Do Pomeranians Have Bad Teeth

Dog’s are a lot like humans the condition of our teeth and mouths can heavily impact the rest of our health. Should we be concerned with our Pomeranian’s dental health? Do Pomeranians have bad teeth?

Pomeranians can be known to have bad breath, gum disease, and bite issues. Being a small dog they are more vulnerable to having dental issues and bad teeth. All dogs are at risk for periodontal disease with the majority of dogs developing this condition by the time they are three. Proper dental care can prevent tragic outcomes.

Do Pomeranians Have Bad Teeth

There are many factors that determine if a dog has bad teeth or not. It can also vary from dog to dog.

There are two major reasons for dental problems in Pomeranians they are hereditary and lack of appropriate care.

Let’s take a look at the hereditary issue first.

Are Dental Problems Hereditary In Dogs

Some dental problems that dogs experience can be inherited from their parents.

While others may not be hereditary they can be very common issues for some dog breeds.

Pomeranians do have smaller mouths than some other breeds and can be more vulnerable to dental issues.

Unerupted Teeth

There are some breeds that have a hard time with all of their teeth erupting from their gum lines.

If a dog has a tooth that has not erupted through the gums it needs to be removed to prevent cysts from forming. If a cyst forms on the unerupted tooth it could lead to your dog losing a portion of its jaw.

Improper Bite

It’s possible for your dog to develop an improper bite during it’s growing phase.

Your veterinarian will be able to detect any potential issues with your dog’s bite and be able to advise you on any interventions that you should consider.

Major growth problems with your dogs bite can cause long term affects if they are not dealt with immediately.

Overbite

Puppies are born with a natural overbite that helps them with the nursing process.

As your puppy grows the bottom portion of the jaw grows out and catches up with the top portion of the mouth. Sometimes there are issues with the growing process that prevent this from growing correctly.

Your vet should be able to spot a problem and be able to assist you with correcting it.

Underbite

In a very similar fashion the bottom part of the jaw can outgrow the top portion and result in an underbite.

Enamel Defects

Your dog can experience enamel defects if they have been severely malnourished for some time or has had a virus that has caused a fever.

Both of these circumstances are known to damage a dogs enamel in their teeth.

What Is Dental Disease In Dogs

The most common dental disease found in dogs is Periodontal Disease. It’s been said that over 80% of dogs have periodontal disease by the time they are three years old.

What Is Periodontal Disease In Dogs

Periodontal disease is when plaque and tarter build up inside the dogs mouth and reach under the gum line.

The plague and tarter build up starts to irritate the dogs gums and grows bacteria.

A dogs body sends off an immune response to the bacteria which then cause inflammation.

Over time the bacteria and inflammation destroys the healthy gum tissue.

What Is Gingivitis In Dogs

Gingivitis is the name given to the early first stages of periodontal disease.

What Is Stomatitis In Dogs

Stomatitis is a name for inflammation inside of your dogs mouth.

What Is Endodontic Disease In Dogs

Endodontic Disease in dogs refers to the pulp of a tooth getting inflamed or infected.

Do Dogs Get Cavities

Cavities or tooth decay is actually very rare in dogs.

What Are The Dangers Of Dental Disease

Just like humans, If a dog has dental disease it makes them more vulnerable to additional health issues including heart issues, infections, cancer, diabetes.

What Are The Dangers Of Inflammation

If plaque builds up inside your dog’s mouth your dog’s immune system with be triggered and the tissues within your dog’s mouth will become inflamed.

The immune system’s response will effectively kill off bacteria in the mouth but, it will also destroy healthy tissue inside of your dog’s mouth.

How Is A Dogs Dental Disease Connected To Heart Disease

A dog’s heart is vulnerable to heart disease which has been found to be connected to the inflammation caused by dental disease.

The reason for the connection between periodontal disease and heart disease in dogs is unfortunately unknown at this time.

It is known that both conditions are often found when a dog is suffering from moderate to severe periodontal disease.

The bacteria that is associated with periodontal disease is also the same exact bacteria that is found inside the dogs heart.

A Dog With Dental Disease May Suffer Severe Weight Loss

If a dog is in pain due to dental disease it may not want to eat as much as it used to.

