Number 1: The Retriever
What? I thought you said that dental disease was a small breed issue!
Though they present with advanced dental disease a bit later in life than small breeds, they win 1st place because of the sheer number owned by Americans. At Animal Medical, 157 of our patients are retrievers!
The consumption of human food significantly increases the risk of dental disease in dogs, especially small breeds. Take note of the Hoover-like fashion this retriever gobbles up its food. It’s one of the main reasons why so many end up eating socks, rocks and other foreign bodies.
But don’t let this breed’s happy-go-lucky demeanor fool you. In the absence of brushing, this breed is likely to have a significant amount of dental disease in its mouth by the age of 6. He or she may be bounding about, but that’s just its endless enthusiasm bursting forth. Any animal with dental disease feels run down and sickly.
You Might Not Be Able To Wait
This breed is considered senior at 7 years of age. Waiting to manage oral disease in this breed increases the length of time under anesthesia and increases risk. Additionally senior pets are much more likely to have complicating factors like heart disease, obesity and internal organ issues.