Stomatitis in dogs is a gum disease that is quite common. This ailment is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, which proceeds in several stages. There are several types of stomatitis, however, they all manifest the same symptoms, and their treatment is similar. What forms of stomatitis are found in dogs, and how can you get rid of them?
Types of stomatitis in dogs
Among the various types of stomatitis, the following varieties are found:
- Atrophic disease . This pathology of the oral cavity in dogs occurs due to poor care, against the background of physical exhaustion and during natural changes that occur in the body of the animal with age. The mucous membrane becomes loose, inflammation appears, the affected tissues are covered with vesicles and papillomas, the resulting wounds begin to bleed. Such processes are accompanied by severe pain, and the dog is not able to consume dry, hard foods.
- Peptic ulcer, it’s gangrenous disease . It can develop for a variety of reasons - due to malnutrition , infectious pathogens, tumor formations, regular stress , somatic diseases, hormonal changes and a weak immune system. With the disease, lesions form in the form of bleeding "wells", gums, less often cheeks and tongue, are more often damaged. It is impossible not to notice the symptoms of ulcerative stomatitis in a pet. The mucous membranes in the dying stage that surround the lesions acquire a bright red color, their edges become cyanotic or gray. If the dog is trying to nibble something, then blood remains on the subject.
- Catarrhal disease . The mucous membranes become inflamed, but without obvious damage in the form of ulcerations and deep wounds. Swelling of the affected areas is observed, a light coating appears. Most often, this form of stomatitis occurs due to insufficient care for the oral cavity, tartar, sharp edges of broken teeth. Sometimes the inflammatory process in the mucous tissues occurs against the background of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver tissue, disorders in the immune system. This is one of the easiest types of stomatitis, but if left untreated, complications will surely arise.
Whatever kind of disease appears, its symptoms will bother the dog. The pet will eat food more carefully or refuse food altogether, rub its face with its paws and try to avoid inspection. It is important for owners to timely detect pathologies and seek professional help.
Dog stomatitis treatment
Therapy begins with the exclusion of food from the pet's menu that can damage the mucous tissues of the mouth. If a pet eats dry food, then it is worth giving them up for a while. The diet includes broths of fish, meat, mucous liquid porridge, low-fat dairy products, jelly. The food should be warm and have a uniform consistency. 
With severe lesions of the mucous membranes, 1-2-day fasting is recommended, but the dog should be provided with clean drinking water. So that the pet’s body is not depleted, intravenous and subcutaneous injections of saline, plasma substitutes, and vitamins can be prescribed.
The oral cavity is treated with disinfecting aqueous solutions - with potassium permanganate, ethacridine lactate, boric acid or furacilin. Solutions should be weak so as not to irritate the damaged surface.
Irrigating the mouth with herbal decoctions has a more delicate effect; you can use chamomile flowers, calendula, sage, etc. They are carried out using a pear, a syringe without a needle. You can also soak a cotton swab in solutions and treat the affected areas.
After treatments, it is recommended to lubricate the tissues of the mouth with special gels or ointments. In this case, the drug Metrogil-Dent helps. If we are talking about necrosis (dying off) of mucous damaged areas, then in this case you can do lotions with sea buckthorn oil.
It is possible to cure deep ulcers and wounds with a solution of iodine and glycerol, lapis (silver nitrite), synthomycin emulsion, etc. In case of complications, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. Preparations and dosage should be prescribed by a veterinarian. Drugs from the tetracycline group are not suitable for treating dogs, since they are too toxic.
During the illness and after it is recommended to include additional vitamin bait and supplements in the diet. If stomatitis occurs against the background of another disease (the so-called secondary stomatitis), then first of all therapy is directed to the treatment of the underlying cause. In addition to treatment, preventive measures are a more important aspect. The dog should receive good nutrition and live in normal conditions, these are the basic conditions for the health of the pet.
Do not give your pet hot and cold dishes, as well as medicines that can irritate the mucous membranes. Bones, especially chicken tubular, can lead to many complications, including damage to the mouth and further inflammation and suppuration. Sometimes stomatitis develops for reasons beyond the control of a person, but most often the owner can control and prevent inflammatory processes. After all, it is always much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it long and painfully in the future.