Does your dog have bad breath ? If it does most likely the cause is plaque build up on the teeth. Imagine having so much rotten stuff build up on your mouth and not being able to remove it; severe plaque build up is painful to to your pet and their snout becomes sensitive to touch . This condition can be so severe that it causes foul mouth, major infection and or sickness in your pet. Not all dogs will allow you to probe inside their mouth so this can go unnoticed for several years until it becomes necessary for oral surgery to remove teeth. This procedure is costly and risky . It requires putting your pet “under”. If you have an elderly dog this may not be an option because of the risks. If possible a good deep cleaning by your vet might be your best option. If this is not possible you may be able to get the condition under control with regular brushing.
One of the services we offer is tooth brushing and mild scraping. It is pretty easy for the groomer to brush teeth because we have established a trust relationship with your pet during the grooming procedure…. and if all goes well scraping can be accomplished. If the dog has plaque buildup that cannot be scraped that day than several brushings in between groomings would be suggested . During the brushing the idea is to get the toothbrush to circulate air and enzymes around the the tooth and under the gum line. The toothpaste may be effective enough to make the plaque brittle so that it crumbles off the tooth. Once under control the brushing can be done during the regular grooming appointments. Most dogs respond very well to this experience be cause it feels good. . To them brushing is very much like flossing to us. I have seen very shy dogs become excited to come in the shop just from brushing alone. Most of all the response you give your dog because their breath smells good makes them happy because by nature all they want to do is please you .
I can give you an honest opinion during your dogs visit whether or not you need to see your vet. If you choose a vet to do a cleaning I do recommend Heart Song Clinic in Clearfield Utah. They specialize in Animal Dental, Spay and Neutering . They are very affordable .
Pioneer Pet Grooming 