Written by Dr Mirjam van der Wel, Principal Veterinarian at Vets Incorporated, Westering
Many of you will have heard of a dog having ‘gingivitis’, a painful inflammation in the dog’s mouth, where the teeth meet the gum line.
But what if your dog is diagnosed with ‘stomatitis’? Is that just a different word for the same problem?
Dr Mirjam explains:
Gingivitis literally means ‘inflammation of the gums’.
Under normal conditions, the bacteria in a dog’s mouth form a biofilm called ‘plaque’ on the surface of your dog’s teeth.
If left unattended, the plaque hardens to form tartar, and bacteria can get into the gingival sulcus (the pocket between the tooth and the gum) and cause inflammation and pain.
This gingivitis causes ‘doggy breath’, a smell many dog owners only know too well.
With time, as the gingivitis progresses, the dog may become reluctant to eat due to pain, and the affected teeth may fall out (or need to be extracted by your veterinarian).
This process doesn’t just happen overnight and can mostly be prevented if the dog’s teeth are brushed regularly and preventive dental care is practised.
Stomatitis typically impacts the soft, fleshy structures inside your dog’s mouth, such as the pharynx, oral mucosa, inside of the cheeks and tongue, as well as the gums, and is typically characterized by the formation of painful, persistent ulcers.
Just like with gingivitis, the bacteria in your dog’s mouth can trigger this condition.
Some dogs have a hypersensitive immune response to the bacteria that form a coating of plaque on the tooth’s surface. In these animals, excessive amounts of antibodies are produced by the body in order to tackle the invading bacteria, and it is these antibodies that initiate stomatitis.
Symptoms of stomatitis include:
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foul ‘doggy’ breath
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bleeding gums
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excessive drooling, sometimes containing blood
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reddened, swollen gums
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reluctance or difficulty eating
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poor appetite
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weight loss
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pawing at the mouth
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obvious lesions or ulcers on the gums (also known as ‘kissing ulcers’ because they occur where the inside of the lips touches the plaque on the teeth)
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reluctance to groom itself
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depression
A number of these symptoms are also seen when your dog has gingivitis or other conditions so your vet will likely need to investigate a little bit further.
A sedated exam is often necessary because the dog’s mouth is painful to the touch.
A blood exam helps to rule out possible underlying diseases, such as kidney or bacterial infections.
A biopsy can tell us if there are tumours or auto-immune diseases.
When a dog is diagnosed with gingivitis, generally speaking, a dental descale and polish (with dental x-rays and possible extractions) is the standard treatment.
The treatment of stomatitis can be more involved and includes the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and pain medication. Immunosuppressant drugs can help reduce the dog’s immune response and reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Also, as already mentioned, blood tests and biopsies may be required.
Even with the best home dental care, it is still likely your dog will need to have fairly frequent veterinary cleanings of their teeth.
Sometimes, the only way to prevent the stomatitis is to extract teeth. The problem is not that the tooth itself is bad, but the tooth means plaque formation and plaque leads to stomatitis.
The good news? Your dog can lead a happy (tooth-less) life!
In a nutshell:
Gingivitis is inflamed gums caused by plaque on the teeth. This can be slowed down/prevented by regular home care (tooth brushing/dental rinses). Veterinary dentistry (descale/polish/extractions) can help where necessary.
Stomatitis is a condition where the body over-responds to the presence of plaque which in turn leads to ulcers and a sore mouth. The response needs to be managed, and where necessary, teeth need to be removed.
