Modern Veterinary Care

Signs That Your Dog's Teeth Need A Professional Cleaning

As a responsible dog owner, you should always be assessing your pet's health to look for anything that concerns you. For example, if you were to notice your dog limping, you'd want to contact your local veterinary clinic to seek help over the phone and/or set an appointment to have someone check the dog's legs for injuries. It's important to take the same careful approach with your dog's dental health. Many dogs can suffer from a variety of teeth- and gum-related issues, especially as they age, but your veterinarian can help in numerous ways. If you notice one of the following indicators of dental trouble, contact your local clinic.

Abnormally Bad Breath

Dogs don't always have the best breath, but you should have an overall idea of how your dog's breath smells. It's a cause for concern if you notice that the dog's breath is abnormally bad — especially if the problem worsens and does not seem to improve. Bad breath can often be a sign of serious dental problems in a dog. For example, one of the dog's teeth could be rotting and causing gum disease. The veterinarian will inspect the pet's mouth, identify the likely problem, and take the appropriate course of action. This could include pulling the problematic tooth.

Blood Appearing On Toys

It's worthwhile to get in the habit of keeping an eye on the toys that your dog chews, as you may occasionally notice warning signs of dental health problems. One potential indicator is blood on a toy. For example, if your dog has a rubber bone that it chews or even a stuffed animal, you might see a small amount of blood on the surface of the toy after the dog puts it down. Blood can suggest that the dog's gums are bleeding to some degree, which is a sign of gum disease and is something you'll want your vet to check out.

Paying Extra Attention To Its Mouth

If the dog's dental issues are severe enough that they're causing pain, you may notice your pet paying attention to its mouth in some way. For example, it might brush at its mouth with its paws or rub its mouth on its bed or on another surface. It's important that you don't overlook these indicators, especially if you've noticed other issues, such as bad breath.

Get in touch with your local veterinary clinic, explain the symptoms, and schedule an appointment to have your vet determine what's going on.