Bad breath is not normal: a guide to pet dental care
Dental
6 min read
Ingrid Fairweather, LVT
Dog breath is usually gum disease. What a real cleaning involves, why it needs anesthesia and what helps at home.
Most dogs and cats have some dental disease by the age of three. The smell is bacteria, and most of the damage is below the gum line, where nobody can see it without an X-ray.
What a cleaning actually is
Under anesthesia we X-ray every tooth, scale the tartar off above and below the gums, probe each tooth for pockets and polish the surfaces. It takes about an hour and most pets go home the same afternoon.
Why anesthesia matters
Scraping an awake pet’s teeth cleans the part you can see and none of the part that causes disease. It also hurts. Anesthesia lets us work under the gums and take X-rays safely, with a technician watching your pet the whole time.
What helps at home
Daily brushing with a pet toothpaste is the best thing you can do. Dental chews and water additives help a little. Hard bones and antlers break teeth, so skip them.
Signs to book a check
Bad breath, red gums, brown tartar on the back teeth, chewing on one side, dropping food or pawing at the mouth.
Ask for a dental check at your pet’s next exam. We show you what we see and give you a price before anything is booked.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice or a diagnosis. Every pet is different. If your pet has trouble breathing or a seizure, call an emergency hospital now.
Written by
Ingrid Fairweather, LVT
Reviewed by the Sweetgum medical team.
