Remember to take care of those pearly whites! This is a time for veterinarians and pet owners to focus on the significance of dental disease and how it affects the health of dogs.

Bad breath in a dog is often dismissed simply as “doggy breath.” But in fact, it may signal periodontal disease, which is the most common ailment suffered by 4 out of 5 dogs and cats over 3 years of age.

Preventing periodontal disease can result in longer, healthier lives for pets. Untreated plaque and tartar can cause severe gum inflammation, leading to bleeding gums and tooth loss. Bacteria that causes all this can travel through the bloodstream and eventually damage the body’s major organs, including the heart, kidneys and liver. Unfortunately, pet owners often ignore their pet’s dental care.

Proper pet dental care begins with a trip to the veterinarian for a dental exam, which should be done once a year.

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rosemadder
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  Rosemadder wrote Feb 25, 2010
- I learned about pet dental health just recently and it cost almost $500 to get my little yappy dog’s teeth fixed, poor thing. I think the general public needs more education on this matter. My dog had bad breath for over a year and her behavior changed, which I blamed on having a new dog in the house, but now I realize her lack of energy was due too she didn’t feel good. She is about 4 months from having 5 teeth pulled and the rest cleaned and she acts like a pup again! One thing the article didn’t mention, that my vet did, was to use an enzymatic toothpaste. It can be ordered from dog.com or elsewhere, but it is important because the enzymes breakdown the food on the teeth. It is just gently wiped on with gauze and my dogs love the taste.
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