Tooth and gum problems are the most common medical condition in pets. Because bad breath in dogs and cats go hand in hand with other health problems, it is best to treat this problem on a regular basis.

What causes bad breath in pets?
The most common cause of bad breath is tartar buildup surrounding the teeth.
As in people, small particles off food remain in the mouth after eating. These particles decompose creating conditions where oral bacteria thrive. The bacteria grow to form plaque - a combination of bacteria, mineral and decomposed food. It is the plaque and associated oral infections that give the pets breath an unpleasant odor.
Plaque also clings to the base of teeth causing the gums to become inflamed and recede. Inflamed gums leak blood serum that combines with and increases the amount of plaque. This plaque or calculus is visible as a hard yellowish coating on the outer base of the teeth.
Remarkably, pets with this condition rarely eat less. Early in the disease, the plaque is no more than a thin brownish or yellowish coating on the sides of the teeth. It is most noticeable on the outer surface of the larger molar teeth - the side adjacent to the cheeks and lips. In severe cases the margins where teeth and gums meet become highly inflamed and bleed when they are touched.
For reasons we do not understand, these problems are most severe in toy and smaller breed dogs and in purebred cats. Maltese have the highest rate of tooth and gum disease of all breeds.
This buildup of calculus causes the gum margins to recedes past the tooth enamel exposing the softer dentine material that covers the tooth roots. Dentine is much more porous and rougher than enamel and holds infection in place. Once dentine is exposed periodic tooth care must be done more frequently and the teeth are eventually lost. This is why tooth care and good dental hygiene needs to begin early, before these problems are advanced.
Other causes of bad breath.
Immature pets that are in the process of shedding their "baby" teeth often drool and have bad breath. Some times it is accompanied by fever. Brushing the pets' mouths with diluted baking soda solution gives them relief and minimizes the odor.
In older pets, disease of the kidneys and liver often affect the mouth. These pets are often thin and frail. When I suspect that a pet with halitosis (bad breath) has major organ failure I run diagnostic liver enzyme levels as well as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels to check kidney function.
Pets with organ damage require extra special care when tending to their teeth. Anesthesia during dental prophylaxis (a measure taken for the prevention of a disease or condition) must be administered lightly and with special care. Often I place these pets on antibiotics after I clean their teeth as well as on special diets engineered to help failing organs.
When young cats have strong breath odor and dental disease, they are screened for feline leukemia as well as feline immunodifficiency disease (feline aids). If they are negative for these diseases, they often have resorptive dental disease in which deep cavities form in many teeth simultaneously for no apparent reason. In resorptive dental disease, the roots of the canine teeth are often exposed. Often incisor teeth in these cats drop out for no apparent reason. It is unclear if these cats are born with soft susceptible teeth or if another undescribed form of dental disease is present. Cleaning the teeth of cats with resorptive dental disease is not very effective. Eventually, these teeth need to be extracted. When this is done these cats go on to lead happy and healthy lives.
Problems associated with tooth and gum disease.
Just as kidney and liver disease can lead to dental disease; dental disease can lead to disease of the kidney and liver.
Tartar accumulation around the teeth allows harmful bacteria to grow. These bacteria occasionally break loose and enter the pets circulation system. Once in the blood stream, they lodge in crevices with the kidneys and liver and on the valves of the heart. Liver inflammation as well as scarred, poorly functioning kidneys are the result of bacteria lodging in these organs. When the heart valves are attacked by bacteria they shrink and scar, causing blood to flow in the wrong direction. This is why it is common for dogs and cats with severe dental disease to have heart murmurs. It is not unusual for these murmurs to go away once the pets dental problems are treated.

Dogs and cats with chronic dental problems often drool. This wetness and the infection associated with tooth infections may cause the lips and the skin folds surrounding the lips to become inflamed. Once the teeth are cleaned these problems go away.

