Why your dog's breath smells: 7 common reasons

In the modern world, the working “function” of dogs fades into the background. If a dog sits on a chain for years and performs exclusively the function of guarding the territory, then not only his psyche suffers, but also his health, and many symptoms of problems simply go unnoticed. One such symptom is bad breath in your dog.

Any loving owner of an animal is constantly in contact with him during the day, and in this situation it is not difficult to notice that the pet’s mouth smells unpleasant. Why this happens, what it may indicate and how to treat it, we will look at it in this article.

Causes of bad breath in adult dogs

First of all, the cause of bad breath can be not only some kind of disorder in the oral cavity, but also a problem in other body systems.

Oral diseases

Name of the disease	Description	Symptoms	Treatment
Gingivitis and periodontitis	Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. The most common cause of gingivitis is scratches on the gums that become infected. Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontium (the tissue surrounding the tooth) leading to the destruction of the jaw.	Putrid odor from the mouth. Refusal to eat due to pain. The gums are red and swollen.	You need to find out the reason, to do this, consult a doctor. At home, you can wipe your gums with a chlorhexidine solution several times a day using a cotton pad or bandage.
Abscesses	An abscess is a purulent inflammation of tissue, manifested as a noticeable swollen formation (tubercle) filled with pus. Caused by injury to oral tissues or stuck foreign objects.	A hard growth in the oral cavity (often under the tongue, on the upper and lower palate). Something for the dog. bothers your mouth. Refuses food.	Small abscesses may go away on their own. But large and painful ones require medical intervention. They need to be opened and the resulting cavity treated. Don't try to do this at home!
Tartar	Tartar is calcareous deposits on the teeth. Plaque is formed from mineralized food debris, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus salts.	There is a light yellow coating on the base of the tooth, which becomes darker over time, even black. At first, the plaque is soft and loose, but hardens over time.	Professional cleaning is required using a special device in a veterinary clinic.
Melanoma Fibrosarcoma Squamous cell carcinoma	These neoplasms are malignant tumors. The external differences between them are not very large; a doctor must determine during an in-person examination.	Most often, painless formations in the mouth. Bleeding from the mouth. Itching. Smell from the mouth.	Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. It is recommended to treat surgically.
Stomatitis	Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa.	Depending on the type of inflammation, ulcers and blisters form on the mucous membrane. Redness of the gums and mucous membranes. Inflammation may spread to the tongue.	Eliminate foods from your diet that can irritate the oral mucosa. Treat the cavity with furatsilin solution (1:10000). If you have ulcers, consult a specialist.
Foreign body	A foreign body stuck in the oral cavity (between teeth or embedded in tissue) will subsequently begin to decompose.	Smell of rot from the mouth. Refusal to eat. The dog is trying to get something out of its mouth and often slurps.	It is necessary to remove the foreign body and treat the oral cavity. It is often impossible to do this at home; it is better to consult a veterinarian.

Sometimes “pockets” form in the mouth where pieces of food get trapped. These may be folds on the gums or mucous membranes.

Metabolism problems

Name of the disease	Description	Symptoms	Treatment
Kidney failure (uremia)	A serious disease in which metabolic waste is not eliminated from the body, but enters the blood.	A distinct odor of ammonia (urine). Urinary retention or absence. Vomit. Weight loss. Refusal to eat. Depressed state.	You must contact a veterinary clinic immediately!
Diabetes	A disease in which the level of glucose in the blood increases, and sugar is not absorbed, which leads to carbohydrate starvation.	Sourish odor from the mouth (smell of rotting fruit) at the beginning of the disease. Subsequently there is a clear aroma of acetone. Increased thirst. Frequent urination. Exhaustion.	Special nutrition and supportive therapy are required throughout life. For necessary prescriptions, contact your veterinarian.

