Pet Care Articles

If your cat or dog has really bad breath that doesn't go away, it's a red flag that gum disease, and/or something more serious, could have set in.

That funky smell is caused by bacteria in your pet's mouth, lungs, gastrointestinal tract or internal organs. A trip to your veterinarian to find the cause will likely start with an examination of your pet's teeth and gums.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is the most common disease in pet dogs and cats, according to the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

Pets that don't receive good oral care from their owners usually start showing signs of gum disease around age 5. Soft dental plaque forms on the hard dental tartar on the surface of the teeth, just as it does in humans. Bacteria thrive in the plaque, irritating the gums.

Before you know it, your pet can have an infection that can spread far beyond its mouth.

"Bacteria can get into the bloodstream and affect the liver and kidneys," said Dr. Michelle Crosier of Lums Pond Animal Hospital. "It's better at the first early signs of tarter accumulation to assess the whole mouth and underlying systems."

If your pet needs its teeth cleaned to remove the built-up plaque and tarter, that might be the end of it. But while your pet is under anesthesia for the cleaning, which can take as little 15 minutes for light buildup and as long as two hours for really heavy accumulations, the vet will check for other things.

Under that buildup, your vet might find broken teeth, impacted teeth or retained baby teeth, which did not fall out as they should and when crammed up against adult teeth, gave bacteria a great place to grow.

"If you leave those teeth that are diseased in the mouth, it can cause gum loss as well as bone loss," Crosier said. "We get a lot of dogs with a lack of bone density from infection. It weakens all the bone, especially along the lower jaw."

Your vet also will look for tumors or bone cysts that can't be accessed while the pet is awake.

Vets are doing a better job helping clients keep dental health by recommending chew toys and treats that help break up tartar and plaque. Crosier recommends consulting your vet and looking for the Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance on any product.

Feeding your pet soft or dry food has no impact on whether or not it will develop a buildup of plaque or gum disease, but your vet might recommend a change in diet.

Crosier also advises owners to brush their pet's teeth regularly, and that includes cats. It won't take the place of a professional cleaning if one is needed, but it can help prevent the need.

You can get advice from your vet on how to approach cleaning your cat or dog's teeth, and aspca.org has step-by-step instructions.

Do not use human brushes or toothpaste, and do not force your pet to submit. And, don't interpret the brushing your groomer gives your cat or dog as a substitute for a cleaning by the vet. It's the difference between a human brushing her teeth and going to the dentist for a cleaning, Crosier said.