Halitosis anyone? How many of you have experienced the dog in the car with you, panting with excitement, pumping out breath which could be considered toxic fumes and require hazmat gear? Or perhaps its the family puddy, rubbing their face on yours, whos breath causes your eyes to water. In either case I am willing to bet you have experienced some form of what I describe. What does it mean you may ask yourself? It can many things, but the certainty is that foul odor indicates bacteria and infection: Think Komona Dragon.
It has been said that the mouth is the gate to the body. If you have an infection in your mouth then you can quickly get an infection in other parts of the body as well. Sometimes life threatening infections. Therefore it is important to man the gates and keep them clean and free of the enemy: infection causing bacteria. How can we do this? There are many ways to help keep an animals mouth clean and healthy and I would like to list a few.
Gold Standard: Brushing your pets teeth. This is not a difficult thing to teach an animal, the more difficult process is teaching ourselves to remember to do this particular chore. I usually encourage people to make this a fun time for the pet. Use treats, praise, toys etc to encourage the animal to allow brushing. Start with your finger and use something like peanut butter. let the animal lick the peanut butter and then using your finger, rub all surfaces of the teeth (10 seconds) and then stop. Continue this daily until they will allow your fingers in your mouth without fuss. Next use a toothbrush and go through the same steps. It may take several weeks, but if persistent you can teach the pet to allow you to brush.
Chew bones and toys are all mechanical ways to help keep teeth clean. This is not infallible and plaque and tartar will still accumulate. So one cannot expect this to be the only method and the teeth will stay pearly.
A product I love is called Healthy Mouth. It is an enzyme based additive to the drinking water. This product changes the pH of the mouth making it a less inviting environment for bacteria to grow and thrive. Used daily it does help keep the mouth healthier and the teeth clean.
Dental diets
But please understand, none of the above methods replace a regular professional cleaning (and I don’t mean from your groomer) by your veterinarian. These animals must be placed under anesthesia, allowing all surfaces of the the teeth to be examined, allowing a good oral exam, including evaluating tonsils, throat, tongue, under tongue etc. Many times cancer and other abnormalities are discovered because the veterinarian is actually able to see in the mouth. We probe looking for pockets which could indicate abscess or bone loss. We can look for fractured teeth and we can take care of most problems while they are under.
So the next time you come in for a wellness exam and your veterinarian indicates oral disease, please recognize the importance of preventative care. Get those teeth cleaned, follow through with home care and watch your pet live to a longer, healthier life overall.
