Let’s talk about something we’ve all experienced: you lean in for some puppy kisses or cat cuddles, and… wow. That breath. We laugh it off, call it “dog breath,” or joke that our cat ate something questionable. But here’s what I’ve learned in my years practicing veterinary medicine—that smell isn’t normal, and it’s often our first clue that something’s wrong.

As a house-call veterinarian serving Reno and the surrounding communities, I see dental disease every day. It’s one of the most common problems affecting our pets, and it’s also one of the most overlooked. I get it—when your dog is wagging their tail and your cat is purring, it’s hard to imagine they might be in pain. But dental disease is sneaky like that.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The statistics are pretty eye-opening. Research from Banfield Pet Hospital found that 73% of dogs and 64% of cats they examined in 2023 had dental-related issues. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that by age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease. That means if your pet is three years old or older, there’s a really good chance they’re dealing with some level of dental problems—even if they’re not showing obvious signs.

Think about that for a second. Your pet could be uncomfortable, and you might not even know it. Dogs and cats are incredibly good at hiding pain. It’s an evolutionary thing—in the wild, showing weakness makes you vulnerable. So they just… keep going. Keep eating, keep playing, keep being themselves. Meanwhile, bacteria are multiplying in their mouth, their gums are inflamed, and they’re silently suffering.

What I Look For During Dental Assessments

During every wellness visit I make to your home, I perform a thorough oral examination. It’s something I’m honestly pretty passionate about—if there’s one thing I miss about working in a traditional clinic, it’s being able to do dental procedures myself. There’s something really satisfying about cleaning a pet’s teeth and knowing you’ve made an immediate difference in its comfort level.

But even though I can’t perform the full cleaning at your home (more on that in a minute), I can absolutely assess what’s going on in your pet’s mouth and create a plan to get them the care they need.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Tartar buildup – That yellowish-brown stuff on the teeth. It starts as plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) and hardens into tartar. The more there is, the more advanced the disease.
• Gingivitis – Red, swollen gums that might bleed easily. This is inflammation caused by bacteria, and it’s painful, even though your pet won’t tell you.
  Broken or fractured teeth – These can happen from chewing on hard objects or from dental disease weakening the tooth. A broken tooth isn’t just uncomfortable—it can lead to infection.
• Receding gums – When gums pull back from the teeth, they expose sensitive areas and create pockets where bacteria can hide.
• Loose teeth – Advanced periodontal disease destroys the supporting structures around teeth, causing them to become mobile.
• Masses or growths – Sometimes we find tumors or other abnormal tissue in the mouth. Early detection is essential here.
• Bad breath – That “dog breath” I mentioned? Bacteria cause it. Healthy mouths don’t smell like that.

The Stages of Dental Disease

Dental disease progresses through stages, and what you can see at home only tells part of the story.

• Stage 1 shows some plaque buildup and a little inflamed gum tissue. Your pet is probably not showing any symptoms yet.
• Stage 2 brings more tartar, more inflammation, and the beginnings of gum recession. You might notice the bad breath now.
• By Stage 3, there’s significant tartar buildup, the gums are pulling away from the teeth, creating pockets of infection, and the tooth roots might be exposed. Your pet might be having trouble eating hard food, though many still manage.
• Stage 4 is advanced disease—bone loss, loose teeth, chronic pain. Some pets at this stage will finally stop eating, but many still try to push through.

The thing that always gets me is that even at Stage 3 or 4, many pets are still eating. My kids won’t eat dinner if the texture isn’t just right, but our pets will keep trying to chew, even with painful, infected mouths, because that survival instinct is so strong.

It’s Not Just About the Mouth

Here’s the part that really matters: dental disease doesn’t stay in the mouth. Those bacteria causing problems in the gums? They can enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, especially the kidneys, the liver, and the heart.

Research has shown that dogs with advanced periodontal disease are 2.3 times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and 6.3 times more likely to develop endocarditis—that’s an infection of the heart valves. The connections between oral health and systemic disease are real, and they’re significant.

I’ve seen older pets come in for what the owners thought was just age-related slowing down, only to find severe dental disease. After treatment, these pets are like puppies or kittens again—more energetic, with better appetites, playing more. They were in chronic pain, and we just didn’t realize it.

