My dog has green buildup on his teeth. What is it and is it serious?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tex! How old is Tex? The most common reason for bad breath is dental disease. Dental disease is the number one disease in cats and dogs. I am assuming the green thing is severe bacterial infected tartar on a tooth. Other causes for bad breath are metabolic conditions like kidney failure or diabetes. I recommend having Tex examined and his mouth checked by your Vet. If they recommend a dental they will also want to do pre-anesthetic blood work before hand. I hope this helps and I wish Tex the very best!

Theo could have dental calculus/tartar or even a fracture of his enamel under the green area. I would have him checked out by your veterinarian and discuss if a dental cleaning is needed before this becomes any worse.

By your description, it is possible your dog has significant tartar build up and possibly periodontal disease. Daily brushing with a pet approved tooth paste/brush can slow the progression. It will not remove existing tartar or clean effectively under the gums. What your dog likely needs is a complete physical exam including oral exam followed by a dental cleaning and dental x-rays under anesthesia. She may need extractions if the periodontal disease is severe. Without treatment, she can have a chronic low grade infection which has the potential to spread to other organs. Eating may become difficult which can further complicate the condition. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing such as CareCredit with your veterinarian. You may also be able to secure financial assistance through Red Rover (www.redrover.org).

That is a bit of buildup! Make sure you are using a dog-safe toothpaste as human toothpaste is actually toxic to pets. As for the lump/bump circled, it's hard to say what it is. I would keep an eye on it, and if it grows, changes rapidly, or becomes bothersome, it would be best to have your vet take a look at it sooner than your February appointment. Your vet can also schedule a dental cleaning at the same time if the bump needs to be removed.

Some dogs like the taste of grass, and that's why they eat it. Dogs can also eat it when they feel nauseous. The tartar on his teeth could be a cause of his decrease in appetite, and it needs to be removed. The only way to remove it fully is to have a dental cleaning, scaling, and polishing with the vet. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment. Best of luck.

AT that age, dental disease is common. The odor and discolorations indicate an infection due to gingivitis and tartar build up. The only way to have that removed is the have her teeth cleaned at your vet. They can clean around the gums and polish teeth similar to how ours are done. They will remove any damaged or infected teeth. You will likely need antibiotics to go along with this to further treat the infection and continue with brushing to help prevent this again

Oscar has a significant amount of tartar buildup on his tooth. His other teeth are likely in similar condition. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian then have a complete dental cleaning. Dental x-rays should be done to have a look below the gum line. A dentistry requires general anesthesia, so blood work may be recommended beforehand.