Treatment of Bad Breath

Yearly checkups
Even if you do not give yearly vaccinations, it is wise to take your pet to a veterinarian for an annual checkup that includes a dental exam. The older your pet is the more important early exams become.
Diet
To slow the formation of plaque, feed your pet a quality name brand dry commercial pet food. The crunchy biscuits help massage gums and wear away tartar. Some brands market dental diets engineered to minimize plaque and massage the gums. Other brands incorporate enzymes to dissolve plaque.
One of the worst things you can do for your pets teeth is to feed canned diets. The build up of plaque in pets that are fed soft, canned diets is very rapid.
Treats
Feeding chewy treats, bones, rawhide, nylon bones and treats impregnated with enzymes minimizes dental plaque. Dog biscuits are of no value in preventing tartar buildup.
If you give your pet real bones, be sure they are heavy shin and shank bones.
Dogs and cats do better chewing on bones if they start when they are puppies and kittens.
Never give your pet cooked chicken bones.
Brushing teeth
Brushing your pets teeth is the most important thing you can to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Use a childs toothbrush and meat or malt favored toothpaste that is designed for animals. Use a very small amount of toothpaste - it is the brushing that is important - and concentrate on the gum margins.
If you start when your pet is a puppy or kitten, the pet will not dislike the procedure. Even older pets learn to accept the toothbrush.
Mouth wash and sprays
Veterinary hospitals and pet supply outlets sell chlorhexidine sprays and mouthwashes that contain enzymes that dissolve plaque and help reduce bacteria. They are not nearly as effective as brushing the teeth but are better than no home care.
Manual tartar removal
If your pet has a placid temperament, it is not difficult to scrap the tartar from the teeth and clean under the margins of the gums at home. Many pet professionals perform excellent tooth cleaning at home eliminating the need to have their pet anesthetized at a veterinary clinic. Your veterinarian or a pet supply catalog is a good source for a tartar-scraping tool. The best ones are double ended, one end suitable for the right and the other for the left hand side of the mouth.
Ultrasonic cleaning
Because the whine of the ultrasonic machine is distressing to most animals, this procedure is performed with general anesthetic or heavy tranquilization. Since it is often older patients, many of whom have heart disease that need the procedure, they are kept under very light anesthetic.
Removal of diseased teeth
Once the ligaments that fasten teeth to the bone of the jaw have been damaged by periodontal disease, ultrasonic cleaning will not heal them.
Teeth that are mildly loose, can sometimes be saved by cleaning and several weeks of doxycycline therapy either with oral tablets or oral patches.
Severely loose teeth are best removed.
Dogs and cats do very well with few remaining teeth. Problems are more in the minds of owners due to fear than to any difficulties experienced by the pets.
Tooth restorations
Some veterinarians and dentists specialize in crowns for damaged pet teeth. Other than for attack dogs, this is a purely cosmetic procedure for the owner, not the pet. I suggest you spend the money on your pets in other ways - such as a trips with your pet to the country or the park and contributions to your local Humane Society.

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How to Clean a Dogs Ears
Even though we give them lots of good scratches, when it comes to grooming, the ears of dogs are frequently the most neglected parts of their bodies. But their ears are also one of the most important areas to attend to.
Ear infections can be serious, and can begin easily if an animals ears are not kept clean.
Make sure your to keep their ears in good shape by following these simple steps:

To Clean or Not to Clean
If a dogs ears have an offensive odor, or if he has been scratching them repeatedly, you should not remove the stuff that might have accumulated; whatever is there will be able to help your veterinarian determine the cause of the irritation and how to treat it.
If he's scratching, or if you're tempted to plug your nose while cleaning his ears, you should see your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will take a swab of the substance for examination.

Before
Before you start your scrubbing, make sure you've set up your workspace. You should have your all your supplies set out and ready to go:

cotton balls
mineral oil
cleaner — a commercially prepared ear cleaner with a low alcohol content is best.
Wash your hands thoroughly so you don't introduce any infectious particles to your dogs ears.
You may want to work with a another person; your friend can provide a distraction while you clean the ears.

Gently wipe out the ears.
Once you've determined that your dogs ears are just dirty and not full of mites or an infection, you can remove the dirt.

Using a cotton ball moistened with mineral oil, gently wipe out the inner surface of the animals earflap.
Using another clean and moisten with mineral oil cotton ball, clean out the part of the ear canal that you can see. Stop when you feel resistance — don't try to stick the cotton ball any farther into the ear than it should go.
Repeat this procedure on the other ear.
Be sure you remove any foreign matter, whether it's dirt, bugs, or just waxy buildup.

Finished
Praise your pet, give him some love and let him go on his way.

Tips on Q-Tips
While cotton swabs are a natural choice for cleaning human ears, you should not use them on animals. Not only are they less efficient, they can be dangerous. If an animal is startled and jerks his head while you are cleaning his ears, the cotton swab could get jammed into his ear canal, causing all sorts of pain and distress.
Using cotton balls is much safer; they're much softer and less likely to get stuck in the animals ears.
A Note on the Ears of Cats
Since cats are very meticulous about their hygiene, your cat probably won't need to have his ears cleaned.
His ears should be checked regularly and if you notice he is scratching his ears, or if his ears have a bad smell, you should have your veterinarian check it out.
Don't remove any substances because your veterinarian will need to take a swab of the substance to diagnose the cause of the infection.