My Pet’s Bad Breath Smells Awful
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011Many of us do not think about our pet’s breath until it smells bad. Yes, pets have bad breath. We should consider this: what we do for ourselves to prevent breath odor and promote good oral hygiene will also apply to our dogs and cats. Our furry friends can suffer from tooth decay, and bad oral bacteria the cause of stink breath. Dogs, cats can suffer from dental disease just as we do. Food particles decay and form bacteria that lead to plaque build-up. The plaque can cause gums to become inflamed, recede, or bleed making matters worse.
Calculus/plaque a hard yellow/brownish coating at the base of your dogs/cats teeth can grow progressively worse if left untreated. For reasons not fully understood smaller dog breeds tend to be most effected by gum disease. Help prevent tooth decay and gum disease in your pet by brushing their teeth daily. Use a small child’s toothbrush or a pet finger brush. Do not use human toothpaste. Use only toothpaste formulated for your dog/cat/puppy/kitten. Coming in meat flavorings or other varieties to entice and get your pet accustom to the idea of having their teeth brush.
If you need a dental exam yearly, it might be a good idea to get one for your dog or cat.
If your best friend has not had a dental exam in long time, visually inspect their teeth for yellow and brown spots. If you find them take the time to schedule a complete checkup. Your veterinarian will need to do a complete tooth cleaning and scrape off tartar.
Do not wait until your dog needs tooth removal or restoration before you do something. Besides brushing there are pet breath sprays and mouthwashes that help dissolve plaque and bad oral bacteria causing bad breath.
