When you become a proud dog parent, you want to be sure that you are doing everything that you possibly can to take care of your dog's health and overall well-being. However, you may not realize how vital your dog's dental health is to their overall health and happiness. CUPS, also known as chronic ulcerative paradental stomatitis, is a dental issue that many dogs develop if they do not get the proper care they need. Get to know more about CUPS and the care that can treat and prevent it so that you can take the best possible care of your canine pal.

What Is CUPS?

CUPS is a periodontal disease, also referred to as a form of gum disease. This particular issue occurs when the immune system reacts strongly to the presence of plaque in a dog's mouth. When the plaque on a dog's teeth touches their gums, a dog with CUPS will experience inflammation and large pockets of affected tissues that form lesions or sores (ulcers).

CUPS can be very painful for your dog and cause other secondary infections in the ulcerative sores. This infection also arises in addition to tooth decay and general bacterial periodontal issues caused by plaque. In other words, CUPS is a condition that occurs along with other dental and periodontal problems that you dog may be having.

How Can You Prevent CUPS?

CUPS can be prevented through regular and routine dental care. First and foremost, you will need to brush your dog's teeth at least once a day. The simple act of brushing their teeth will prevent plaque buildup and will therefore keep the infected pockets and ulcers from forming in your dog's mouth.

However, even with daily brushing, your dog may still have some plaque issues, especially if they often get food caught in their mouth. An annual trip to the dog dentist for a thorough teeth cleaning is also important for preventive care. The dog dentist will put your dog under general anesthesia for the procedure and will scrape off any plaque or other buildup on your dog's teeth. If there are damaged or rotten teeth, they will address those issues while cleaning (usually by pulling the affected tooth or teeth). Check out websites like http://www.kenmorevet.com if you are looking for a dog dentist.

How Is CUPS Treated?

The same plaque control methods used in CUPS prevention are also the first line of defense against the disease once a dog has it. This will help prevent more sores from developing and can allow infected pockets to heal. Other treatments include intensive antibiotic treatments to fight the existing infection and corticosteroids to suppress the immune system's excessive response to the plaque on your dog's teeth.

In some cases, when CUPS ulcers are extremely severe, some of the dog's teeth may need to be pulled so that plaque can no longer build up. This will increase the effectiveness of other treatments and can also help with your dog's discomfort.

Now that you know more about CUPS and how to prevent and treat it, you can be sure you are doing everything in your power to care for your dog's oral and overall health.