Dental care for dogs is important to keep them happy and healthy. Halitosis is the medical term used to describe an offensive odor that comes from the mouth. A number of causes may be responsible for this such as tumors, or certain diseases such as upper respiratory problems or diabetes, but the most common cause is periodontal disease. This is a disease resulting from bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria is also associated with plaque and cavities. Small breed dogs and brachycephalic breeds (breeds with short, flat faces such as English and French bulldogs, and Pugs) are the most prone to periodontal disease and other mouth diseases because their mouth’s are so small and their teeth are so close together.
Home dental care for dogs and routine cleanings from your veterinarian are the best ways to combat this problem. Using products made by CET is a good way to keep your dogs dental health in check. Daily brushing with dog approved tooth paste, as well as using dental rinses and approved dental chews, can also help with tooth care. If your dog does not allow you to brush his teeth or you are unable to keep them clean with home dental care alone, your dog may need a professional cleaning under sedation from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to safely inspect, clean, polish, and x-ray for any broken or infected teeth as well as extract any teeth that may need to come out.Please click on the pictures below for a link to purchase any of the following products.Careful inspection of your dogs mouth daily can help you find emerging problems before they get out of hand. Severe dental infection and tooth decay can greatly affect your dogs over all health. Infected gums create a direct pathway for bacteria to get into the blood stream. This can cause bacteria to build up on the valves of the heart causing a heart murmur.
An overload of bacteria in the blood stream can also make your dog just feel “yucky”. Severe dental infection can also be very painful for your dog and may even cause him to stop eating if the pain gets too bad.In some cases the bad breath or halitosis may actually be caused by foreign objects present in the mouth such as sticks, toys, bones, etc. If your dog loves to chew on things then it would be wise of you to do a careful daily inspection of his mouth to make sure nothing has gotten lodged and no teeth are broken.
Home dental care for your dog can keep more than your dogs teeth healthy, it keeps the whole dog healthy!
