Bones can have sharp edges that might have pierced your pup’s soft gums. So if your find dog teeth bleeding when chewing bone, it’s time to take a closer look.
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It is normal for dogs to have a bleeding tooth or gum once in a while, but when it happens regularly, (such as more than a week), then it could be a cause of concern.
If the teeth or gums of your dog start bleeding regularly after chewing bone, there might be another reason behind it. It can be due to the bone getting stuck in its gums. This can lead to severe pain, inflammation, and diseases like gingivitis if not taken care of.
Let’s talk a bit more about bones getting stuck in your dog’s teeth why it happens, what are the symptoms and what you can do. Before we begin, let’s first understand your dog’s teeth a bit better.
Anatomy of a Dog’s Tooth
The anatomy of a dog’s tooth comprises an outer crown, inner enamel, and dentin. These three primary structures surround the pulp – a storehouse of veins, vessels, arteries, and nerves.
For a dog’s teeth, the veins and arteries are very delicate and sensitive. Thus, when your dog chews on a bone harder than it should, its sharp edges can get stuck in the gingiva and pierce through the arteries and veins.
Why Do Dog Teeth Bleed When Chewing Bones?
Two factors (sharp-edged bones, soft gums in dogs) combine to cause bleeding.
We all know that dogs love bones. Thus, whenever you feed them a bone or a similar treat, they chew on it so much that it often results in jaw pain or numbness. Not many people know that overdoing it can also lead to bleeding in teeth or gums.
When a younger dog or pup chews hard on a bone, sometimes, the pieces of the bone get stuck in the internal structure of the teeth. Most pups have soft gums, especially those under four months of age.
If the edge of the bone is sharp, it enters the gum and lacerates the arteries and veins that are quite delicate. This is what causes bleeding.
Unlike humans, dogs cannot remove the stuck piece of bone from the gingiva, and thus, it stays that way for a long time. The piece that is stuck can cause bleeding every time your pup starts chewing on a bone.
If the bone continues to remain there for a few months or so, it can lead to tooth decay, bad breath, and in worse cases, inflammation leading to gingivitis.
Is There a Way To Know if My Dog’s Gums Bleed When it Chews on a Bone?
Watch for the following symptoms.
Bad breath
Dogs are known for having bad dental hygiene, and thus, it is very typical for them to have foul breath. But having bad breath can also be an early sign of bleeding tooth or gums.
So, if you are the kind of dog owner who takes care of the dental hygiene of their pup, that is, brushes their teeth at least twice a day, and it still smells lousy, it is time to check for any bleeding in their tooth.
Pup shows signs of being in pain
Bleeding gums or teeth often causes pain in dogs. However, you will have to actively observe your pup to see these signs. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Your puppy keeping his mouth open for a long and several times
- He tries to touch his mouth with forelimbs, often
- Some dogs also bend their muzzles and sit in an awkward or uncomfortable posture
- There is a downward movement of their head when they are in pain for a long time
The above are initial signs to help you diagnose his bleeding tooth.
If the bones remain stuck in the gums or tooth for a long time, it can lead to some alarming symptoms such as:
- Swollen gums
- Yellow or brown gums
- Abnormal weight loss
- Difficulty in chewing
- Change in appetite or anorexia in severe cases
- Pain leading to mood swings
If you notice any or most of the above signs in your dog, you must consult a vet as soon as possible. If you continue to see yellow or brown teeth for 2 to 3 weeks, it might mean that the tooth has been bleeding for a while and your pup needs immediate help.
Can You Prevent Your Dog’s Bleeding Tooth Problem Due to Excessive Chewing?
Avoid hard bones, and brush twice daily. Get your pup’s teeth checked regularly.
The good thing is that, yes, with good dental hygiene and care, you can prevent the bleeding tooth problem in your dog that may or may not arise due to chewing bones.
Avoid hard bones
Firstly, you must avoid giving hard bones to your pup under four months and to your dog whose permanent teeth are about to erupt. Even excessive chewing can damage the dog’s soon-to-come-out permanent teeth and make them disproportionate.
It is, thus, recommended to feed soft bones to your dog and avoid cooking the bones before you provide them to your dog. When you cook a bone, they become more complicated than before and thus, do no good to your pup.
You can also consider giving them a mixed type of food that includes dog feed, meat, and other treats, apart from raw bones.
Brush regularly twice a day
Another thing is to brush your dog’s teeth twice every day to eliminate any stuck bones in its gums. Brushing day and night removes all kinds of unwanted micro-organisms from the mouth. It is essential to use soft-bristle brushes with dog’s toothpaste for brushing your pup’s teeth since their pulp area is quite soft.
Get regular checkups done
Finally, it would help to take your pup for a routine examination regularly. If the vet sees a problem with the gum, they will immediately give you an apt solution for the same. Thus, the issue of bleeding from the tooth will be successfully prevented or avoided in your beloved friend.
Answers to Some Other Common Questions About Gum Bleeding in Dogs.
Is bleeding in dogs normal?
It is not unusual for their gums or teeth to bleed. Sometimes, due to over chewing or swollen gums, it can be entirely possible that their gums bleed from time to time.
However, if this continues for more than a week or two, you must consider telling your vet about the same. Several symptoms can help you learn about the seriousness of the bleeding gum in your furry friend that has been already discussed in this article.
What do you do if your dog’s tooth is bleeding?
If your dog tooth is bleeding, the first thing you can do is call your vet and tell them about the whole situation. However, if there is sudden and excessive bleeding, you must immediately seek professional assistance. Follow the vet’s instructions and give your dog the first aid that bleeding gum requires.
Why does my dog have blood on his bone?
There can be several reasons for bleeding gums or teeth; one can be due to over chewing of bones. It is not unusual for the dog who over chews his bones to have occasional bleeding.
It can be caused due to poor dental hygiene where dog owner fails to brush their pup’s teeth regularly, and thus, the pieces of previously eaten bone might have remained stuck in the gums.
The stuck bones slash through the veins and arteries of the mouth, which leads to bleeding in the gums or tooth, and the same shows up on his bone when he chews it.
It is recommended to consult a vet in case the presence of blood on your pup’s chew bone gets frequent since it can be something serious as well.
Are dog’s gum supposed to bleed when chewing rawhide?
Many dogs bleed when they are chewing on a hard bone or treat, including rawhide, for a long time. When you notice their tooth or gum bleeding, the intelligent thing would be to take away rawhide and not let them chew on anything else, at least for a day.
However, if chewing rawhide results in bleeding gums several times, it is essential to consult a vet and avoid giving them the treats for a few days. Also, we would recommend you replace rawhide with a softer chew treat for them.
A Few Final Words
Even though it is normal for your pup to occasionally have bleeding gums or teeth, you should not ignore it completely. Bleeding teeth or gums without pain might also be the initial sign of severe gum problems.
As we said above, you must notify your vet about symptoms in your pup when you find blood in their tooth and if you feel the need to take professional help, go ahead with it.
We thank you for reading this article till the end! Please let us know if we missed out on any points that you would like to be clarified, and we will add them to the article.
You will be shocked to know about several commonplace things that can cause problems with your dog’s teeth. We have written extensively about things like rawhide, gummy bears, sour gummy worms, Swedish fish, sugar cookies, and many such things. Do read these articles to keep your dog safe!