If your dog has bad breath, it could signal the sign of disease. Have your dog checked by a veterinarian as bad breath can be the earliest – and easiest to detect – early warn sign of canine gum disease.

 

All of these become more common in older dogs, especially if you have not taken care to keep your dog’s teeth. Caring for your dog's teeth has more implications than simply keeping their breath fresh and their gums healthy. Canine dental disease can have devastating health implications for your four-legged friend. Regular dental checkups may be necessary to ensure that any serious problems are quickly treated but by regularly brushing your dog’s teeth you can actively avoid problems in the first place.

 

Tartar buildup on dog’s teeth fosters the growth of odor producing and potential harmful bacteria. If these bacteria become too numerous, and the gums become inflamed, bacteria can invade tissue, even travel to other parts of the body and set up abscesses and other types of infection there that may be untreatable. If your dog has foul smelling breath, deal with it now.

 

Bad breath in dogs is more common in older pets because the tartar builds up over the course of a lifetime unless you have the dogs teeth cleaned regularly. When you need to cure bad breath in your dog, the first step is a visit to the veterinarian to have the dog’s teeth examined. A veterinarian can assess the condition of the dog’s teeth and confirm that this is where the odor is coming from (it’s important to rule out other health problems that can cause an odor on the breath). Your veterinarian can also advise you as to what steps you should take based on the degree of tartar and periodontal disease.

 

The idea of brushing a dog’s teeth may seem ridiculous, but there are toothpastes on the market specifically designed for dogs and cats. They come in pleasant meaty flavors that the animals love – you can slowly train your dog to tolerate a daily brushing with enzyme toothpaste formulated to dissolve tartar. Dog owners who start this routine when the animal is quite young can often avoid bad breath in dogs altogether.

 

Another way to fight tartar is to give a dog chew toys and bones to literally scrape the tartar off the teeth. As with any bone, watch your dog to be sure it doesn’t swallow large chunks while chewing on a tartar buster.

 

If all else fails, your veterinarian may recommend a cleaning under anesthetic to remove heavy tartar. This is expensive and it can be risky for older animals, but it is well worth it to avoid a serious and possibly life-threatening illness later on – bad breath in dogs is not just a cosmetic or social problem.

 

Gum disease in dogs can not only make your dog’s life a misery, they can actually die from complications. Help your dog avoid gum disease by regular brushing, frequent vet checks and

feeding them a healthy diet that’s good for their teeth and overall health. Canine gum disease is an overlooked yet potentially deadly dog health problem.