So, how is your pet’s breath – bad enough to knock over a horse at 20 feet? If so, then your pet probably has periodontal disease – the most common disease in domestic dogs and cats.

Periodontal disease starts when bacteria combine with saliva and food debris and build up on the tooth to form plaque. More bacteria and calcium salts combine with the plaque to form tarter, that crusty looking layer on the tooth.

The tarter than causes pockets of pus to develop along the gumline leading to receding and bleeding gums, pain, bad breath and ultimately tooth loss, i.e., periodontal disease. Worse the infection caused by periodontal disease can enter the blood stream leading to heart, liver, and kidney infection, which can cause serious problems, especially in elderly pets.

Common signs of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, and pawing at the face or mouth. If any of these signs exist see your veterinarian right away.

February is National Dental Month. Sponsors of this campaign include the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Dental Society, The Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, the American Dental College, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Thirty years ago who would have ever thought that pet dental care would become this important? Well, 30 years ago, most pets were not sharing our beds at night; they were more likely to be yard pets. They also chewed on things that may have kept the tarter down but didn’t successfully pass through their digestive tract, and they didn’t live as long as they do now.

Also, more of our pets are smaller household dogs with smaller mouths. These toy breed dogs have significantly less bone around their teeth; therefore, even mild periodontal disease can cause decay and tooth loss.

So in the month of February get your pet’s teeth evaluated. Most veterinarians offer free dental exams. Next, we’ll provide information on what to do at home to prevent periodontal disease.