Why Professional Cleanings Require Anesthesia

This is probably the question I get asked most often: “Can’t you just clean their teeth while they’re awake?”

I understand the concern about anesthesia. As a mom, I get it—you want to protect your pets from any risk. But here’s the truth: every major veterinary organization, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the American Veterinary Dental College, agrees that dental cleanings must be performed under anesthesia. And there are really good reasons for this.

First, the real problem in dental disease isn’t the tartar you can see on the outside of the teeth. It’s what’s happening under the gumline, in those pockets between the tooth and the gum. That’s where the bacteria are causing the most damage, and that’s where we need to clean. You simply cannot access those areas safely and effectively in an awake animal.

Second, a proper dental procedure involves dental radiographs (x-rays) to see what’s happening below the gumline and inside the tooth roots. We can only see about 40% of each tooth from the outside. The other 60% requires X-rays to evaluate, and there’s no way to get those images without anesthesia.

Third, we use ultrasonic scalers that spray a lot of water to clean the teeth. Without an endotracheal tube protecting the airway, that water could be inhaled into the lungs, potentially causing pneumonia.

Fourth, when we clean teeth, we create tiny scratches in the enamel that need to be polished smooth. If we don’t polish properly, those rough spots actually make tartar build up faster. This requires access to all tooth surfaces and a cooperative patient.
And finally, if we find problems during the cleaning—a fractured tooth that needs extraction, an abscess that needs treatment—we need to be able to address those issues right then. That requires anesthesia for pain control and safety.

I know anesthesia feels scary. But modern veterinary anesthesia is incredibly safe. Before any procedure, we perform bloodwork to ensure your pet’s organs can tolerate anesthesia. During the procedure, a veterinary technician continuously monitors heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, temperature, and breathing. We tailor the anesthetic protocol to your pet’s individual health needs. The vast majority of pets wake up a little groggy and are back to normal within a few hours.

The small risk of anesthesia is far outweighed by the benefit of addressing painful dental disease and preventing serious systemic health problems.

What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning

Since I can’t perform these procedures during house calls, I work closely with several excellent veterinary dentists in the Reno area. Here’s what happens when I refer your pet for a dental cleaning:

Your pet will have a day visit to the clinic. They’ll receive pre-anesthetic medication to help them relax, then anesthesia through an IV catheter. Once they’re asleep, an endotracheal tube is placed to protect their airway and provide oxygen.

The veterinarian takes full-mouth radiographs to see what’s happening below the gumline. Then they chart every tooth, checking for pockets, mobility, fractures, and other problems.
Next comes the actual cleaning—scaling above and below the gumline to remove all tartar and plaque, followed by polishing to smooth the tooth surfaces. If any teeth need to be extracted or other problems need to be addressed, that happens while your pet is already anesthetized.

Throughout the procedure, your pet is continuously monitored by trained staff. When everything is complete, they wake up in a quiet recovery area, where someone watches them until they’re ready to go home.

Most pets go home the same day and recover quickly. Some need pain medication if extractions were performed, and they might be on a soft food diet for a few days.

At-Home Dental Care

Between professional cleanings, there’s a lot we can do at home to maintain good oral health. Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard—it really does make a difference. But I’ll be honest with you: only about 7% of pet owners regularly brush their pet’s teeth. It’s a hard habit to establish, and some pets just won’t cooperate.

If you can brush, use pet-specific toothpaste (never human toothpaste—it contains ingredients that are toxic to pets) and a soft-bristled brush. Even brushing a few times a week helps.

If brushing isn’t realistic for your situation, there are other options. Dental chews and treats that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval have been proven to help reduce plaque and tartar. Not all products live up to their claims, so look for the VOHC seal.

Some prescription dental diets are designed with a texture and shape that help clean teeth as your pet chews. Water additives can help reduce bacteria in the mouth, though they’re not as effective as mechanical cleaning.

What Different Life Stages Need

Puppies and kittens – Start getting them used to having their mouths handled early. This makes future dental care so much easier. Young animals might not need professional cleanings yet, but establishing good habits now pays off.

Young adults – This is when we start seeing early tartar buildup. Regular at-home care and annual dental assessments help us catch problems before they become serious.
Middle-aged pets – Many pets need their first professional cleaning during these years. Some breeds (especially small dogs) might need cleaning more frequently—even every six months.

