While most people just accept the fact that their dog’s breath smells like…well, dog breath…what they don’t realize is that odor might signify serious health risks with the potential to damage not only your pooches’ teeth and gums but also its internal organs.  To address the significance of oral health care for pets, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and several other veterinary groups have joined to declare February as National Pet Dental Health Month.

Bacteriologist and fresh breath guru, Dr. Harold Katz, is not only an expert on fresh breath for humans, he is also THE expert on fresh breath for man’s best friend. Dr. Katz is available to come in-studio with his electronic breath testing device, the Halimeter, and measure some pups’ breath on air, giving pet parents sensible tips on how to prevent doggie gum disease and get rid of bad breath in dogs for good!

Katz has been a featured guest on tons of local and national TV shows across the country.  Click here to view his most recent interview on Fox & Friends, and to access his full demo reel: http://www.viddler.com/explore/drkatz/videos/123/.

Thanks for your consideration – let me know what you think!

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February is National Pet Dental Month!  According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats allegedly have symptoms of dental disease by age three!  Beyond that, oral disease is also the most commonly diagnosed health issue for our canine and feline friends.  We may hear about bad breath in pets all the time, but that doesn’t mean that it could be caused by something serious. 

Periodontal disease has the same roots in dogs and cats as it does in people.  Bacteria from food can build up in the oral cavity, and if it’s left untreated, the bacteria cause plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and gumline.  Over time, if the buildup is neglected, periodontitis can form, which is an irreversible condition involving gum inflammation and infection.  If the gums are inflamed, they become separated from the teeth, thus allowing bacteria to enter and attack the tooth’s root.  Furthermore, bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and venture on over to the heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs, and cause serious problems.

These are all reasons as to why it is very important to be proactive about protecting your pet’s health.  Some warning signs that you can look for in your pet are: bad breath, yellow-brown crust on the teeth, bleeding gums, changes in eating/chewing habits, pawing at the mouth, and/or depression.  These are all potential signs that the pet has an infection, and you should schedule a dental checkup as soon as you can.  If the pet is in good health, one should schedule regular veterinarian visits anyway.   A pet owner should schedule a professional cleaning to have the following done: tartar removal, cavity/growth check, diseased teeth extracted, and tooth polishing.  Tooth polishing helps prevent the formation of new plaque/tartar buildup. 

You should also practice regular brushing with your pet, and follow a home care regimen.  You can introduce toothpaste to your pets by using a small amount on your finger and rubbing it on their teeth.   Make sure to use a toothpaste that is specially made for cats and dogs.  The next step is to have the pet lick the bristles of a toothbrush with the toothpaste on it.  Then, you can begin brushing its teeth.  This should be done twice every week.  Don’t give up if your pet doesn’t seem willing to have its teeth brushed. 

Also, certain pet foods actually help plaque/tartar removal, so you can look for that in stores.  Ask your pet’s doctor for any advice.  Good luck and spread the word!

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Most of us are used to the thought of dogs having bad breath, but that may not be a good thing. The dog could have serious health issues causing chronic halitosis. Bad breath is caused by the same anaerobic bacteria that causes this malodor in humans, and these bacteria generally give off a rotten egg smell, since a sulfur substance is excreted. True, dogs may eat and chew on things like rotten bones, and so on, but chronic bad breath can mean serious complications like periodontal disease. It’s a good idea to bring your dog to the vet to try and get a diagnosis. The vet will make some recommendations on what can remedy this condition, based on what causes it. Probiotics may even be helpful in remedying the halitosis. TheraBreath sells a formula specially designed for cats and dogs: just click here for our dog breath remedy. This way, you can make sure your dog kisses from Fido aren’t smelly!

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Imagine your beloved pet coming up to you to cuddle like it does every day, but lately you’ve been noticing your pet has bad breath that is getting worse and worse.  With our furry friends, there could be multiple causes for this bad breath.  These include teeth problems, kidney dysfunction, diabetes, and foreign bodies in the mouth.

Dental disease is the most common, and dirty teeth is one of the main things that the vet will be looking for when looking in your pet’s mouth.  Other things to be checked out are the pet’s hydration status, and the color of its gums.  If the pet’s teeth are covered in chunks of calculus, the solution requires much more than brushing.  Nowadays, pet owners are more aware that their pet’s teeth need to be scaled and polished just as a human’s would.

Oral foreign bodies can cause infections, like a bone embedded in the roof of a dog’s mouth.  Metabolic disorders can occur when the pet’s kidneys are not working properly; thus, toxins in the blood can cause ulcerations in the mouth that cause bad breath. Remember that any mouth ulcerations or inflamed gums can give your pet bad breath, including viral diseases in cats. Diabetes can give a your pet’s breath a certain “ketotic” odor that your vet should recognize.

All in all, brushing and buying tartar control treats for Fido may not always be enough, so remember the possibilities!

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