Bad Breath in Dogs

Bad breath isn’t just something that people experience.  Having a pet with bad breath can make your life very uncomfortable.  Some of the common reasons for bad breath in dogs are caused by gum and tooth problems.  However, bad breath in dogs can also be an indication of other health problems.  The important thing to do is determine why your dog has breath that is less than pleasant.

Dogs will often develop a build up of tartar around their teeth.  After eating, particles of food will remain in your dog’s mouth.  These particles will start to decompose and it’s this decomposition that will create a great environment for bacteria to thrive.  The bacteria will then multiply to form plaque.  Plaque is a combination of decomposed foods, minerals, and bacteria.  And it’s the plaque that will affect your dog’s dental hygiene and cause him to have bad breath.  Plaque is the leading cause of tooth loss for dogs since it will stick to the bottom of the teeth, causing the gums to recede and become inflamed. 

When your dog is affected by plaque you’ll find that he eats less.  During the early stages of plaque disease there will be a yellow or brown coating on the sides of the teeth particularly around the large molar teeth.  Smaller breeds of dogs seem to have more problems with plaque than larger breed dogs.  Good dental hygiene is essential for dogs so that plaque doesn’t have a chance to develop.  Make sure that your give your dog an annual dental examine.  You’ll be saving his teeth as well as avoiding bad breath.

There are other causes of bad breath in dogs besides plaque. When your dog is shedding his baby teeth you may find that he drools and has bad breath.  This bad breath problem will disappear when all of the baby teeth have been replaced by adult teeth.  During this stage of your dog’s life you can brush his mouth with a solution of diluted baking soda and water.  This will give your dog some relief from teething pain as well as freshen his breath.

Older dogs may have medical conditions that can affect their breath.  This includes liver and kidney problems.  A dog with these medical problems will be very thin and have a small appetite.  Your vet will be able to determine if your dog’s bad breath is a symptom of organ failure.  A dog with organ failure will need special care to be taken with his teeth.  Their teeth will need to be cleaned and a course of antibiotics administered to be sure that infection doesn’t set in.