Could Your Pet’s Dental Pain Be Caused by an Immune Disorder? Understanding Immune-Mediated Dental Diseases

Prevention is Key. Early Treatment is Crucial.

Common dental issues in pets — such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth decay — can lead to bad breath, drooling, and loss of appetite.
To prevent dental problems, brushing your pet’s teeth daily is important, but so is having regular dental exams and scaling done by a veterinarian.
However, when dealing with immune-mediated dental disease, even more caution is needed.

The Hidden Threat: Dental Disease You Can’t See

Many pet parents check their pets’ mouths and monitor their appetite. But when there’s no visible tartar, it’s easy to assume everything is fine.

Here are common reasons owners may overlook serious dental issues:

• No visible abnormalities on the tooth surface
• Pets are good at hiding pain
• No dental X-rays = can’t see the root
• “It’s just picky eating”
• “They’re just eating less because they’re old”

In reality, immune-mediated dental disease is often invisible. For example, tooth resorption, which is common in cats, may not show any outward signs — but the root may already be seriously damaged inside.

What Are Immune-Mediated Dental Diseases?

The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against infection.
But when the immune system malfunctions, it can lead to a range of health problems — including dental disease.
Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells, tissues, or organs — triggering inflammation and, over time, serious damage.
Just like humans, pets can suffer from immune system disorders. When the immune system misidentifies the teeth as “foreign invaders,” it starts attacking them — resulting in immune-mediated dental disease.
These conditions often have no obvious signs. They can only be diagnosed through dental X-rays, and cannot be treated by scaling alone. They usually require a combination of surgical and medical intervention.

Common Immune-Mediated Dental Diseases in Pets

🦷 Tooth Resorption (Cats)

• Cannot be detected visually — must be diagnosed through dental X-rays.
• Occurs when odontoclasts, a type of immune cell, become overactive and start breaking down healthy tooth structure.
• The tooth is slowly absorbed into the gum, even when the surface appears normal.
• Studies show that 30–60% of cats may suffer from tooth resorption, and over 70% of cats over age 5 have at least one affected tooth.

💡 What are Odontoclasts?
Odontoclasts are normal cells that help absorb baby teeth during teething. In healthy adult cats, they become dormant.
However, if the immune system becomes dysregulated and these cells remain active, tooth resorption can occur.

🦷 Feline Gingivostomatitis (FGS)

• Also known as feline oral inflammatory disease, early symptoms are subtle and easily missed.
• If left untreated, it can progress into ulcers, redness, and swelling.
• Caused by an immune overreaction, leading to chronic oral inflammation, ulcers, tissue overgrowth, and severe pain.
• Can reduce appetite, cause dehydration, weight loss, and compromise immunity.

⚠️ Viral Infections That Increase FGS Risk:

• FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus – “Feline AIDS”)
• FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
• Calicivirus (Feline upper respiratory virus)

🐶 CUPS (Chronic Ulcerative Paradental Stomatitis – Dogs)

In dogs, the immune system can overreact to bacteria in dental plaque, even if tartar levels are low. This immune response causes ulcers, painful inflammation, and gum/tissue damage — requiring long-term management.

Symptoms include:

• Severe oral pain
• Reluctance to eat or open the mouth
• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling, sometimes pus-like
• Skin inflammation around the mouth

How Are These Conditions Treated?

Treatment usually includes:

• Medications to regulate the immune system
• Antibiotics and pain relief
• In severe cases: tooth extraction may be required to reduce chronic inflammation

Q&A with Our Vet Team

Q: Why do autoimmune diseases occur in pets?
A: The exact cause is still unknown. Some theories suggest that viruses, bacteria, or medications may trigger immune confusion — especially in pets with a genetic predisposition.

Q: Are certain breeds more prone to immune-related dental disease?
A: Any dog or cat can develop dental disease if oral hygiene is poor, regardless of breed or size. Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to inflammation and infection.
However, pets carrying the following viruses are at higher risk for immune-mediated dental diseases:

• FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
• FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
• Calicivirus

Q: Is wet food or dry food better for dental health?
A: Wet food is not harmful to teeth, but it does not provide the mechanical cleaning action that dry food does.
Pets that eat only wet food tend to accumulate more plaque and tartar over time.

Routine Dental Checks = Long-Term Health & Comfort

No matter the type of dental disease, the best approach is daily brushing and regular veterinary dental checkups.
At Swanston Veterinary Hospital, we’re equipped with dental X-rays, ultrasonic scalers, and a full dental suite — ensuring safe, comfortable, and effective treatment for your pet.

📞 Call us: 2123 9206

🌐 Book online: https://www.swanstonvet.com/#Booking

📍 Visit us: Shop 9, The Reach, 38 On Ning Road, Yuen Long

🕙 Opening hours: 10am – 8pm, Monday to Sunday

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