Rex, what have you been eating?  Your breath is atrocious.  If you have said something like this to your dog or cat it may be time for a dental check up.  Bad breath can be caused by several conditions but, dental disease is one of the most common causes.  According to the AVDS 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have gum disease by 3 years of age.  Other signs of dental problems are excessive drooling or reluctance to chew hard food, red, inflamed and/or bleeding gums, loose teeth and brown tartar on teeth.

A professional dental cleaning can address the issue.  Your dog or cat will need to be anesthetized for the procedure.  Prior to anesthesia a physical exam will be performed and laboratory testing may also be done to make sure he is able to handle the anesthetic.  The teeth will be cleaned above and below the gum line.  Any bad teeth will be extracted.  The remaining teeth will be polished.  A wax sealant or fluoride may be applied.  Typically your pet will arrive in the morning and be ready to go home in the afternoon.

Bacteria from dental infections can travel through the blood to organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver and cause infection there.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent dental problems in your pet.  Most effective is daily tooth brushing.  We have pet toothbrushes and toothpaste (don’t use human toothpaste).  Hills has a prescription diet (t/d) that scrapes the teeth clean as your pet eats.  The kibble is larger and doesn’t shatter when the tooth enters it like most dry food.  They also have a wellness diet (healthy advantage) that cleans teeth in a similar way.  Enzyme treated rawhide chews or dental treats also help keep teeth clean.   Water additives or topical gels are also available.

We would be happy to do a dental exam on your pet and show you if they need a cleaning.  If not we can talk about preventing future problems.

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