Dental Disease/Periodontal Disease: General symptoms include a foul breath odor, drooling, excessive licking of the lips, staining of the teeth, visible plaque on the teeth, and abscess formation. These symptoms are often accompanied by underlying pain. Treatment involves dental prophylaxis (cleaning) followed by dental x-rays to reveal the degree of underlying damage to the gums and bone. Further therapy may require periodontal surgery, bone grafting, antibiotics, and pain management. Extraction is often the only feasible solution for a diseased tooth. Additional or other treatment modalities may also be indicated. Pfizer Animal Health has created a vaccine for dogs to prevent or control the infection component of periodontal disease that often leads to bone and tooth loss. This vaccine is highly recommended for breeds that are prone to dental problems or any dog that has required periodontal therapy. Learning to brush your cat's or dog's teeth can be very helpful, but not all clients are inclined or able to do so.