Bring your pet for a check-up. They may have dental or oral disease. Animals will often continue to eat even if their mouth is painful, or in time they may become less enthusiastic about meals, opting for softer food instead of harder diets. They may drool or paw at the side of their face if they have toothache. Other causes of bad breath include diet, dehydration, food or fur trapped between the teeth, and systemic illnesses such as kidney dysfunction.   If your ageing pet’s behaviour or habits have changed they should come in for a check-up with a member of our team. We will weigh your pet, take a full history and perform an in-depth clinical examination. We may recommend tests such as blood tests, urinalysis or X-rays based on what we find in the examination. Your pet may be simply ageing normally, or they may have an emerging health problem which we can help you manage to ensure your pet continues to have a good quality of life into old age.