Does your dog have bad breath? It could be a sign of dental problems. Statistics suggest that over 80 percent of dogs suffer from some degree of dental disease by the time they reach three years of age. And since your dog cannot tell you when he has a toothache, it is essential you take the proper steps and seek the services of a Boca Raton veterinarian. While your vet plays a major role in the proper care of your dog’s teeth, there are things you can do as well to help prevent dental problems.

Puppy’s Teeth

Your newest family member comes with a fine set of sharp little baby teeth. Though nothing really needs to be done with the baby teeth, now is a good time to get your puppy used to having his mouth examined and teeth cleaned. You can make a game out of opening his mouth and rubbing down the teeth with a toothbrush. Remember, preventing doggie dental disease starts at an early age.

At around four months of age, you puppy will start to lose his baby teeth and around seven months he will have his permanent teeth in place. This is the time to get real serious about dental care.

Adult Dogs

As we mentioned before, bad breath could be a sign of dental disease. As the disease progresses, you may notice your dog paw at his mouth and drool a lot. He may even have a difficult time eating.

In addition to regular dental checkups at your veterinarian, there are things you can do at home like introducing water additives to prevent tartar formation, buying bones and chews that help clean teeth and introducing diets that help prevent tartar formation.

Great dental care for your dog begins with a trip to your veterinary clinic.