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Your dog’s bad breath could be a sign of gum disease, or far worse – it’s not just grossing you out…
It can be a sure sign something is really wrong.
According to the American Animal Health Association the #1 sign of dental disease is bad breath. And here’s the super scary part most dog lovers do not know…
Gum disease is the #1 illness affecting our pets!
“Unfortunately, other than bad breath, there are few signs of the disease process evident to the owner, and professional dental cleaning. As a result, periodontal disease is usually under-treated, and may cause multiple problems in the oral cavity and may be associated with damage to internal organs in some patients as they age.”
How Gum Disease Starts
Whenever your dog eats, bits of food and bacteria collect around the gum line causing plaque. In just a few days, this plaque will harden into tartar that sticks to your dog’s teeth, unless it’s removed.
Tartar irritates the gums, resulting in inflammation, also known as “gingivitis”. Many times this will first rear its ugly head as bad breath. You might also see your dog’s gums turning from a healthy pink color to red at this point.
You Want To Avoid THIS (It’s Bad)
You must avoid tartar build up like it’s the plague. If you don’t remove the tartar from your dog’s teeth, it will very quickly build up under his gums. This can cause your dog’s gums to pull away from the teeth and form small pockets. These pockets are the perfect place for bacteria to sneak into while waiting for more bacteria to show up to join the party.
And here is where it starts to get scary…
If the problem progresses to this point, your dog has developed irreversible periodontal disease. This can lead to an abscess, infection, a loose tooth and even bone loss. Studies show it can also lead to even worse ailments outside of your dog’s mouth, like:
– Heart Disease
– Kidney Failure
– Liver Disease
Experts believe the breakdown of the gum tissue opens the door for the bacteria to enter your dog’s bloodstream. Unfortunately, if your pup’s immune system doesn’t kill off the bacteria in her mouth, it will begin to circulate in her blood, giving it the chance to reach the heart and infect it.
A Breaking New Study Shows The Link Between Gum Disease And Heart Disease
Studies clearly show a significant link between periodontal disease and heart disease in both humans and dogs. And while we don’t know exactly how one leads to the other, researchers suspect the missing link is in the bacteria in your dog’s mouth that gets into bloodstream.
This link between dental and heart disease was discovered in a recent study involving 60,000 dogs with some stage of periodontal disease (and 60,000 without) conducted by Dr. Larry Glickman at Purdue University who concluded:
“Our data show a clear statistical link between gum disease and heart disease in dogs. For many candidates for heart disease, you’re not talking about a single cause. But it clearly speaks to more emphasis on dental care.”
This is why good daily dental care is so important for your dog!
Improving Your Dog’s Teeth Could Save His Life
If you aren’t taking care of your dog’s teeth right now, don’t feel bad…
You’re not alone!
According to The American Animal Health Association, almost two out of three of pet owners don’t provide basic dental care recommended by their veterinarians. Considering four out of five dogs over the age of 4 already have some sort of periodontal disease, you must be proactive when it comes to the health of your dog’s teeth.
Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done…
Routine Dental Cleanings At Your Vet Can Be Both Expensive And Dangerous:
The average cost to prevent dental disease in pets is $171.82. And if your dog already has dental disease it will cost you on average $531.71 to get it treated, according to a 2013 analysis conducted by VPI Pet Insurance.
And while these costs are not cheap, studies show what scares most people away is not the price – it’s the risk of the process!
To get your dog’s teeth properly cleaned by your veterinarian, you will have to put them asleep under anesthesia. Unfortunately this can be a major health risk for some dogs, depending on the breed, weight and age of the dog.
And Here’s The REALLY Scary Part…
Not only does a typical vet visit for dental care cost you almost $200 (or sometimes more) – it can also cost your dog their life!
