Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 1/2/2010

Question
We acquired our 3 year old Great Pyrenees, Vinny, about 5 months ago. He is a great dog with a very gentle demeanor. He is a show champion and, as such is a very handsome guy. However, he has strong breath and his saliva has a sour smell. He allows me to do almost everything to groom him, even including trimming his toenails. But, he doesn't want to let me brush his teeth. I am not sure that the previous owner ever did brush his teeth. I am trying to ease him into it by rubbing my fingers on his teeth whenever I get a chance, hoping that he will eventually allow me to brush his teeth. My question is; is the sour saliva smell associated with the lack of dental hygiene, or could it be indicative of another health problem, such as a sour stomach and/or an intolerance for the current diet. We are feeding him one of the "best" commercial dog foods (Blue Life Protection Formula for Large Breeds). He is not what I would call a "chewer", and doesn't seem to enjoy chewing on the various bones in his toy box. We give him a Greenie once in a while, but I do not like rawhide chews because of their suspect origin and the fact that a big guy like Vinny can destroy even the biggest rawhide in a short time. I always worry about larger pieces of rawhide that get chewed off and swallowed becoming blockage possibilities. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Ken  

Answer
You are right to be suspect of rawhide chews.Not only have dogs been poisoned by them but many have choked and suffocated on them.

Sour smelling saliva is a combination of lack of dental hygiene and possibly stomach contents. Most dogs have pretty serious dental disease by the age of two if their teeth are not brushed or cleaned at the vets. Gingivitis can cause the smell as well as periodontal disease. At age three this usually isn't advanced and can be reversed with proper care.

You are off to a good start by using your fingers in his mouth, but you can do one better by using a finger brush and some chicken flavored toothpaste for dogs at the same time. They love the taste of it!

Even dogs that have never had their teeth brushed are usually so caught up in the taste that they don't think about the brushing. We use CET toothpaste for dogs in the chicken flavor. It is safe for dogs to swallow while human toothpaste is not.

If his teeth have calculus (tartar)on them now however, you should have one good cleaning done at the vet's first. Your vet will do a professional dental prophylaxes which will clean under the gum line- something you cannot do with a brush. This will get him off to a good start.

Once that is done a home care routine is essential in maintaining oral health. There are also solutions that can be swabbed on or put into their water to help prevent calculus buildup.

There is also a dental diet available from Hill's that will prevent major dental diseases. I have personally seen it work on my worst dental patients, making their gums healthier and their teeth cleaner in between dental cleanings.

Blue Buffalo foods are okay but there is no calcium/phosphorus ratio listed on the bags and that is what gets the large breeds into trouble with their joints. It should be a percentage under .7 % so I would write to them if I were you and ask them.

Three year old Pyrenees are about 95% done growing but they have a longer, slow growth curve and too much calcium/phos ratio will cause problems.

So get your self a finger brush and toothpaste at the vets and schedule him an appointment for a good cleaning if his teeth (especially the upper back molars) look dirty.

You might want to try a nylabone for his teeth. They are flavored also and pretty indestructible. As long as he doesn't swallow it whole!