Dear Dr. Young,
My 3-year-old dog has horrible breath, worse than even typical “dog breath.” I’ve tried brushing her teeth, changing up her food, giving her chew toys, but nothing seems to help. Is it possible that we are looking at a bigger issue here than just bad breath?
Periodontal disease is the most common disease in dogs. In fact, it affects 85 percent of dogs over the age of three. And because many dog owners don’t really think about canine oral health, the initial signs can easily go unnoticed, and the disease can progress quickly. If your pet has chronic bad breath, it could be a sign of periodontitis, which is a severe inflammation and/or infection of the gums and bone around a dog’s teeth. If left untreated it could lead to tooth loss down the road.
The good news is that there are several ways to manage your pet’s oral health, including weekly application of OraVet at home or daily tooth-brushing and routine dental cleanings with your veterinarian. Now, your pet can receive another layer of prevention from your veterinarian – the Porphyromonas Denticanis-Gulae-Salivosa Bacterin – to aid in the prevention of canine periodontitis.
Dear Dr. Young
My veterinarian just told me about a new vaccine which can aid in the prevention of canine periodontitis in my dog. Do I still need to keep up with at-home care, such as tooth-brushing, if she receives the vaccine? I have a small dog and it’s so difficult getting a toothbrush into that tiny mouth.
The Porphyromonas vaccine is just one element of an overall dental wellness program that includes at-home care. To achieve the highest level of oral health care, Pfizer Animal Health recommends pet owners follow all components of good oral hygiene, which includes daily brushing at home and regular visits with your veterinarian. If you are having problems with daily at-home brushings, share your concerns with your veterinarian so you can develop a dental wellness program that works for you and your dog.
You also mentioned you have a small dog. Periodontitis can affect dogs of any breed or size and all teeth can potentially benefit from the Porphyromonas vaccine, but the disease is most common in small-to-medium sized breeds because their smaller mouths often have teeth that can be crowded. This makes it difficult to brush their teeth, which provides more opportunity for bacteria growth. Because of this, you’ll want to pay extra special attention to that little mouth!
Dear Dr. Young
Is canine periodontitis really that big of a deal? I mean, I always figured a dog can live a fine life missing a few teeth here and there.
In one word, yes, periodontitis is a big deal, and it can affect more than the dog’s teeth. In fact, the presence of canine periodontitis has been associated with systemic effects in pets and may cause problems in vital organs (heart or liver).2
Additionally, dogs with periodontitis may experience a lower quality of life than their healthy counterparts. A dog’s mouth can be compared to a human’s hand, and its daily function is just as critical. When the mouth isn’t working properly — or hurts — the dog suffers.
Maintaining healthy teeth is critical to keeping a dog healthy and happy.
American Animal Hospital Association. The Path to High-Quality Care: Practical Tips for Improving Compliance. Lakewood, Colo: AAHA Press, 2003;46.
2 DeBowes LJ, Mosier D, Logan E, Harvey CE, Lowry S, Richardson DC. Association of periodontal disease and histologic lesions in multiple organs from 45 dogs. J Vet Dent. 1996;13:57-60.