BAD BREATH IN DOG AND CATS
Last week, as part of Dental Health Care Month, I talked about the easiest ways to maintain healthy teeth without brushing. (See my articles on our Face Book page and/or website.) It is very important to train you kittens and puppies to allow exploration of their gums and teeth on a regular basis-at least once a week. Nervous rescues, like my Ebby, or nippy dogs may be a challenge. Because I cannot, as yet, put my finger along the gum lines of Ebby’s teeth, even though she licks the oral gel off of my finger every morning and I withhold food and water for thirty minutes, she has a slightly unpleasant odor to her breath. The fact that she likes to lick at her anus does not help. If you are able to examine your pet’s dental condition, it will increase your chances of early intervention. Zoey is seven, with a small mouth and crooked bottom teeth, and she has never had to have a professional, expensive, teeth cleaning.
Quite honestly, I have never attempted to try gels on two of my cats when they were kittens and one, Mystery, showed up as an adult with trust issues. Boy is their breath sinky, as I can easily attest by the smell on their dishes after they have licked out their bowls. It may be interesting to see if any of my home cats or the cats at the store would like the gel (perhaps the chicken-flavored one.) Then, however, how do we see if any of them drink or eat in the next half hour. I guess we would have to pick up every water and food bowl for the thirty-minute time limit. If you brush your pet’s teeth it is recommended that you do so daily. Research shows that only about 10% of pet owners do; 50% don’t brush at all.
There are several reasons that dogs or cats may develop offensively bad breath. (Sometimes the breath may smell fruity or sweet which is also indicative of a problem.) If you can, check for swollen or bleeding gums, which your vet can help determine as gingivitis, gum or periodontal disease. Bad breath can result from ailments like diabetes, liver or kidney disease as well as cancer of the mouth, ear, throat or nose. I believe that bad breath in pets and humans can also be an indication of other illnesses or cancers. Our precious papillon, Parker, who came from a couple who could barely feed the sire and dam, or afford to have, at least, the male neutered, gave away their two male offspring, one being Parker. From nine weeks of age, he got the best food, the best health care and the supreme love Bob and I could give him. I began to notice a change in his breath when he was around seven years old. And then a diminished interest in his obsessive ball retrieving. I took him to Parkway Vet, and they sent me to Red Bank. It was during COVID, so Zoey and I sat for hours outside in the cold with the car engine running to keep us warm. Finally, the verdict. Cancer of the spleen, gall bladder, and liver! The doctor ludicrously suggested they could remove his spleen for I don’t remember how many thousands of dollars. I screamed, “What about his gall bladder and liver? Just give me my dog, my bill, and we’ll go home.”
Apparently, as with Parker, bad breath is not normal and should be looked upon as a problem requiring veterinary consultations. It may be acerbated by a poor diet like Pedigree, Purina products, etc., including treats. Check the INGREDENT PANEL AND THE PRESERVATIVES AND THE ARTIFICAL ADDITIVES. Look them up on your computer. Some are highly menacing to your pet’s health. And if you are feeding a reputable food don’t feed crappy treats. That is counterproductive. Allison and I will gladly discuss your pet’s diet with only your pet’s well-being in mind. Choose to buy elsewhere but choose healthy.
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We run a cat shelter the entire back of the store and often have adoptable cats and kittens.
