KILLER DOG BREATH

We have all heard it and I suspect many of us have said it: "A dog's mouth is cleaner than a humans".  I suspect that those that have repeated this myth have never looked inside their pet's mouth!  At least once daily, I have a client ask me why their dog's breath smells bad.  My typical response is to open their dog's mouth and let the owner look inside!  At least 8 out of 10 times they will see reddened gums, tarter build-up, loose and rotten teeth (and this dog is sharing a dinner plate with them and giving them kisses!!)  In younger dogs, whose teeth are still in pretty good shape, I remind them that it is bacteria within the mouth that causes odor and that if they failed to brush their own teeth 2-3 times a day, their mouth would smell as bad as their pets!  Diet can also play a role in having bad breath.  Humans don't usually eat of garbage cans, eat dead things they find out of doors or drink out of germ laden toilets!

Did you know that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats all have signs of dental disease by four years of age?  Did you know that dental disease is a major contributor to other systemic disease such as heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease and chronic anemia?  

What would you think if every day you looked in the mirror and saw gums that were bleeding and receding, and teeth that were discolored, loosening and falling out? “Doggy breath” isn’t normal, and pets need dental care just like people do. Sometimes I flip the lip on a dog I’m seeing — usually for some other reason — and discover gums that look as if a blowtorch had been passed over them. You know these animals are in constant pain. And what about those teeth? Imagine what it would be like to be in excruciating pain every time your tongue touched your tooth, or if you had to try to gingerly eat on only one side of your mouth, away from the affected area. Rather than just ignoring your dog's breath, it would be better to treat it.  You would treat yourself if you had bad breath or a sore mouth…right?

If your pet's mouth already looks like the image above, it will first be critical for you to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian who can get your dog’s mouth back in good shape at any age and can show you how to keep things in good shape. No more pain.  Be prepared, depending on the age of your pet, and other existing age related conditions, your veterinarian may order blood work done prior to dental work and also start your pet on antibiotics ahead of time.  Dental cleaning is an anesthetic procedure, so your veterinarian will need to know if there is anything else wrong with your pet that may require special precautions during the procedure.  In most cases, your pet should be able to go home the same day as the procedure.

What can you do to help keep your pet's teeth healthier before and after their dental cleaning?  
• A well-balanced, meat-based diet is important
• Take your dog to the vet regularly and keep up to date with vaccines
• Brush your dog's teeth on a regular basis or use an oral rinse (available in pet stores and online).
• Maintain routine oral hygiene visits to the vet or groomers
• Give him treats to chew on that will help remove plaque from his teeth
• Regular exercise or some type of physical activity would be beneficial, just as it is for humans, but of course this varies by breed and dog.
• If his breath is very bad, consider using an oral solution made for dogs and cats that help with bad breath

Good oral health care is vital, but in general your dog's mouth is not cleaner than yours.  But I don't let that stop me from kisses (as long as they have a healthy mouth).  We want you to fully enjoy the love without worrying about germs and your pet to enjoy a life free from pain.  Your dog is dependent on you and you are responsible for their health and well-being.  Talk to your veterinarian about dental health care for your pet!