothpaste. When your dog chews on them, it scrapes off tartar and plaque, and they’re filled with great ingredients to help avoid further build-up.

They even make your Shih Tzu’s breath fresher. The good part? Almost all dogs love a great dental chew! They’re a tasty treat that your Shih Tzu won’t even know it is healthy. Some chews are also long-lasting, so it keeps their minds occupied as well.

However, you need to be cautious when considering a quality chew; many products have questionable ingredients or even excessive calories or fat.

Feed Quality Food

Feeding healthy food is a great way to keep your dog’s oral health in tip-top shape. Sustaining the body means that their teeth would grow stronger, and your Shih Tzu’s overall health would greatly improve. Steer clear of ingredients like meals that are unhealthy and stick to your Shih’s teeth.

Low-quality dog food could increase tartar and plaque build-up and keep your dog’s dental and overall health functioning below their ideal strength. Whole foods with organic and natural ingredients usually contain enzymes that help break down unwanted teeth build-up. However, keep in mind that they should have their teeth brushed regularly, as well as their dental condition checked regularly.