Bulldog’s dental disease includes
- gum disease
- gingivitis
- plaque
- tartar
- Periodontitis:
Anaerobe bacteria are the most common cause of periodontitis.
The sequence of bulldog teeth plaque formation, tissue distraction, bone loss, and teeth loss
PELLICLE: Initially, a pellicle is formed on your bulldog puppy’s normal tooth
BACTERIA: The pellicle attracts aerobic bacteria, and soon more bacteria adhere to the teeth.
THICKER PLAQUE: Within days, the plaque on your bulldog and French bulldog puppy teeth thickens
ANAROBE: Underlying bacteria run out of oxygen, and anaerobic motile rods and spirochetes begin to populate the subgingival area.
ENDOTOXINS: released by the anaerobic bacteria, cause systemic disease.
Bulldog and French Bulldog Dental Disease 4 STAGES
Stage 1: Inflammation
Stage 2: Edema, gingival bleeding upon probing
Stage 3: Pustular discharge, slight to moderate bone loss
Stage 4: Mobility and severe bone loss
” 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 3 have dental disease, making it their #1 medical problem.”
Dental Disease in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs SYSTEMIC DISEASE
- HEART VALVES
- KIDNEY
- LIVER
- BRAIN
- DIGESTIVE TRACT
Bulldog and French Bulldog Dental Disease/PREVENT & CARE:
Bulldog Dental ORAL EXAM:
Your bulldog puppy should have their teeth checked at least once a year.
Your bulldog and other pets may be in need of dental care if:
• Presence of a red stripe along the gum line
• Unpleasant odor from the mouth
• Reluctance to chew
• Change in chewing behaviors
• Inability to see the teeth due to calculus accumulation
• Broken or discolored teeth
• Loose teeth
• Draining or swelling around the face or jaw
• Decreased appetite
• Swelling or enlargements of the oral tissues
• Difficulty swallowing
• Rubbing the face with a paw (sometimes resulting in eye irritation)
• Rubbing the face on the floor or other surfaces
Bulldog Dental RADIOGRAPHS:
Radiographs allow the diagnosis of dental disease below the gum line (impaction, infected root, bone loss, cavities, etc.)
Radiographs require general anesthesia, and for the best outcome, a proper dental machine and technical expertise are needed.
Bulldog Dental Annual SCALE & POLISH
ANESTESIA: Again, an adequate dental visual exam, dental radiology, and dental cleaning all require general anesthesia.
Bulldog Dental Daily MECHANICAL BRUSHING
Toothbrushing with or without toothpaste
5. Bulldog Dental BULLY THERAPEUTICS:
No prescription bully dental therapeutics include both topicals and supplements
Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Topical Dental Therapeutics
Dr. Kraemer’s V4B Dental Therapeutic Supplements
- V4B Bully Dental Water Additive
- V4B Bully Immune Support
- V4B Bully Comfort & AcheLess
Dr. Kraemer’s Bulldog Dental Disease RULE OF THUMB
Your bulldog’s dental cleaning should be done under anesthesia.
Anesthesia-free dental cleanings are NOT recommended by the AAHA or American Veterinary Dental.
Bulldog Dental Disease/CLEANING WARNINGS:
Bulldog and French Bulldog owners are naturally concerned when anesthesia is required for their pets.
However, performing dental cleaning on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:
Bulldog Dental without Anesthesia License Warning:
In the United States and Canada, only licensed veterinarians are allowed to perform dentistry. Anyone providing dental services other than a licensed veterinarian, or a supervised and trained veterinary technician is practicing veterinary medicine without a license and is subject to criminal charges.
Bulldog Dental without Anesthesia SUBOPTIMAL CARE WARNING:
Anesthesia-free dental procedures in bulldogs always result in suboptimal examination and suboptimal cleaning.
Bulldog Dental W/O Anesthesia ULTRASONIC SCALER WARNING:
Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of your bulldog teeth. Scaling to remove tartar from your bulldog puppy’s teeth is done using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers.
All dental instruments must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively.
This can be painful, which causes your pet to react. Even a slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.
Bulldog Dental without Anesthesia FALSE SECURITY WARNING:
Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of your bulldog teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active.
Access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an un-anesthetized bulldog or other dog breeds and cats.
Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet’s health and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.
Bulldog Dental without Anesthesia ORAL EXAM WARNING:
A complete oral examination of your bulldog, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.
Bulldog Dental TOXINS WARNING:
Endotoxins released by the anaerobic bacteria can cause tissue destruction and bone loss, which leads to your bulldog teeth loss.
Dental Disease SYSTEMIC DISEASE WARNING:
Periodontal disease and the periodontal-related bacteria in bulldogs and French bulldogs have been found to affect the heart valves, kidneys, liver, and brain.
Dental Disease in Bulldogs HYGIENE & HEALTH TIPS:
Bulldog Anesthesia for Dental SAFETY TIP:
Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in our veterinary hospital make the risk minimal when compared to the benefits to your bulldog’s quality of life, and the effects on your bulldog puppies’ life expectancy.
Dr. Kraemer uses special anesthetic protocols to reduce the risk related to the bulldog breed and uses only sevoflurane Inhalation anesthesia (by contrast, most veterinarians use the less expensive isoflurane).
Also, every bulldog and dental patient in our hospital is intubated using a cuffed endotracheal tube, which provides three important advantages.
- The cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand
- The elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure
- The protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration leading to life-threatening inhalation pneumonia.
Bulldog Periodontal Disease ANTIBIOTICS TIP:
Pre-dental antibiotics are at times recommended for bulldogs with severe periodontal disease and/or possible teeth extractions.
Dental disease PAIN CONTROL TIP:
Pain medication should be sent home to every bulldog or pet who had their teeth extracted.
Bulldog Dental Disease POLISH & FLUORIDE:
Dental cleaning in bulldogs should include polishing and fluoride treatment to protect the enamel and to prevent re-infection.
Bulldog Dental Disease DENTAL PROPY:
For both pre-dental and post-dental I recommend that the bulldog owners begin daily antiseptic oral wipes, and/or dental water additives like Dr. Kraemer’s
Bulldog Periodontal Disease SCALING:
Dental cleaning in bulldogs and other pets should include ultrasonic scaling and hand scaling to remove plaque and tartar.
Bulldog Dental EXTRACTIONS:
Teeth Extractions in bulldogs should be considered if the bone around your pet’s teeth is found to be infected or if the teeth are broken and the root exposed.
As with all teeth extractions, we always recommend local blocks with a local anesthetic and surgical closure of the teeth socket to minimize infection, reduce discomfort, and enhance healing.
Recommended by Owners Approved by Bulldogs