Problems with the digestive system

Name of the disease	Description	Symptoms	Treatment
Liver diseases	Liver diseases that lead to liver decomposition, such as cirrhosis, can have different causes, but the outcome is always negative.	Cadaveric odor from the mouth (sometimes reeks of acetone). Yellowing of the mucous membranes. Refusal of food. Enlarged liver (if you can feel it on the right under the last rib, it is enlarged).	Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor; it differs in each specific case.
Worms	Parasites are most often localized in the intestines. With severe infestation, worms can clog the intestinal lumen so much that food does not pass further and is not digested, but rots.	The breath smells like rotting. The abdomen may be distended (especially in puppies). In severe cases, vomiting and vomit may contain worms).	It is necessary to treat the dog against parasites using special means. It is very important to follow the dosage and use drugs intended specifically for dogs.
Diseases of other organs (Gastritis, colitis, intestinal dysbiosis, etc.).	Diseases of the digestive system are most often associated with improper feeding or may be a consequence of poisoning. It is dangerous when the disease is caused by a viral infection.	The smell from the mouth most often does not have a specific description, it is simply unpleasant. Vomit. Problems with bowel movements, constipation or diarrhea. Refusal to eat. Rapid weight loss.	A comprehensive examination of the animal is necessary, consult a doctor.

When the anal glands are blocked, your dog's breath may smell fishy. Because clogged glands produce bacteria, which the dog licks off due to itching.

Respiratory diseases (damage to the respiratory system)

Name of the disease	Description	Symptoms	Treatment
Rhinitis	Inflammation of the nasal mucosa	You won't always smell a bad odor from your mouth, but it's possible. Nasal discharge (snot).	It is necessary to find out the cause, because allergic rhinitis is possible (if the disease is accompanied by itching). See your doctor.
Pneumonia	Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, affecting all structures of the lung tissue.	Rotten smell from the mouth. Cough, shortness of breath. Temperature increase.	It is necessary to contact a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Lung abscess	Purulent melting of lung tissue in the form of a limited area.	Bad breath. Dyspnea. Fever. General weakness. Cough with scanty sputum; when the abscess opens, the sputum is copious and offensive.	A doctor's supervision is required. Broad spectrum antibiotics. Complex symptomatic therapy.

Dermatological pathologies (skin diseases).

Name of the disease	Description	Symptoms	Treatment
Pyoderma on the corners of the mouth	Pyoderma is an inflammatory skin disease caused by bacteria.	A putrid odor emanates from the affected skin, but when the lesion is near the mouth, the dog seems to have bad breath.	Comprehensive long-term treatment in the clinic is required.
Eosinophilic granuloma	This is a disease in which nodules and plaques form in the mouth or tonsils. The exact reason is unknown.	There is an unpleasant odor from the mouth. Papules and plaques of the oral cavity. It is more common in Siberian Huskies and King Charles Spaniels.	Minor lesions may go away on their own. Symptomatic therapy.
Drug rash, urticaria	Allergic reaction	Breath is heavy, with an unpleasant odor. Rash all over the body. Itching. Temperature increase.	The mild form goes away on its own within a few hours. It is better to consult a veterinarian to avoid Quincke's edema. Antihistamines.
lupus erythematosus Pemphigus complex (Pmphigus)	Autoimmune disease. Sometimes the disease affects the liver and kidneys, then the breath smells of acetone or ammonia.	The skin is affected, most often on the face. Sores. Redness. Scales. The unpleasant odor comes from the skin, but it seems to come from the breath.	Maintenance therapy is required throughout life.

Also, often a dog’s bad breath does not signal an illness, but simply that the dog has eaten something strong-smelling. For example, onions, garlic or fish.

Also, many dogs have a very bad desire to eat carrion that they find on the street, in which case a sharp aroma of rotten meat comes from the dog’s mouth.

Another “headache” for many owners is when their pet has coprophagia, which is the name given to the urge to eat feces. The pet smells appropriately. Since such a habit entails negative consequences in the form of stomach upset, helminth infection, etc., this must be combated.

Other symptoms accompanying mouth odor

A specific aroma may be accompanied by various symptomatic manifestations: weakness, weight loss or gain, changes in the pet’s activity, refusal to eat, severe thirst. Any deviation from usual behavior indicates that prompt consultation with a specialist is required.

What should alert the owner:

• profuse drooling;
• slurping while eating, awkwardness when grabbing food or toys;
• drowsiness and lethargy;
• the active pet stopped being mischievous, but the calm one, on the contrary, became too nervous;
• problems with urination and bowel movements;
• the coat becomes bad, dull, the skin flakes;
• unmotivated aggression appears;
• the pet refuses its favorite treats and adored games.

It is worth observing your pet for a day, maximum two. If one of the above symptoms is associated with halitosis, make an appointment with a veterinarian.

