Cat and Dog Bad Breath

1.Information 2.Diseases 3.Warning Signs 4. Getting Started

 

Getting Started

It's never too late to begin a life-long oral health program for your dog or cat and getting started is easy. Since most pet owners are not properly educated on the benefits of a home care dental program you should start a home program like this as soon as possible.

Follow these steps slowly and stay consistent every day. The process may take a few weeks to get to the point where your cat or dog will accept this new routine but the overall benefits far outweigh the time spend conditioning their behavior:

• If possible, start brushing your pets teeth when they are a puppy or kitten. Train your pet to accept the handling of their head, mouth and opening their mouth and exploring their teeth. If the animal is older, then brushing is still possible, just expect to spend more time training and be patient.

• Keep the same routine. Animals respond to routine and if you condition the animal to expect teeth cleaning at the same time each day they will eventually accept this new task as something to look forward to.

• Get your dog or cat used to you. Handle their head and mouth gently. Try lifting up their lip and observing their teeth on both sides then stop and reward them. Next day do this again at the same time. After a few days of this gradually introduce your finger into their mouth by gently touching their gums then stop and reward them. After they accept this, softly rub your finger along their gums on the teeth then stop and reward them.

• Wrap your finger in gauze or a soft wash cloth and touch the gums and teeth then stop and reward them. Next, gently rub their teeth and gums with the gauze or cloth then stop and reward them.

• Next, introduce a toothbrush by only touching and brushing a small area then stop and reward them. Then move into brushing one side then the other. Make sure the toothbrush is a soft bristled brush and brush the inside surface as well. A triple-headed toothbrush is ideal since it touches all three surfaces of the tooth. Use a toothpaste or gel specifically formulated for animals. Human toothpaste can be harmful and cause vomiting.

• Finally, use an oral hygiene solution daily that you simply add to their drinking water to eliminate bad breath and help soften plaque and tarter.

When they become comfortable with each step, progress to the next one. Never force and animal or reprimand if they don't respond. This is new to them and not something they are automatically conditioned for. Use positive reinforcement and praise when they do well.

Patience and consistency is key to success.

When the dog or cat finally realize that this is something that doesn't hurt and that they get praise and attention they will eventually wait patiently while you brush their teeth.

What if my dog or cat just won't let me brush their teeth? What can I do?

Make a lifelong healthy promise to the pets you love. Introduce a daily program using the Oral Hygiene Solution, a solution you simply add to their drinking water. For just a few cents a day, this will eliminate bad breath bacteria and help to keep plaque and tarter soft. You can also try rubbing a pet gel along the gumline 2 to 3 times a week. Doing nothing will only make matters worse so at the very least try to patiently introduce brushing and start using the daily solution in their drinking water,

As always, it is recommended that you:

1. Visit your veterinarian for a complete checkup and dental evaluation
2. Start a pet dental care routine at home
3. Continue regular veterinary visits, including dental checkups

So as you can see, the benefits of a good, consistent oral health care program for your pet not only eliminates cat breath (a.k.a. tuna breath) or dog breath (a.k.a. doggie breath) it can help keep the pet you love healthy and hopefully around for a few extra years to enjoy!

See our oral hygiene solution page for solutions to your pet's oral health needs.

 

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