Why and How to care for your Dog’s Teeth?

 

Dogs are not as intelligent as to know why it’s important to clean their teeth.  It’s up to dog owners to understand the importance of oral health.

By Guest Blogger, Doc Lina

Dogs, just like human beings, should be healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Unlike human beings, dogs are not as intelligent to know why it’s important to clean their teeth and definitely do that. As dog owners, one mistake we make is to overlook the importance of oral hygiene in our pets. Studies show that most dogs show signs of periodontal disease by the time they are approaching three years of age.

As a loving master, I believe you have always considered cleaning dogs’ teeth to get rid of the bad breath and ensure there are fewer risks of oral diseases. However, we must all digest the fact that caring for our dogs’ oral health is overwhelming. To help you along the way, we have shared reasons why the dog’s oral health is important and certainly ways to care for its teeth.

Reasons to care for your dog’s teeth.

Now let’s start by understanding why it’s important to take care of your dog’s teeth. There are many reasons for this, but we will only discuss the major reasons to do so.

Reduce bad breathe–

Like human beings, dogs are likely to start getting bad breath if nothing is being done about their oral health. In most cases, bad breath is a sign of some major oral issues with the dog. It’s more often an early sign of periodontal disease.

Oral health has an impact on the overall Dog’s health–

Some oral diseases can lead to more serious health issues in other parts of the body. Verily, periodontal disease can introduce bacteria to other parts of the body, leading to serious health complications.

Neglected oral health in dogs can lead to discomfort issues and pain–

I bet you clearly understand what happens when you have a toothache. Dogs are not immune to toothache and other dental issues that can cause discomfort. Maintaining good oral health in dogs will eliminate bad breath, pain, and other discomforts.

It makes the teeth strong–

Oral health is a high determinant of the strength and the health of teeth. If something is not done, there are chances that the dog’s teeth will wear out and definitely affect the dog’s eating habits.

It shows you are a responsible pet owner–

Responsible pet owners will always make sure the dog’s wellbeing is at the core of their daily activities. As much as you are helping your dog lose weight, you should put the same effort into ensuring the dog has a healthy mouth.

What the breath of a healthy dog smells like?

A healthy dog will have naturally-smelling breath. Natural means that it should not have a suspicious smell. It should smell natural without any sweet, fishy scents or any other smell. If it has to change, then it should change to the scent of foods that the dog has consumed lately.

Symptoms of bad breath in Dogs

In most cases, you will not have an additional symptom besides the bad odor coming from the dog’s mouth. However, depending on the cause of this bad odor, you may be able to detect other symptoms, including the ones listed below.

• Pawing at the mouth
• Anorexia or inability to eat
• Loose teeth
• Gum swelling
• Excessive drooling
• Holes on the teeth
• Pain

Traces of rotten food trapped on the teeth

Specific Dog Breath and causes

Fishy smell

You may have realized that there’s a fishy odor emanating from your dog’s mouth and wondered what the cause is. In most cases, such odor is caused by anal gland secretions. The secretions from your dog’s anal glands can get to the dog’s mouth and cause that fishy odor.

The vet will initiate the treatment. The vet will express the gland or recommend antibiotics or even carry some repeated flush on the glands.

Sweet smell

Your dog may smell sweet because of several reasons. The first reason is the case of a dog that has eaten a sweet-smelling type of food and the second reason is because of a yeast infection.

You first have to get your dog checked to determine the real cause of this sweet smell. The vet may recommend any type of antibiotics and many other drugs to battle the infection.

Stinky breath

Although there are many reasons why your dog may have stinky breath, diets have received the biggest blame. This is especially the case if you feed your dog canned or table foods.

The main solution here is to change the diet or try to clean the dog’s mouth frequently.

What causes Moldy/cheesy mouth and bowel smells in dogs

The main cause of moldy smell in dogs is a yeast infection. Yeast infection in dogs has been characterized by a stinky, pungent, musty, and very exclusive smell compared to moldy bread.

