We all know the term “Dog Breath” is not usually meant as a compliment. When your dog’s breath starts getting stinky, it could just be your dog did what dogs do and ate something gross. More often than not though, bad breath hints at an underlying problem.
According to pet MD, the majority of pets over the age of 3 suffer some form of dental disease. Dental disease is the #1 cause of bad breath in dogs. Getting your dog’s mouth back to healthy can take some work, but it is always worth it. If your dog is over the age of three and has never had a dental or regular (daily) dental care at home, your dog will most likely need a dental to get things right in his or her mouth once again. After your dog’s teeth are squeaky clean, we have lots of options for helping you keep them that way for life!
Anesthesia Free Dentals
If your dog doesn’t need extractions, an anesthesia free dental is the best way to go. Anesthesia free dentals avoid the risks associated with anesthesia free dentals, while still getting your dog’s teeth squeaky clean. Woofers Grooming & Goodies hosts an anesthesia free dental clinic every few months. Ask us about signing your dog up!
Leba III
If your dog has heavy tartar build-up, but no other dental problems, leba III may be a good solution to help clean your dog’s teeth up. Leba III is a spray that helps balance the enzymes in your dogs mouth, and have proven in the past to clean teeth very well with 30 days of regular use.
Toothbrushing
Daily toothbrushing is one of the best ways to keep your dog’s mouth in good condition. Dog’s should have their teeth brushed with toothpaste designed specifically for pets, as human toothpaste can make them sick. Foams and gels are also available if your dog won’t hold still for brushing.
Pet Peeve Here: If your dog has just had a dental, that is the perfect time to start brushing their teeth! Don’t put off teethbrushing till the dog’s teeth are covered in tartar again. Toothbrushing prevents tartar from building up again, it doesn’t take it off once it is already there.
Raw Bones
If you’d rather your dog brush his own teeth, keeping your dog well supplied with raw bones is a good solution. The enzymes in the raw marrow will help protect your dog’s teeth, and the scraping action of chewing the bone will help keep the teeth fairly clean. Never feed your dog a cooked bone as it may splinter and pierce the dog’s gut. Don’t like the smell and mess of bones? Try antlers!
Water Additives
If your dog’s teeth are shiny and white, but he still has horrible breath you can try a water additive to help refresh your dog’s breath every time he or she takes a drink. This won’t really help as far as dental care, but it will help with breath.
Please remember to check your dog’s teeth regularly throughout his or her life. Dogs often try to hide pain, and may continue eating and drinking normally even with a broken tooth or severe gum pain. If your dog has a broken tooth or bleeding gums, he is hurting, even if he doesn’t show it! If you’re not sure if your dog’s teeth are healthy, bring him in and ask us to check them for you. We are always glad to help!