Randhurst Animal Hospital

212 East Rand Rd.,

Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

Call Us

847-398-5800

Request an Appointment

Mon - Fri: 8am • 7pm | Sat: 9am • 2pm

Hello, my name is Dara!

Dara's Corner | The Monthly Meow

What is that smell?????

What Is Halitosis? Halitosis, also called bad breath, is an offensive odor emanating from the oral cavity. Bad breath is a common presenting pet odor complaint. Common causes may be related to the mouth or, rarely, related to other health problems. What Causes Halitosis? The most common cause of halitosis is periodontal disease caused by plaque (bacteria). Bacteria is attracted to the tooth surface within hours of teeth cleaning. Within days, the plaque becomes mineralized producing calculus. As plaque ages and gingivitis develops into periodontitis (bone loss), bacteria changes from somewhat irritating strains to bone destroying types that produce hydrogen sulfide causing halitosis. What Are The Signs Of Halitosis? Periodontal disease is painful. Some dogs and cats will have problems chewing hard food, others will paw at their mouths. Unfortunately most will not show any signs. How Is Halitosis Diagnosed? Halitosis is easily diagnosed by smelling your dog or cats breath. If there is a disagreeable odor, halitosis is present. A veterinary examination is necessary to diagnose the specific cause of bad breath. If the diagnosis is not obvious after oral examination, blood tests will be taken to check for internal disease. How Is Halitosis Treated? Halitosis treatment depends on the cause. There are four recognized stages of periodontal disease. The first two (early gingivitis and advanced gingivitis) are treated by professional teeth cleaning. As the disease advances bone loss occurs causing periodontitis, which may require surgery or tooth extraction. What Is The Prognosis For Halitosis? Once the underlying disease has

VIEW FULL ARTICLE »
Facebook
Twitter

READ OLDER POSTS:

Got a New Puppy
Dara's Blog

New Puppy

So you got a new puppy….now what? So, you just used the AAHA Canine Life Stage Calculator to determine that your dog is in the puppy stage

Read Full Article »
Flea and Tick Image
Dara's Blog

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and Ticks It’s time to talk about those tiny uninvited houseguests, fleas and ticks. Did you know that even indoor cats, like yours truly,

Read Full Article »