The smell may also smell like corn chips or cheese popcorn.  Yeast infection will affect the mouth and several other parts of the dog’s body, including the paws and ears.

Treating a moldy smell in a dog will be initiated by a vet after confirming the underlying cause.

Bad Breath in Dogs: Causes and solutions

We are discussing the dog’s bad breath because this is the first sign of a troubled dog’s oral hygiene.  No pet owner wants to put up with bad breath from a dog, whether when playing or when the dog interacts with visitors.  Are you wondering what you can do about the dog’s bad breath? What are some of the causes of the dog’s bad breath, and what is the overall solution? If yes, then read one as we cover each cause of Dogs bad breath and the solution.

There are many causes of bad breath in dogs. Some of them can resolve with time, but several others need special intervention and help from a veterinarian to resolve. However, not all causes of bad breath should see you organizing a trip to the vet. You can get in touch with an online vet (we recommend our partner Dutch) for all your questions and eventually book an appointment if there are some major issues.

Gum diseases

Halitosis, better known as bad breath, can cause dental diseases, especially tooth decay or gum infection. To check if this is the case, you can lift your dog’s lip and look at the gums and the teeth. If the gums are very inflamed and red, this is definitely the cause of bad breaths, and you should act accordingly.

Solution-Although there are some home remedies that you can opt for, the best move here should be to take the dog to the vet. The vet will look for various signs of dental diseases and recommend the best method of treatment.

Kidney disease

Although uncommon, some metabolic diseases such as kidney failure or kidney disease can lead to bad breath. As a matter of fact, any issue with the dog’s kidney can make her mouth smell like ammonia. This is because of the buildup of the waste materials that are otherwise eliminated by the kidney.

Solution: If you suspect this is the case with your dog, look for other signs of kidney issues, including vomiting, weight loss, large volumes of urine, drinking excessively, and ulcers in the mouth. If you see any of those signs, always rush to the vet for treatment.

Consumption of a toxic substance

Dogs are very different from each other, but they have in common that they can eat almost everything. Some toxic substances can cause bad breath in dogs.

The solution-If you suspect that she has swallowed any harmful substance, call your vet immediately, especially because this is an emergency case.

Diabetes

Diabetes in Dogs can cause bad breath. It gives it a sweet and almost fruity smell. This can lead to suppressed immunity which can allow the bacteria to thrive in the mouth.

Solution-In such a case, the only better way to know for sure is to take her to a vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Food

Some foods can cause bad breath in dogs. Even the dog-approved food and the treats can lead to bad breath. This is especially the case with wet foods and dry foods because they can all attract bacteria which would initially affect her breath.

Solution-In such a case, consider asking questions about her food and if the problem persists, always take an alternative dog meal.

Plaque

Plaque can cause persistent bad breath and a bad taste in the dog’s mouth. This is especially a warning for impending gum disease.

Solution-Take actions quickly to determine the underlying issue and eventually treat the root cause of this issue.

Tips for keeping your Dog’s teeth clean

Brush the Dog’s teeth

This is the first most obvious tip. Making sure that the dog’s teeth are clean reduces the chances of bacteria buildup.

Buy Dog tooth wipes

This is the case for those that are unable to brush the dog’s teeth. The wipes can work wonderfully. The main reason why wipes are important is to rub them against your dog’s teeth to remove the plaque and tartar that could cause bad breath in dogs. They are very similar to toothbrushes in functionality. One drawback of dog dental wipes is that they are unable to get into tiny crannies.

Take her to the vet any time there’s an impending oral danger.

If you detect an oral issue with your dog, arrange an appointment with your vet.

Buy the Dog chews

Many dog chews can help in this case. So get in the market and Buy Dog chews.

Consider professional cleaning

If you are unable to clean the dog’s teeth, you can consider professional cleaning and whitening, refilling, and many other solutions offered by your vet.

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