Dogs commonly have bad breath. Unfortunately, most owners attribute it to a dog's inherent nature. But, canine halitosis can be due to a dental issue that requires an examination from a veterinarian. The odor may be caused by an infected or abscessed tooth, foreign material (for example, a portion of a plant) stuck in his teeth, or periodontitis. In most cases, your dog's bad breath is cause for concern. In this article, we will describe 2 of the most common causes of canine halitosis and offer a few suggestions regarding how to treat it.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis impacts the bone and gum tissue that support your dog's teeth. It manifests as an inflammation in the affected area and is usually the result of bacteria. Typically, the bacteria emerges when plaque collects on your dog's teeth. As the condition progresses, the underlying support structure of the teeth begins to deteriorate. Most dog owners would be surprised to learn that nearly 80% of dogs that are 3 years of age or older deal with some level of periodontal disease. And it causes their breath to smell badly.
This is not a condition that can be reversed through regular brushing. Rather, it is progressive and requires a veterinarian to x-ray and examine your dog's teeth. And the sooner you do this, the better.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is often related to periodontitis. It is caused by the build up of plaque on your dog's teeth and inflames the surrounding gum tissue. In many cases, gingivitis is a precursor to periodontal disease. A veterinarian will usually sedate your dog while performing a comprehensive examination of his teeth and gum tissue. This includes taking x-rays to examine the tooth area that lays under the gum line. If gingivitis is detected, there is a high likelihood that your dog has one or multiple cavities.
The veterinarian will clean the diseased tooth (including the entire structure) and seal it, thereby eliminating the gingivitis. If the condition is identified early enough, it can be neutralized before it progresses to periodontitis.
Improving Your Dog's Breath
Your dog's breath is a helpful barometer of his dental health. If his breath is bad, it may be due to something that is caught in his teeth that can be easily removed. Alternatively, the halitosis could be a sign that an infection or disease has occurred. Sadly, most owners remain ignorant of this and as a result, their dogs often develop gingivitis and periodontal disease. Not only do these conditions cause discomfort and pain for dogs, but it can lead to costly corrective dental procedures in the future.
If your dog has bad breath, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian. The earlier you can identify and resolve any issues related to dental disease, the better.
Im talking specifically in this article about bad breath in dogs, however it can just as easily be applied to cats as well.
After doing alittle research on this topic of bad breath in dogs, I found that a very high percentage of dogs at a certain age have periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is condition in the mouth that over time and without attention to it, break down all the supporting gums and bone that hold the teeth in place.
No not a very pretty picture at all, and it also causes loss of the canines teeth. The bacteria that cause this type of condition not only causes the above mentioned, the bacteria can get loose from the teeth and enter in the dogs bloodstream.
Causing damage to the vital organs in the dogs body such as the kidneys, lungs, heart, and liver. With those kind of damaging results, its no wonder its dubbed the "Silent Killer Of Pets".
As periodontal disease progresses it is marked by bad breath in your dog.
But Wait..
The good news is that this can be prevented. Good oral hygiene for your pets can become as regular a routine, as your daily brushing and flossing.
1. Regular trips to veterinarian.
This may seem pretty obvious, but is often neglected by many pet owners. Really it is the only way to know exactly where you stand in regard to your dogs health today
2. What your dog eats
Monitor what you feed your dog, can dog food(soft)has been reported as giving dogs plaque, that leads to tartar at very high percentages.
Dry dog food is much better for your dog, in that it wears away tartar build up.
3. Brush your dogs teeth regularly
This is a no-brainer if you have a dog, and want to prevent a serious condition like periodontal disease.
If you find it hard to brush your dogs teeth...
Use a product such as Oxyfresh Pet Oral Care to keep dogs breath fresher, and inhibit gum disease. It is added to your dogs drinking water, and because its odorless and tasteless, your dog doesn't even know its there.
Makers of this product reports they are selling this stuff in the goobs. Which means that it obviously works!
Your dogs health is a very serious matter if you truly love your dog, so be sure to give it the best care you can. Its no question these tips work to eliminate gum disease for your dog, will you?
Both Everette Jamison & K.m. Dodd are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Everette Jamison has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Environment and Used Car. Get the best and at. Everette Jamison's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
K.m. Dodd has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bad Breath, Health. is a resource in your fight to finally get rid of bad breath. K.m. Dodd's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.