Why Does My Pet Have Bad Breath?

Why Does My Pet Have Bad Breath? 
Bad Breath Blues 

Are you avoiding puppy smooches and kitty kisses because your pet has bad breath? Smelly breath can be very off putting but don't overlook it. Bad breath can be an indication of a problem with your pets health and most likely their mouth. We see the Dentist once a year and even more if there are problems and your pets should too. Oral health is very important for your pet and if not taken care of can not only be painful but can cause other problems as well. 

Does my pet need a Teeth Cleaning?

The answer is YES! Our pets should be receiving annual dental exams from their veterinarian to make sure things are in tip top shape! They will be able to notice if a full dental cleaning is recommended by examining the mouth and the state the teeth and gums are in. (If the animal is cooperative of course.) But if you notice anything abnormal with your pet at home let your veterinarian know right away. Below are a few things you can look out for:

Signs of Oral or Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats:

-Bad breath

-Tarter Build up

-Red gums 

-Loose Teeth or discolored teeth

-Drooling abnormally

-Dropping food or toys

-Pet does not want mouth touched

-Bleeding

-Loss of Appetite or weight loss

If you notice any of the signs above alert your veterinarian right away. Your Veterinarian will recommend a Dental Cleaning for your pet and possibly, further procedures like tooth extractions if needed.

This cats owner noticed a bad odor coming from her mouth. This kitty was in need 

of a dental cleaning in which the odor indicated severe gingivitis and too decay resulting in 

tooth extraction. Note the Severe Red gums

What happens during a Pet Dental?

Your pet will need to be fasted prior to your appointment and will need to have blood work prior as well. Since your pet is put under anesthesia for this procedure, your vet will want to see recent blood work results to be sure your pets internal organs are functioning as they should. If everything looks good on blood work they will place an IV catheter and begin to induce anesthesia. Once under anesthesia, the technician will begin scaling or scraping off tartar build up and will check for gingivitis. They also check for pockets, cavities, and will be able to see things under the gum line such as bone recession by taking dental radiographs. If any of these things are noticed, the veterinarian will preform the necessary tasks which may include tooth extraction. The teeth are then polished and the pet is sent to recovery. 

You can get a behind the scenes look at the procedure by going to the AVMA website: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Pet-Dental-Care.aspx

Before and after shot of a dog pre and post Dental. Tarter and 

staining are cleaned visually as well as bacteria below the gum-line

What about Anesthesia Free Dental Cleanings?

Theoretically this sounds like a great option right? Cleaning my pets teeth without having to put them under anesthesia? Wrong! Actually anesthesia free dental cleanings are not very beneficial to your pet at all. This method ONLY scrapes the front surface of the tooth, it does not get to where it matters, under the gum line. 

According to the American Veterinary Dental Collage (AVDC) "Scaling (scraping surface of the tooth with an instrument) the plaque and tartar from the outside surfaces of the teeth does not remove the plaque and bacteria from beneath your pet’s gum line and does not decrease the risk of your pet getting periodontal disease. Consider this, the same level of “gross” build up you see on your pet’s teeth, is also thriving beneath their gum line where you can’t see it or the damage it’s doing. Cleaning and scaling below the gum line is most important because it’s where periodontal disease is most active. This can’t be done without anesthesia."

Not to mention it is very stressful to you pet! We all know we can't tell our pet to open their mouth and "AHH" as we work in their mouth. So if awake, your pet will need to be restrained as they scrape the surface of the teeth. This can be extremely scary and even painful for your pet. It is much more humane and beneficial to your pet to put them under anesthesia so the tasks can be preformed efficiently and stress-free. 

To learn more on Anesthesia Free Dentals please visit:

http://avdc.org/AFD/reasons-not-to-choose-anethesia-free-pet-dentals/

Oral health is very important to your pets overall health. Not only can it be painful for your pet but also constantly swallowing bacteria from decaying teeth can affect your pet systemically as well. Keep your pet happy and healthy by keeping their oral health in mind!