SMELLY BREATH IN
OLDER DOGS
Owners all over the world do not like the idea of the
dog losing 14 teeth but decayed and loose teeth cause
pain and suffering to the dog as well as spreading
bacterial infections and toxins into the internal organs
including the heart valves.
Many owners prefer dental scaling and let the loose
teeth be retained on the false assumption that the dog
could still eat if he has teeth.
The veterinarian may need to have a frank and long talk
with the owner before extraction of any tooth to
prevent misunderstanding.
It is not possible to telephone the owner when the dog
is under general anaesthesia and several decayed teeth
need to be extracted.
The rotting gums and teeth cause a bacterial build up.
First this bacteria and food debris form a plaque
on the surface of the teeth. As more plaque is laid
down, it becomes tartar (calculus) - hard brown
concrete-like deposit. The bacteria destroys the
structure supporting the tooth. |
The
tooth becomes loose while the gums get infected, causing
gingivitis. Soon the dog has bad breath as the
disease progresses further to become periodontal
disease.
Bacterial infection goes to the throat, heart valves and
other parts of the body making the dog ill.
The dog now suffers a big tooth ache. Bad breath is now
more common but surprisingly, most Singapore older
owners tolerate the halitosis.
Communication before teeth extraction with the owner
prevents lots of misunderstanding.
Many Singapore dogs more than 5 years old have bad
teeth. If you want your dog's teeth to last for a
life-time, a yearly dental check up will be best To keep
the teeth healthy. You can brush his teeth daily and
ensure that he eats hard food like dry feed. Avoid
soft food but this is not a practical advice.
When your dog has bad breath, you may need to seek
dental scaling or treatment promptly to prevent any loss
of teeth.
Good dental health means that your old dog lives longer,
enjoys a higher quality of life and enjoys eating his
food without pain. |
