Why does my pet's breath smell bad?

Have you ever experienced that moment when you try to greet your pet and as they open their mouth to give you a kiss, a wave of stinky breath hits you?

I certainly have! Yuck! One of the most common concerns pet owners have when they bring their furry friend to DVH is bad breath. What causes bad breath? What can be done to fix it?

Our pets can have bad breath for many reasons including broken teeth, infections, and even tumors. But it is most commonly caused by periodontal disease. Periodontal disease includes gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (loss of bone and soft tissue around the teeth).

Just like us, it is natural for pets to have bacteria living in their mouths. But as time passes the bacteria, in combination with plaque and tartar, can cause some pretty foul odors. If the dental disease is left untreated it can increase our pets’ risk of heart and kidney disease!

Dental disease can be addressed in a few ways. Depending on each individual pet preferred methods include:

Dental Cleanings- This is by far our best method to fight periodontal disease and smelly breath. While under anesthesia our vets and nurses can fully examine your pet’s mouth, take x-rays to check for underlying dental disease (most dental disease is below the gumline), remove plaque and tartar and polish the teeth.

Read More