Do Your Dogs and Cats with Bad Breath Bother You? Pet bad breath might be a sign that Periodontal disease is lurking around the corner.

Should I brush my dogs or cats teeth every day? How do I go about dog oral care? When my dogs or cats have pet bad breath, is it due to pet periodontal disease? Should I be concerned when I notice cat breath smells?
Pet parents often overlook the importance of oral hygiene only to worry about their cat breath smell much later. Without regular cleanings, your pet is likely to have problems such as dental tartar, periodontal disease, and even infection of other organs, resulting in serious diseases. Actually, investing in preventative oral hygiene is one of the best ways to keep your pet healthy. Let's learn from the veterinarian about the signs of dental disease in your pet and the ways to promote better dental health to avoid bad breath.
 
Do you look forward to the sweet moment when you get home, and your dog or cat greets you by eagerly licking you? But the bad breath of your fur baby may make you feel ambivalent. According to research, nearly 70–80% of dogs and cats over the age of two suffer from oral problems, with small dogs being the most common. Because small dogs tend to have teeth that are closer together, they are more prone to halitosis. On the average of 10 small dogs over one year old, 9 will have related problems.

Types of Feline and Canine Teeth

First of all, let's understand the teeth of our fur babies. Puppies and kittens develop their baby teeth at around 2–3 weeks of age. Typically, all the baby teeth are present by 8 weeks of age for puppies and 5 weeks of age for kittens. Then, when they are 4-6 months old, they will enter the teething stage, and during the process, most fur babies, especially puppies, will have the urge to chew on things. Puppies have 28 baby teeth, and adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth; kittens have 26 baby teeth, and adult cats have 30 permanent teeth (see Figure 1). The permanent teeth are used for different purposes. The incisors are used for grooming; the canine teeth are used for biting and tearing; the premolars are used for grasping or chowing down on kibble; the molars are used for grinding food into small pieces to make it easy to swallow and digest.

(Figure 1, Types of Feline and Canine Teeth)

Causes and Clinical Symptoms of Bad Breath in Dogs and Cats

Bad breath is a common problem in dogs and cats, and 80% of it is caused by oral problems. The underlying causes of bad breath can be roughly divided into physiological and pathological, and the pathological ones can be further divided into intraoral and extraoral. Physiological bad breath is usually transient, caused by improper dental hygiene or anaerobic bacteria that feed on the proteins of food residue to expel odorous wastes. However, pathological intraoral diseases such as plaque, gingival inflammation, dental tartar, and periodontal disease are the most common causes of bad breath in the clinic. Within 24 hours of eating, oral bacteria and sugars form a plaque biofilm on the teeth of fur babies. Within 48 hours, dental tartar will form, which will gradually become harder and larger over time, leading to gingival inflammation and even serious periodontal disease. On the other hand, pathological extra-oral diseases are more complex and may be associated with metabolic, digestive, and respiratory problems. (See Table 1). In addition to bad breath, if your furry friend is found to be dropping food, eating slowly, drooling, having abnormal oral discharge, or unwilling to be touched in the mouth, it may indicate a painful discomfort in the mouth. According to American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines, a complete oral health assessment and treatment is recommended by 1-2 years of age for cats and dogs, followed by regular examinations by a veterinarian to assess their dental health.
 
(Table 1) Causes and clinical signs of bad breath due to pathological extra-oral diseases in dogs and cats

Extra-oral Diseases in Dogs and Cats	Common Causes	Clinical Symptoms
Metabolic problems in Dogs and Cats	1. Kidney disease 2. Liver disease 3. Endocrine disorders	1. Drowsiness 2. Poor appetite 3. Frequent vomiting
Digestive problems in dogs and cats	1. Foreign body in the digestive tract 2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease	1. Abdominal pain 2. Poor appetite 3. Frequent vomiting 4. Diarrhea 5. Difficult defecation
Respiratory problems in Dogs and Cats	1. Nasal diseases 2. Inflammatory respiratory diseases 3. Bronchial and lung diseases	1. Coughing 2. Sneezing 3. Increased nasal discharge 4. Mouth breathing 5. Shortness of breath

Basic oral care can go in two directions

1. Regular cleaning: Dental plaque forms quickly, so you need to brush your fur babies teeth daily to reduce plaque buildup.

• It is recommended to apply toothpaste made specifically for pets on them at a fixed time and environment. After your dog or cat gets used to it, start using a toothbrush to clean each tooth surface back and forth at least 5 to 10 times.

• Combined with dental chews, oral sprays, probiotics, and lactoferrin to aid cleaning and inhibit plaque buildup.

 2. Regular dental checkup: A full oral assessment by a veterinarian and a full oral X-ray, if necessary, to monitor your pet's oral condition.
 
When dogs and cats suffer from mild oral symptoms with dull pain, most of them are still very active, and their appetite won't be affected. Therefore, oral problems in pets often go unnoticed until they start to affect the quality of life of your fur babies. If left untreated, oral disease can go on to cause serious bodily complications. Whenever you notice a change in the smell of your pet's breath, schedule an appointment with your vet to examine and diagnose the underlying cause. Once the underlying problem is successfully treated, the bad breath should dissipate, and your fur babies will enjoy a healthy life again!