If you have been woken up by your pet’s horrible morning breathe that he has all the time, chances are Fido has Halitosis. But no worries, you are not alone. Many pet parents regardless of cat or dog have this same complaint.
What is Halitosis?
Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. It is a periodontal disease, or bacteria that is found in about 85% of pets. This bacteria aka plague builds up on your dog’s teeth causing a very foul odor. If goes untreated it will progressively get wore and the horrible smell will get stronger.
Possible causes for doggie bad breath
- Inflammation of the gums aka Gingivitis
- Inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the tooth aka Periodontitis
- Abscess on tooth or teeth
- Bone or hair stuck in mouth
- Foreign material such as grass stuck in mouth
- Tumors of the mouth (extreme cases)
- Lung or kidney disease (extreme cases)
Symptoms that cause doggie bad breath
- Difficulty eating
- Drooling
- Oral pain
- Bloody or oral discharge
- Oral discharge
- Difficulty swallowing
- Depression
Treating your pet’s bad breath
If your pet have a low to moderate case of Halitosis you may be able to treat the problem at home with a few simple items. Just like humans, dogs and cats need their teeth brush frequently but never use human toothpaste. Visit your local pet specialty store and you’ll find tooth brushes and tooth paste that’s made especially for dogs and cats. Another option are dental treats, the treats are designed to brush the pet’s teeth while chewing.
If brushing isn’t doing the trick, this may indicate that your pet may have a serious case of Halitosis. In this event you need to schedule an appointment with your vet to perform a dental cleaning.