Senior pets – Dental disease is widespread in older animals. Some owners worry about anesthesia in senior pets, but with proper precautions, even elderly or pets with health conditions can safely undergo dental procedures. In fact, these are often the pets who need it most—chronic dental pain makes everything else harder as they age.

Signs Your Pet Needs Dental Attention

Watch for these warning signs at home:

• Bad breath (beyond normal “dog breath”)
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Yellow or brown buildup on teeth
• Dropping food or having trouble chewing
• Pawing at the mouth or face
• Excessive drooling
• Reluctance to eat hard food
• Swelling around the face or eyes
• Behavioral changes (more irritable or withdrawn)

If you notice any of these, it’s time for a dental assessment. Don’t wait for your next wellness visit—dental pain shouldn’t wait.

How House Call Practice Works for Dental Care

As a house call veterinarian, I love that I can assess your pet’s dental health in the comfort of their home, where they’re most relaxed. Many pets who are stressed at the clinic will let me look in their mouth much more easily at home.

During your wellness visit, I’ll perform a thorough oral examination and discuss what I see. If your pet needs a professional cleaning or other dental work, I’ll refer you to one of the trusted veterinary dentists I work with in the Reno area. I’ll explain what to expect and answer all your questions.

After the procedure, I’m available for follow-up care. If your pet needs medication or has questions during recovery, I’m just a phone call away. And at your next wellness visit, I’ll check how everything healed and help you maintain those clean teeth.

I genuinely miss doing dental procedures myself—there’s something gratifying about it. But what matters most is that your pet gets the care they need, whether that’s from me or from a dental specialist. My job is to make sure nothing gets missed and that you have all the information to make the best decisions for your pet.

Creating Your Pet’s Dental Care Plan

Every pet is different, so their dental care plan should be too. During our visit, we’ll talk about:

• Your pet’s current oral health status
• Whether they need a professional cleaning now or can wait
• At-home care strategies that fit your lifestyle
• How often should your pet have dental assessments
• What to watch for between visits

For pets who need professional cleaning, I’ll guide you through the referral process and stay in touch with the dental specialist to coordinate care. For pets who don’t need immediate intervention, we’ll create a prevention plan to keep them that way.

The Bottom Line

Dental health matters. It affects your pet’s comfort, their ability to eat and enjoy life, and their overall health. Those bacteria in their mouth can damage their heart, kidneys, and other organs over time.

The good news is that dental disease is preventable and treatable. Regular assessments, professional cleanings when needed, and at-home care can keep your pet’s mouth healthy throughout their life.

That “dog breath” or “cat breath” we joke about? It doesn’t have to be normal. Your pet can have fresh breath and a comfortable mouth well into their senior years.

As your house call veterinarian, I’m here to help you navigate all of this. We’ll assess your pet’s oral health during every wellness visit, create a personalized care plan, and make sure you have the support and resources you need—whether that’s teaching you how to brush teeth at home or connecting you with a great dental specialist for professional cleaning.

Your pet’s dental health is too important to ignore, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let’s work together to keep those teeth clean and those tails wagging.

If you have questions about your pet’s dental health, or if it’s been more than a year since their last oral examination, give us a call. I’m always happy to take a look and help you figure out the best next steps.

About the Duffield Foundation Practice Incubation Grant

Dr. Vasquez-Perez is one of only two veterinarians in Nevada to receive a practice incubation grant from Petopia.org and The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation. This grant supports veterinarians committed to delivering care where it’s most needed and enables Dr. Vasquez-Perez to serve families who might otherwise struggle to access veterinary care.

About The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation: The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in Incline Village, Nevada. The Duffields are also the founders of Maddie’s Fund, a leading animal welfare foundation dedicated to revolutionizing the status and well-being of companion animals. While the Duffields are long-time benefactors of companion animal causes, the Foundation also allows them to focus their philanthropic efforts in other areas they are passionate about, including supporting military veterans and giving back to their local community.

About Petopia.org: Three out of four pets in vulnerable communities have never seen a vet, even though veterinarians believe that all pets deserve care. Petopia helps veterinarians expand their care to vulnerable communities as part of their mission to promote community health by supporting healthy connections between humans, animals and environment and to reduce animal suffering by providing for access to veterinary care. Individuals can sponsor a veterinary visit with a donation as low as $10 at petopia.org/make-a-donation.