Check out this tragic story reported on the Sante Fe Scoop:
“On January 23, 2012 I lost my dear Pug Chooie, she was only six-years-old and like a child to me. Chooie died after having her teeth cleaned at a Veterinarian who has been in business for thirty years. Upon telling Chooie’s story to others I have been horrified to find out that the issue with Anesthesia and pugs is worse than I realized and that Chooie should have never had the procedure in the first place. A quick search on the internet pulls up thousands of results on the subject. I called a local Veterinary office looking for a new Vet and a girl who answered the phone knew about Pugs and the risks of being put under. A friend of mine has a Pug with bad teeth, when she asked about a cleaning her Vet told her straight out she would never make it through the procedure.”
Studies On The Dangers Of Dental Cleanings Have Shocking Results
The Journal For The American Animal Hospital Association did a study to evaluate the health risks of a ROUTINE dental cleaning. Over 300 of the dogs in this study had major complications including low blood pressure abnormal heart rhythm and even death due to complications of sedation.
So while I would never suggest you skip a trip to the vet, I am most definitely saying the most important gift you can give your dog is a good daily dental routine.
Think about it…
Can you imagine if the only time you brushed your teeth was at your annual dental visit?
Let’s face it – even if you went to your dentist just twice a year, it wouldn’t take long for your teeth to rot right out of your mouth!
After losing my Great Dane Truman to cancer – it became my mission to become a smarter dog mom. You see, it wasn’t until Truman died that I realized how much I had let him down.
Even though it’s hard for me to admit now, the truth is, I didn’t go the extra step to give him what he needed to truly thrive. Sadly I had to learn the hard way to be more vigilant about my dog’s full care – especially something basics like giving him good daily doggy dental care.
Home Oral Hygiene Can Reduce Risk Of Associated Health Complications
This is what the American Veterinary Dental College has to say:
“Home oral hygiene can improve the periodontal health of the patient, decrease the progression of the disease and decrease the frequency of or eliminate the need for professional dental cleaning. Implementing home oral hygiene at a young age can help the pet accept life-long oral care. When properly cared for, teeth can remain in healthy condition in the mouth, and the risk of associated health complications can be reduced.”
Dr. Clark K. Fobian, president of the AVMA agrees, stating good dental hygiene at home is the most cost-effective way to keep your pets pain-free.
“It’s something you do every morning, part of your daily routine—brush your teeth. While most people take care of their own mouths, they often forget that they also should take care of their pet’s teeth through a regular dental health care regimen. One of the most common problems veterinarians see in pets is dental disease, and, unfortunately, these issues can get serious if untreated. I remind pet owners that an untreated dental infection can spread to the heart, kidneys and other organs, and suddenly become life threatening. Practicing good dental hygiene at home, in addition to regular dental cleanings by your veterinarian, is the most efficient and cost-effective way to keep your pets healthy, comfortable and pain-free.”
So whether you grab a tooth brush and tooth paste, or choose to use a veterinarian approved, highly rated, all natural, easy to use spray product like TruDog’s Spray Me, please promise yourself you will do something to take care of your dog’s teeth on a daily basis.
As a special thank you to my friends at Dogington Post for letting me share this vitally important information about your dog’s dental care, you can grab a bottle of our TruDog Spray Me today for just $8.00 (value $24.95) plus shipping and handling. Supplies are limited and this price won’t last forever, so please check it out today – and share with your friends while the getting is good!
Thanks for helping me understand that the tartar is caused by hardened plaque due to the bits of food and bacteria that get stuck in the gum line. I just need to understand this because my dog already has this dirt in his gums that I can’t remove by brushing alone. We first noticed this when we were playing with him yesterday. I was pulling the toy while he was biting it when I saw a dark something between his teeth and near his gums.
[…] especially true for dogs. Just like with people, pups that don’t receive regular dental care are at risk for plaque and tartar buildup, gum disease, and tooth loss. Also, potentially even more harmful […]
shelley hibbard
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Brandy Arnold
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Glenna
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Excellent Write up. Thank you