If you’ve experienced stinky kisses from your pet, your fluffy friend is likely suffering from dental disease. This common condition affects roughly 80% of pets by the age of 3, and bad breath is one of the first signs that pops up. Fortunately for all the pets with foul breath in San Antonio and Bulverde, the team at Stone Oak Veterinary Clinic loves removing tartar to reveal a shining white smile underneath.

Pet owners may not realize there is a hidden problem until their pet stops eating or develops a tooth-root abscess that forms as a lump under the eye on the muzzle. But by learning the signs of dental disease and performing frequent at-home oral exams, you can stay on top of your furry friend’s dental health and ward off needless pain and infection.

When examining your pet’s mouth, you may notice the following signs if your pal has dental disease:

You may also see your pet behaving oddly if they have a periodontal problem. Pawing at the face, dropping food when eating, or avoiding hard food altogether are a few behaviors that are frequently noticed with dental disease.

When you bring your pet to Stone Oak Veterinary Clinic for dental services, we will carefully examine their mouth and clean their teeth. We will take dental x-rays, too, to look for problems lurking below the gumline. If any problems are detected, we can also perform extractions and other services to improve your pet’s oral health.