Pets, like people, suffer from periodontal disease, which is responsible for oral inflammation and infection. If left untreated it will cause loss of teeth. Periodontal disease includes gingivitis (inflammation visible as reddening of the gums), and periodontitis (the loss of bone and soft tissue support from around the teeth). Periodontal infection may cause disease elsewhere in your pet’s body when harmful bacteria from the mouth enter the blood stream.

It can be difficult for a pet owner to see the effects of periodontal disease. Halitosis (bad breath) can be a sign of oral disease. A thorough oral examination under sedation or anesthesia, combined with radiographs to detect disease under the gingiva (gums), is the only way to fully investigate the oral cavity.