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by Cate Burnette, RVT<\/p>\n

Stinky dog breath is most often caused by an accumulation of bacteria and decomposing food particles in your pooch\u2019s mouth. As he eats, tiny bits of whatever he consumes get trapped between his teeth and, if left in his mouth, cause a brown, tacky substance called plaque, or tartar.<\/p>\n

\u00a0When the tartar hardens on the tooth, it becomes a solid, concrete-like substance called calculus. It\u2019s the tartar and the calculus in your dog\u2019s mouth that traps the bacteria and allows it to grow in that warm, moist environment causing periodontal disease. Not only does that bacteria smell bad, it can travel throughout your dog\u2019s body, causing infection and possible heart and kidney disease.<\/p>\n

\u00a0As a pet parent, you have several options to help cure that bad breath.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Veterinary Teeth Cleaning<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0During your dog\u2019s annual exam, your veterinarian examines his mouth checking for bad teeth, inflamed gums, and any unusual tumors or growths. Typically, if your dog shows signs of periodontal disease, your vet will recommend that you allow for a prophylactic dental cleaning under general anesthesia.<\/p>\n

\u00a0During this procedure, the tartar and calculus on your dog\u2019s teeth is scraped completely away, and the roots under the gum line are probed for any open pockets of infection. Additionally, the vet removes any loose or broken teeth that may be causing pain and not allowing your pet to chew properly.<\/p>\n