Doggie (and kitty) Breath Begone!

One of the most common complaints a veterinarian hears is, “My dog’s breath stinks.” There are a lot of causes of this, certainly - diet, illness, coprophagia (the polite term for poop eating), but far and away the most common reason is dental disease. This is a very underdiagnosed problem in the veterinary field, and can lead to many more problems down the road. For this reason, a number of veterinary groups including the American Veterinary Medical Association have declared February National Pet Dental Health Month.

Just how bad of a problem is dental disease? According to the AVMA press release on the topic, “According to the AVDS, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three, often indicated by bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth and depression. Besides causing receding gums and tooth loss, the infection may enter the bloodstream, potentially infecting the heart, liver and kidneys.”

A lot of clients are reticent to pursue dental care for their pets. They say, “My pet’s teeth look fine, what’s the problem?” Think about it. Your teeth look fine too, but somehow your dentist manages to find enough garbage under those gums even with daily brushing and flossing to warrant two cleanings a year. Pets accumulate invisible plaque and tartar as well, both on the visible tooth and under the gingiva. If you lift your pet’s lips to look at the molars on the side of the mouth, where few people really look, there is often a large accumulation of plaque that you don’t see on the incisors or canines. Often (and especially noticeable in cats) a dark pink line right where the gum meets the tooth can indiciate gingivitis. Every time your pet swallows, they are swallowing bacteria which can and do enter the bloodstream and cause life threatening infections.

So how is this prevented? Daily toothbrushing is ideal, of course, but this may be impractical or impossible for some owners. Beyond that, regular dental cleanings done at the veterinarian are essential. Although many grooming facilities claim to offer tooth cleaning services, be careful. A full cleaning with the same tools your dentist uses requires general anesthesia. Veterinarians also have the ability to take dental x-rays (or refer you to a specialist who does), extract infected teeth, and provide appropriate antibiotics if needed. Many grooming services who offer “teeth cleaning” just brush their teeth! And in California as well as many other states, licensed veterinarians are the ONLY providers who can legally offer dental services to pets.

I can’t tell you how many times people bring in an older pet with complaints of lethargy, not wanting to eat, etcetera and they have a mouthful of rotting teeth. Literally, held in place only by green decay. These poor animals are in terrible pain, and after hours of very expensive and in and of itself painful work, they become like new pets. Getting regular cleanings done before this point, while the teeth are still healthy, can prevent this down the road.

The expense is worth it. Get it done when is convenient, but keep in mind many veterinary practices offer a discount during the month of February to promote Pet Dental Health awareness, so it’s worth asking. That happy doggie or kitty smile makes it all worthwhile!