I love Bella more than anything. She sleeps by my side every night 🩵
But over several months, I noticed her bad breath getting worse. At first, I thought it was just part of getting older.
I tried dental chews, toothpaste, and even a special gel – but the smell always came back.
When I tried brushing her teeth, it was a constant struggle. She squirmed, licked away the toothpaste – and I eventually gave up.
It wasn’t until I looked closely and saw that her gums were red and swollen that I started to get really worried.
The vet said:
“This isn’t just bad breath – it’s inflammation. And it hurts.”
I got a lump in my stomach. She could have been in pain for months – and I hadn’t realized it.
I felt like such a bad dog mom... 😔