If your dog reduces their nutrients or stops eating all together they can lose a dangerous amount of weight and become so weak that their body will struggle to fight off the infections in their bodies.

A Dog With Dental Disease Is At Risk To Fracture Its Jaw

If a dog has a mouth full of trouble with infections, abscesses, large teeth, or baby teeth that never fell out it can damage your dog’s jaw over time and make it have a higher risk for a fracture.

How Is Dental Disease In Dog’s Connected To Diabetes

Experts aren’t exactly sure if dental disease causes diabetes or if it’s diabetes causing dental disease. It may end up being both situations that are accurate.

If a dog has diabetes and periodontal disease it can be hard to regulate their diabetes due to the inflammation and bacteria in their mouth.

Th inflammation and bacteria affects a dogs blood sugar levels and can affect how the body responds to insulin.

Dental Disease Can Cause Your Dog To Experience Pain

It’s hard when your dog is having pain. They can’t speak to us and tell us exactly how they are feeling. We sometimes have to guess and other times we go without knowing.

The thought of your dog in pain without you knowing and being able to help is sad.

Dental Disease Can Cause Tooth Loss

It’s possible that your dog may lose teeth if they are experiencing severe dental issues.

Dental Disease Can Cause Broken Teeth

Just how dental disease can put your dog at risk for a fractured jaw it can cause you dog to get broken teeth.

Will My Dog Have A Shorter Life If It Has Dental Disease

Depending on your dog’s specific condition it is possible that a dog with dental disease can have a shorter life span compared to a healthy dog without any dental problems.

What Are The Symptoms Of Dental Disease In Dogs

There are many symptoms of dental disease in dogs that you should look out for.

• Bad breath
• Sores inside of your dog’s mouth
• Blood inside of your dog’s mouth
• Loose or damaged teeth
• Abscesses or bumps within your dog’s mouth or gums
• Sneezing
• Whining or showing discomfort when eating or playing with toys
• Snotty nose

How To Prevent Dental Disease In Pomeranians

If your dog hasn’t started experiencing dental disease there are many things you can do to help prevent it.

• Brush your dog’s teeth- it’s best if this is done by you at home often enough that your dog is comfortable with the process
• Dental cleaning done by your vet- you may need to have a vet professionally clean your dog’s teeth under anesthesia if there are signs of plaque and tarter issues.
• Diet is important- they say we are what we eat and I believe it. Make sure to feed your dog the best quality food you possibly can.
• Give your dog good chew toys- your dog needs some great chew toys to help remove any plaque and tarter in their mouths.
• Make sure your dog gets enough exercise- exercise is important for your dog’s entire health and well-being (your’s too!)

Do Pomeranians Breath Through Their Mouths

Pomeranians will breath through both their mouths and their noses depending on their current situation.

Dogs will breathe in air through their noses and breathe it out of their mouths in a panting fashion to reduce their body heat when they are warm.

Pomeranians will breathe through their noses solely if they are trying to warm up.

If a dog needs to increase the oxygen in their lungs they will take deep breaths through their mouths.

Do Pomeranians Have Overcrowded Teeth

Sometimes your Pomeranian puppy will not lose all of their puppy teeth as they should and it can result in overcrowding.

Your vet will look at your puppies teeth and recommend removing some if needed.

Do Pomeranians Have A Hard Time Losing Their Puppy Teeth

It’s possible for a Pomeranian puppy to not lose all of their puppy teeth within the typical time frame of eight months.

When we brought our Pomeranian Willow in to get spayed our vet told us they would pull any puppy teeth that looked problematic.

During a spay or neuter operation is the perfect time to address any puppy dental issues.

What Dog Breeds Have The Worst Teeth

For one reason or another, there are some dog breeds that have worse teeth compared to others. Let’s take a look at some of these breeds.

• Great Dane
• Boxers
• Shih Tzus
• Dashounds
• Pugs
• Bulldogs
• Chihuahuas
• Yorkies
• Maltese
• Collie
• Lhasa Apso

Final Thoughts

Although it’s possible for Pomeranians to have numerous dental issues many of them can be preventable with proper veterinary care and dental care at home.

Other Articles You May Enjoy!

78 Must-Know Facts On Pomeranians!