Why does your dog or cat have bad breath?

Take a look inside of a dog’s mouth and find out

Bad breath in dogs and cats – is your pet at risk?

Dental disease is the most common disease seen in veterinary medicine, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of 3 suffer from dental disease¹. 

2 out of 3 dogs have halitosis² (bad breath). Does your dog or cat have bad breath? This is often the first sign of a problem – but it can be prevented.

Why does my dog or cat have bad breath?

As with human teeth, residual food, bacteria and calcium deposits form plaque and tartar on pets’ teeth, with painful and sometimes harmful results.

The real risk of not treating your dog or cat’s bad breath

Failure to address the problem can result in bacteria being carried into the animal’s bloodstream, resulting in severe or even fatal complications. Your pets’ dental hygiene is an important part of their wellbeing.

Signs of dental disease in dogs and cats

There are numerous symptoms of dental disease in both dogs and cats.

• Drooling
• Bad breath
• Reluctance or inability to eat
• Lip smacking
• Pawing or rubbing at the mouth
• Mouth hanging open, with tongue protruding
• The animal using one side of the mouth, and dropping food while chewing
• Rejection of hard or crunchy foods in preference for tinned or soft food
• Poor appetite
• Yellow or brown stained teeth (plaque) or greyish-white discharge (pus) around the teeth or gums
• Redness, swelling or bleeding of the gums

How to prevent dental diseases in dogs and cats

Daily home care is the key in preventing dental disease and bad breath, there are a number of ways of doing this using a combination of:

• Oral rinse – used daily or after each meal to help keep teeth and mouth clean.
• Dental water additives
• Diet – provide pets with regular access to special dental treats, chews and dental diets.
• Regular brushing with pet toothpastes and tooth brushes
• Rinsing with special gels

Prevent dental diseases and don’t risk your pet’s health – get a dental check-up at your next vet visit, and be sure to look after your pet’s teeth daily.

1. WSAVA Gloabal Dental Guidelines, 2017
2. Market Research, Kynetec, 2016

Article courtesy of Virbac Australia.