Canine Dental Care Boston MA

Take a Bite out of Plaque

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Eighty percent of dogs have some form of dental disease by the time they’re 3. But proper care can turn your pet’s mouth—and health—around.

Does your dog’s breath make you cringe every time he comes in for a cuddle? Love those big, sloppy kisses—but need to wash your face immediately after? Just because bad breath is common in dogs doesn’t mean it’s normal, says Larry Bernstein, VMD, a holistic veterinarian in North Miami Beach, Florida, and president of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.

“Bad breath is usually a sign that there are problems in your pet’s mouth,” says Bernstein, “and those problems can lead to bigger health issues.” As with humans, plaque buildup in a dog’s mouth hardens to tartar, which causes inflammation in the gums (aka gingivitis). Unless you remove the plaque and tartar that’s caked onto your dog’s teeth, bacteria will grow and travel into the gums (aka periodontal disease), causing infection not only in the mouth but also in the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other major organs.

Starting to feel some pangs of guilt for not taking better care of your dog’s pearly whites? According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 85 percent of dogs have periodontal disease, and by the time they’re 5 years old, most dogs even have jawbone loss. But while these statistics aren’t very hopeful, holistic vets agree that you can start right now and turn your dog’s dental woes around—for good.

What’s Healthy—and What’s Not?
There’s so much variety in how dogs’ gums, teeth, and tongues look—thanks to the proliferation of breeds—that Bernstein says it’s a good idea to get up close and personal with your dog’s mouth. “This is especially important when you first take a dog home, because it gives you an idea of your dog’s baseline,” he says. If you’re familiar with what’s normal, you’ll have an easier time noticing changes that could signal a problem. For dog owners who haven’t made a habit of doing this kind of examination, Bernstein suggests the following quick tests to assess your dog’s oral health:

• Lift your dog’s lip on one side, press on his gums, and then release. If they go from pink to white to pink, you can be pretty sure they have good circulation. If the gums stay red or indented, they could be inflamed or infected.

• Really look at his teeth: If they’re caked with a white, yellow, or brownish substance, they’ve likely got plaque and tartar buildup.

• Look for warning signs that something’s wrong with your dog’s teeth, like pawing or rubbing at the mouth area, showing no interest in eating, or crying after meals.

The Best Food For Teeth
You may have heard that dry food is the way to go, but that’s a myth, says Bernstein. The latest research has shown there’s little difference between commercial dry and moist foods when it comes to good oral health.

Even better than the pet food you find at the store is a diet of raw meat and veggies, say most holistic vets, because it best mimics what dogs ate hundreds of years ago...

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