Bayside Animal Hospital

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Your pet's bad breath could be telling you something!

When your dog or cat tries gives you a big kiss do you have to turn away from the odor? Hey-that hurts their feelings! Bad breath is often the first sign of gum inflammation or gingivitis. The most common cause of gingivitis is accumulation of dental plaque. As gingivitis progresses, it can lead to tooth root infections and abscesses. Left untreated, infections that start in the mouth can get into the bloodstream and cause heart and kidney problems.

How do you know if your pet has dental disease? Bad breath is the first sign. Pets cannot communicate their discomfort as we do and may show dental pain by changing eating habits or rubbing their mouths with the paws or on the carpet or furniture. They may drool, “chatter”, cry out, or flinch when touched around the gum or mouth areas.

If you suspect your pet has dental disease bring it in for a physical examination. We may recommend that your pet be anesthetized and have its teeth ultrasonically scaled and polished. Pets having dental cleanings usually have the procedure done in the morning and are ready to go home the same evening.

Many pets that have dental disease are older and their owners fear they may not survive the anesthesia required to clean their teeth. The newer types of anesthetic agents available and screening blood tests make anesthesia safer than ever. In fact, the risk of kidney and/or heart disease if gingivitis is left untreated is far greater than the risk of anesthesia.

You can prevent accumulation of the plaque that causes gingivitis by feeding hard, dry food. The dry food is crunchy and scrapes the plaque off the teeth as it is chewed. It also helps tremendously if you brush your pet’s teeth with a soft-bristled nylon brush or a finger toothbrush aimed at the base of the tooth. There are many special flavored animal toothpastes available these days-poultry, beef, and even tuna!

So don’t wait until you’re turning away from the smell-take a look in your pet’s mouth today!