We all cherish the moments when our furry loved ones want to give us head rubs, hugs & kisses, but that sweet moment is quickly replaced with nausea when your pet’s breath slaps you in the nose. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, isn’t something we think about when we adopt a new family member, but it certainly will show up throughout your pets’ life.
What causes halitosis in our pets?
Well, it can be the same causes that will give us bad breath- smelly food, a night of rest or not brushing our teeth in the morning. Imagine if we never brushed our teeth- our loved ones wouldn’t want us in their face either. To put it simply, a build-up of bacteria in the mouth causes plaque and tartar to accumulate which brings a whole lot of issues to the table, including bad breath.
Your next question is probably going to be: How do I fix it?
The answer: How do we fix our own bad breath? By maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine. Our pet’s need the same dental care we do, from brushing their teeth to professional dental cleanings!
The best way to remove plaque and calculus is going to be professional teeth cleanings from your trusted veterinarian team. To get an effective cleaning, our pets are placed under anesthesia, but don’t worry, trained veterinary technicians are monitoring them from beginning to end. With anesthesia, vet techs are then able to take dental radiographs, to check for infection of a tooth root or a tooth fracture that was hiding under plaque build-up. They also scale your pet’s teeth, to get rid of the bad breath causing bacteria, and polish, to smooth out the protective covering of their teeth, known as enamel. For small dogs, it is recommended to have dental cleanings done annually, while our larger breeds and most cats can get by with cleanings every other year.
It is important to note that bacteria can and will begin to accumulate soon after a professional cleaning so we must complete the circle by maintaining oral hygiene care at home. Research shows that daily brushing of your pet’s teeth keeps nasty bacteria from festering, but how? Find out in our next blog “How do I brush my dogs/cats teeth?” Alternatively, dental chews recommended by the VOHC make for a great back-up option. Here is the scary truth, if we ignore our pet’s halitosis, the bacteria building up on their teeth and under the gum line will enter their bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, bacteria will wreak havoc on their organs, most prevalently, their liver and heart.
Your pet’s oral health is directly correlated with their heart and liver health, meaning cleaner teeth leads to a longer life span. If you’ve noticed bad breath from your pet, don’t wait- call your veterinarian for guidance on the next steps.
Priscella Torrez-Perkins, LVT
References:
Accepted Products | Veterinary Oral Health Council
Dog & cat dental disease: Signs, professional cleanings, anesthesia, and home care – AAHA