According to the American Veterinary Dental Society,  80% of dogs show oral disease by age 3.  This is the most common problem treated at small animal health clinics today.  The build up of bacteria can casue many different types of problems including  heart, kidney and liver problems. Tooth brushing should be a routine part of your dog’s oral maintenance.

So, how can you tell if your dog has oral disease?  Here are some things that you should be looking for:

• Bad breath
• Bleeding
• Red inflamed gums
• Difficulty chewing
• Any change in eating habits
• Pawing at the mouth

If you notice any of these signs, take your dog to the vet.  He will perform a dental exam including x rays,   and provide the necessary treatment.  He may use a periodontal probe to search for  gum pockets and other problems. If your dog requires anesthesia for the procedure, new, injectable, anesthetics are available which are short term and very safe.

There are some over the counter and prescription pet medications that can help this problem. They are:

• Hills prescription diet
• Over the counter products such as Chew EZ
• Various tooth brushes
• Prescription products and tooth pastes

Follow your vets advice and don’t ignore this problem!