Your dental health is important to you. You probably visit the dentist once or twice a year, brush your teeth twice a day, and floss regularly (or at least, you tell your dentist you floss regularly). Your pet’s dental hygiene is just as important to them as yours is to you. Poor dental hygiene can be the catalyst for many chronic health problems in pets, that in most cases can be prevented by keeping their pearly whites, WHITE!
You can help your dog take care of their dental health by looking out for these 7 signs of bad pet dental hygiene.
1. Bad breath
Your pet’s breath is very rarely going to smell like fresh spearmint. Your pet’s breath will usually be a tad off. However, if it smells worse than their dinner or the snacks they’ve been chewing on, it may be time to take them to the vet for their regular check-up and start and at-home dental care routine. If their breath smells particularly rancid, like rotting eggs, this could be a sign of plaque build-up and dental decay.
2. Disinterest in chewing food
Pets love food. They love food so much that they’ll often expect to have a share in your food. That’s why it should raise a red flag when they lose interest in chewing or eating altogether. This could be indicative of a pet dental health issue such as inflammation, gum disease, or damaged teeth. As soon as you notice your pets eating habits change, take a look in their mouth and see if anything looks off. If you aren’t sure, take pictures and drop in to your vet/nurse for a dental check.
3. Not allowing you to touch their mouth
Your pet normally won’t be 100% willing to let you have a look in its mouth and will more than likely pull away. However, there is a difference between general discomfort at your fingers in its mouth and being in pain. Your pet won’t realise you’re trying to help and may yelp, scratch, or bite if you get too close to a sore tooth or part of their mouth that is painful. Their jaw is surrounded by saliva glands, lymph nodes, muscles and nerves that can all factor into pain and underlying health issues.
4. Excessive drooling
Some pets normally don’t drool at all, whereas others (we’re looking at you English Bulldogs) drool pretty consistently. If your cat or dog begins drooling more regularly than usual, bring them into the local vet. Excessive drooling indicates that something is causing them to over-produce saliva or something is inhibiting their ability to swallow saliva. Either way, they’re going to need a dental health check. If your pet is pawing at their face in addition to drooling, it could be a sign of a dental abscess, loose teeth, or gum disease, all of which need to be addressed as soon as possible.
5. Yellowed or brown teeth
Much like human teeth, yellow or brown teeth indicate your pet has a build-up of plaque. While feeding them dental treats and brushing their teeth with special pet toothpaste is a great preventative measure, your pets ABOVE ALL, need RAW MEATY BONES! These should be fresh, frozen and of different sizes and cuts to target all different part of the jaw and teeth.
6. Irregular gums
Your pet’s gums should be a light pink colour, just like yours. If you notice their gums bleed, begin to look inflamed, or develop any growths, book them in with the vet for a dental health check. Not only are irregular gums uncomfortable or even painful for your pet, but they can also lead to more serious health problems if left unaddressed.
7. You’ve created a ball obsessed dog
If you have a dog that you repeatedly throw the ball for, they will likely have significant wear and tear on their teeth. This can cause serious health issues, including pain due to tooth nerve exposure. Hot tip, don’t throw the DAMN BALL! Teach them to find it instead.