Preventing Periodontal Disease

By Katherine Mathes, DVM

The most common dental problems we see are due to periodontal disease caused by bacteria in the mouth. Symptoms of periodontal disease you may notice at home include bad breath, red or swollen gums, yellow-brown crusting at the gum line, loose or missing teeth. Some pets become quite painful when their mouth is touched and may lose their appetite causing them to lose weigh too.

In the past, our options for preventing periodontal disease were brushing regularly at home and routine professional cleanings. Some pets have also benefited from appropriate chew toys, treats and special diets. Now there is a new vaccine to help fight the destruction caused by canine periodontitis. The bacteria responsible for causing most problems in dog’s mouths are porphryromonas denticanis, gulae and salivosa. The vaccine, which aids in the prevention of periodontitis in dogs, reduces the changes in bone leading ultimately to tooth loss.

The porphrymonas vaccine is initially given as a series of two doses given about three weeks apart and then once annually.  It is a quite safe vaccine and is used in dogs as young as seven weeks old. As with any vaccine there can be a potential for side effects. The most frequent side effect is pain where the vaccine is administered. We typically send home a couple of days of pain medication to help alleviate this problem.

If your dog already has periodontal disease, we prefer to treat that first before giving the vaccine. Treatment involves a thorough cleaning under anesthesia and radiographs to identify the specific problems. Our veterinarians will develop a plan involving antibiotics orally or applied around the teeth and sometimes extraction of severely affected teeth.

While cleaning and brushing are still necessary, the porphyromonas vaccine is a part of a complete dental care program. You can be confident knowing you are providing the best care for your dog.