| Ask The Vet -
Q&A |
Question
My dog's gums bleed pretty bad. Is there anything I can
do to help?
Jason - Washington, USA |
Answering questions:
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS from
Vet
Help Direct |
| Answer |
Hi
Jason,
The
most common cause of bleeding gums in dogs is ‘gingivitis’
or inflammation of the gums. The gums become swollen and sore and
sometimes bleed. Gingivitis is most often caused by bacteria living
on the teeth. A calcified deposit known as calculus can build up
on the teeth, providing a perfect environment for these bacteria
to live. Calculus can be seen on your dog’s teeth as a dull
yellow to brown covering, there is often an unpleasant odour. A
healthy dog’s teeth should be white and shiny just as with
humans.
The
first thing you need to do is to take your dog to the vets. It may
well be that dental work will be required. The teeth may need a
scale and polish. This leaves a smooth surface to the tooth making
it much easier to keep clean. Often when severe gingivitis is present
the inflammation extends up into the socket of the tooth and loosens
the attachments of the tooth to the gum. Some teeth may even need
to be removed. Dogs generally do very well after tooth extractions
and are far happier having some healthy gum to chew with than a
sore tooth.
Once
your dog’s gums have been checked by a vet you can start brushing
the teeth yourself at home. This will keep them clean and should
help to prevent gingivitis. There are some other far less common
causes of bleeding gums, all of which require veterinary attention
so please get your dog to a vet as soon as you can.
Kind regards,
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS www.vethelpdirect.com
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