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.

Toothbrushes and pet toothpaste- Brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way to care for your pet’s teeth at home. Brushing can drastically slow the accumulation of plaque and tartar. To be most effective brushing should be done daily, but even a couple times a week is helpful. Just remember to use a pet-safe toothpaste!

Dental Chews- There are many types of dental chews available to help your pet with his/her dental health. When deciding which to buy, look for the VOHC seal of approval. This seal is only given to companies who have conducted a certain level of research to prove their products are actually beneficial to pet dental health. Make sure to avoid hard chews, such as bones, antlers, hooves, etc.. As our doctors like to say, “If it’s too hard for your fingernail to indent it, it’s too hard for your pet’s teeth.” While many pet stores and places online recommend these hard chews for cleaning teeth, your pet can easily fracture his/her teeth on them.
Helpful reminder: Remember that there are calories in any chew or treat

Additives or Supplements- Other options to help slow the accumulation of dental disease include:

• Maxi/Guard oral cleansing gel, which requires you to apply a small drop to your pet’s gums daily for best results.
  
• Entero is a supplement containing a probiotic that benefits oral health. It decreases the gram negative bacteria in the mouth that cause periodontal disease. Entero comes in a powder form and is easily mixed into your pet’s food.  

Food- Certain foods are also able to promote dental health and improve smelly breath. Hill’s TD is the best food to help your pet’s teeth. The kibble is larger than average, which forces your pet to chew his/her food. As your pet chews the food, TD’s special design scrapes the teeth clean.

Keeping your pet’s mouth healthy is very important to his/her overall health. Working with your pet’s veterinarian is a great way to create an individualized plan to keep your pet’s mouth healthy and their breath smelling fresh.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month and here at Devon Vet, we are celebrating by offering 5% off dental cleanings when you schedule your pet’s dental cleaning during the month of February! Don’t miss out on these savings and call us today to learn more.