Author: Michelle Diener, DVM

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How to Keep Your Dog’s Mouth Clean Here are the best ways to keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible and eliminate bad breath: Brush your dog’s teeth 2-3 days a week or more using dog toothpaste Sprinkle dog dental powder on your dog’s food at every meal Try a dental water additive made for dogs Ask your vet about prescription dental diets for dogs Give your dog dental treats that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance Schedule regular veterinary dental cleanings   Featured Image: iStock.com/LittleCityLifestylePhotography,WRITTEN BYMichelle Diener, DVM Veterinarian I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I obtained by BS degree in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000 and my DVM degree at NCSU in 2006. I have…,Many people believe that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than humans’ mouths. This belief has been around for a long time, but is there any truth behind it? Find out how clean a dog’s mouth actually is, whether their saliva can cause infections and skin rashes in people, and how to keep your dog from licking you so much. Is Your Dog’s Mouth Cleaner Than Yours? Unfortunately, the answer is no. A dog’s mouth and a human’s mouth both contain billions of bacteria belonging to roughly 700 different species. Although we both have bacteria in our mouths, the bacteria in a dog’s mouth are mostly different species than the bacteria that inhabit a person’s mouth. These bacteria prefer a dog to be the host, and thankfully, they are not harmful to people. However, there are similarities between the mouths of dogs and people. For instance, Porphyromonas is the bacterial family that causes periodontal disease in both dogs and people. The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which means inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is caused by bacteria in the mouth that form dental plaque. Billions of bacteria slowly build up on the surface of the teeth, which eventually leads to bad breath, gum recession, tooth root abscesses, and the destruction of bone around the tooth roots. Early stages of periodontal disease are treatable for both dogs and people with at-home dental care, and just like people, dogs need their teeth professionally cleaned periodically.

Ants Ants, especially fire ants, can cause a painful bite on a dog. The bite can look like a red, raised skin lesion and occasionally have a white center filled with pus, like a pimple. Applying an ice pack to the area can help reduce pain and swelling. If your dog was bitten by several fire ants, call your local veterinarian to ask if Benadryl should be given and at what dose. Ant bites, most often from fire ants, can occasionally cause an allergic reaction, especially if a dog gets bitten by several ants at once. Facial swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, itchiness, moderate to severe swelling at the site of the bite, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea are all possible symptoms of an allergic reaction. If these symptoms occur, this is a life-threatening emergency, contact your nearest animal hospital immediately.  It can be difficult to prevent your dog from being bitten by ants as these small insects can be hard to see in the grass and wooded areas. Check your yard regularly for ant hills and treat them, if found. Keeping your dog on a leash when walking or hiking can help guide your dog around an ant hill if you come across one. If you find ants on your dog’s body, brush them off as quickly as possible or rinse them off with water, if available.,Biting Flies There are many biting flies that can leave a painful bite on a dog’s body, such as horse flies, deer flies, black flies, and sand flies. The bite can look like a red, raised lesion on the skin. Applying an ice pack to the area can help to reduce pain and swelling. Some dogs are allergic to these flies and can have an allergic reaction when bitten. Facial swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, itchiness, moderate-to-severe swelling at the site of the bite, and gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea are indications of an allergic reaction. If your dog experiences any of these signs, contact your local veterinary hospital as this is considered a medical emergency.,Dogs can be bitten and stung by a variety of insects, so it’s important to know what the different insect bites look like on a dog. Not all insect bites need to be treated, but certain symptoms require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to protect your dog from these insects is also key to keeping your pet healthy. Fleas Fleas are tiny, dark brown insects that jump on a dog to feed on its blood. They are often carried in from outdoors, and once inside the house, they breed and multiply. Dogs will chew and scratch at their bodies when they are bitten by fleas due to the painful bite. The scratching and chewing can lead to self-trauma of the skin that causes scratches and sores to form. The bite of a flea can be difficult to see under a dog’s thick coat. Flea bites look like small, red spots on the skin, but sometimes it can be hard to tell their bite from the bite of another insect. If you see insect bites on your pup, or notice that your dog is chewing and scratching a lot, the first thing to look for are flea dirt and live fleas. Flea dirt consists of fecal material and dried blood and looks like tiny, black flecks on the skin. Fleas and flea dirt are most often found on the lower back, tail, and on the hind legs of dogs. Some dogs have an allergy to flea saliva, and one flea bite can lead to flea bite dermatitis. This skin condition causes intense itchiness all over, hair loss, and sores due to self-trauma. Bacterial and yeast infections can develop secondary to a flea allergy. The best way to prevent and treat fleas is with flea and tick prevention. There are many types of flea and tick preventions available, such as topical products, flea/tick collars, and oral medication. Talk with your local veterinarian to decide which flea and tick product is best for your dog, and make sure to administer it year-round to keep the fleas and ticks away.

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