The American Veterinary Medical Association says that by the time a pet is three years old it will very likely have some early evidence of periodontal disease, the most common dental problem in dogs and cats. Bad breath is the sign owners notice first. The others on the AVMA's list are broken or loose teeth, teeth discolored or covered in tartar, drooling or dropping food, eating less, pain around the mouth, bleeding, and swelling of the face.
It is not only the mouth. The AVMA says advanced periodontal disease causes severe problems and pain, and that it is associated with changes in the kidneys, the liver and the heart muscle.
Most dental disease is below the gumline, where a conscious animal will not let anyone work, and the x-rays that show what the roots are doing cannot be taken on a moving patient. The AVMA quotes the American Veterinary Dental College, which does not recommend dental cleanings without anesthesia. A scrape of the visible tartar on an awake dog is cosmetic.
What that costs, and what the lines on the estimate mean, is on Petipedia's page on what a vet bill costs.
The AVMA says daily brushing is best, and that several times a week still helps. It also asks owners to check with the vet before choosing dental products or treats, because some do nothing and some are unsafe for a particular animal.
Breath that changes suddenly, with drooling, pawing at the mouth or refusing food, is not the slow smell of dental disease. Petipedia has pages on drooling and on a cat or dog that stops eating.
Write the date you first noticed it in the log on My Pet. The vet sheet prints it, and "since Tuesday" beats "recently".
Read 18 September 2026.