Dr. Lou, D.O.G. : Dental Health

Hey guys, it’s Dr. Lou here! Today I’m going to talk about a few signs and symptoms that you can see if/when your pet is having dental health problems. 

The biggest red flag that you could notice is bad breath. This is called halitosis and is caused by bacteria that builds up in your pet’s mouth. That bacteria leads to hardened tartar that sticks to teeth and cannot be brushed away during routine tooth-brushing. The only effective way to get that “crust” off is by professional scaling, like you get when you go to your dentist. 

The next red flag that you should look out for is a change in eating habits. For instance, if your pet is eating less, refuses to eat dry food, or has drooling or shakes his/her head while eating. These signs can be a symptom of an underlying disease process going on, including dental disease.   

All in all, if you noticed anything unusual in your pets routine or daily life it’s always best to talk with your veterinarian about it. Veterinarians and their support staff are the best resources for your pet’s overall health.