Brush Up!

Your pet's bad breath may not just be a pesky problem.

By Lucia Raatma
From Reader's Digest
Advertisement
 
Bad breath may be more than just an annoyance.
Dorling Kindersley/DKImages/Getty Images
Bad breath may be more than just an annoyance.
Image
Ninety-five percent of the time, a dog's or cat's bad breath is due to periodontal disease.
Your pet's bad breath may be more than just an annoyance, warns Alexander Reiter, DVM, of the American Veterinary Dental College. "Ninety-five percent of the time, a dog's or cat's bad breath is due to periodontal disease." The condition can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to many diseases. Worried about your pet's breath?

  • Don't be fooled. Treats and rinses in pet stores that claim to help bad breath seldom do. They just mask the symptoms. If your groomer offers dental services, make sure he uses a brush, not a sharp tool, to clean teeth. Only a vet should do dental surgery.


  • See your vet. She may recommend a cleaning, under general anesthesia, to remove tartar and plaque, and repair teeth.


  • Get out the brush. Yes, you really need to brush your dog's or cat's teeth. Your vet can show you how. Don't use human toothpaste with baking soda or fluoride (swallowing these ingredients may be harmful).


  • Look for the seal. The Veterinary Oral Health Council approves some pet products. Use those with a VOHC seal.
    • From Reader's Digest - January 2006
     
    Must Read Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story
    Share Your Comments
    Post a Comment
     
    Remaining Character Count:
     
    See All Comments

    Advertisement
     
    Related Links

    Advertisement

    Digg

    Popular stories from the source site rd.com sorted by diggs
    Powered by Digg's Users