Neglect/Genetics? Perhaps both.

I don't mean to gross anybody out by posting this picture but I feel that it is important to reinforce the fact that good dental care is essential to the maintenance of quality health for our dogs. This 9 year old dog had a dental cleaning done about 2 years ago and at that time 8 teeth were extracted.

I can tell you from personally checking her teeth prior to taking this picture, that no dental scaling/cleaning is going to save the rest of her teeth now. Most are loose and several are almost certainly abscessed. The plaque that is plainly evident has already caused the gums to become very red and inflamed. It is not only unsightly and accompanied by very bad breath but it also has the potential of causing life-threatening health issues through chronic septic action on the heart and other organs. I'm sure that no-one knowingly puts their pet at such a preventable risk to their health, but that is exactly what avoiding our dog's dental care does. Be vigilant - check your pet's mouth and teeth often.

There are several options available to pet owners: brushing your pet's teeth with enzyme toothpaste specifically designed for dogs, offering dental chew items that will help in a mechanical way to loosen plaque, giving daily oral products that help prevent plaque build-up (ProDen PlaqueOff, is one. Petzlife is another), regular cleaning and scaling by a veterinarian under anesthetic, or scaling done without anesthetic.

*Cautionary note: Scaling not done by vet is not recommended for several valid reasons: This practice could introduce bacteria into the system unless done very carefully. Without x-ray it is not possible to determine other dental problems, such as cracked teeth or dental abscesses. Vets use sterilized equipment and give prophylactic antibiotics.

Whatever choice (or combination of choices) you make ....pleeeeeez.....for the sake of your dog's health, do not ignore your dog's dental care. They'd thank you if they could.