Causes of bad breath in puppies

For puppies, the situation is somewhat different. They have much fewer reasons for bad breath. The most common cause of bad breath in young dogs is changing teeth. Or rather, those cases when this process does not go according to plan.

In puppies of small breeds, the molar may grow behind the milk tooth, or in front of it. Consequently, the baby tooth does not fall out as it should, but begins to rot. Hence the smell. This problem can only be dealt with with the help of a veterinary specialist; he will remove the missing tooth, thoroughly treat the cavity and, if necessary, prescribe antibiotics.

Another reason lies in the location of the teeth. Unlike adult dogs, whose teeth are located quite tightly together, puppies most often have gaps between their teeth. Food particles fall into these gaps, get stuck and the process of rotting begins, which causes bad breath.

Well, in addition, all dogs, and puppies in particular, love to chew on everything. Be it toys, the owner's slipper or sticks. It is the latter that can cause quite severe damage to the baby’s gums. Even through just scratches, an infection can enter, putrefactive microflora and a corresponding smell will develop. In this case, it is also better to contact a veterinarian, as surgical treatment of the wound and a course of antibiotics may be required.

To prevent the above problems, you need to periodically brush your pet’s teeth. It's not difficult and not at all expensive. This procedure will help prevent stuck pieces of food from rotting. And also, during cleaning, you examine the pet’s oral cavity and notice any pathological changes in time.

External factors that provoke a nasty odor

There are other mediators that cause dog mouth stink. Fortunately, they are easy to correct.

What applies to external provocateurs:

1. Eating protein treats. When deli meats are metabolized, a nitrogenous product is released, which causes a rotten smell. This phenomenon can be avoided if you reduce the amount of meat and other foods rich in protein in your diet.
2. Food settling in the buccal space. Pieces of food stuck behind the cheeks can fester over time and create a rotten smell.
3. Change of drink. If you stop giving your pet spring water and switch to chlorinated water, this can cause dysbiosis in the animal. The disease gives rise to the spread of an unpleasant odor.
4. Unbalanced pet diet. To keep your pet's breath fresh, you need to switch to natural nutrition and higher quality food.

The above problems are not so serious and can be easily eliminated.

How to properly care for your oral cavity

To ensure that everything is in order with your pet’s teeth, you need to monitor oral hygiene. There are several ways to clean your teeth.

Natural

To clean your dog's teeth naturally, you need to adjust your diet. A dog is a predator, and for dental health, it needs to chew.

• From natural products, it will be useful to give well-boiled cartilage, pork ears, beef bones (namely the head of the hip joint, in simple words - maslaki). You can also give your dog a carrot or an apple to chew on.
• If you feed dry food, then it itself prevents the development of tartar and eliminates the likelihood of food getting stuck in the teeth.
• In today's market, pet store shelves are filled with special “bone” treats, which are designed specifically for cleaning teeth and are completely safe. Plus, pets really like it.

Using a brush and paste

The brush and paste must be specifically designed for dogs; under no circumstances use human tools!

This cleaning should be done 2-3 times a week. It is necessary to accustom your pet from puppyhood and gradually; the dog should not be afraid of such a procedure.

The advantages of this cleaning:

• Clears teeth of stuck food.
• Prevention of tartar formation.
• You examine your pet’s oral cavity and notice pathological changes during the examination.

There is only one minus - it is time-consuming. But it really is a necessity if you want your pet to be healthy.

At the veterinary clinic

In advanced cases, when cleaning the house will no longer help, tartar has appeared, you need to go to the clinic. Teeth cleaning is carried out using ultrasound.

The procedure is painless for the pet and is performed under light anesthesia. If your dog is calm and easily tolerates such manipulations, you can do without anesthesia at all.

Important! The veterinarian must remove stone from not only the front part of the teeth, but also the back and gingival surface.

Acetone

This problem most often occurs with diabetes mellitus . Associated symptoms include severe thirst, changes in body weight, and symptoms such as itchy skin and fatigue may also be present.

Sores may appear on the skin, and the animal itself is most likely lethargic. This disease must be treated throughout life.

You need to consult a good doctor, because... this pathology is very dangerous due to its complications.

Briefly about the main thing

1. A dog's breath can smell bad for a variety of reasons. This phenomenon can be either a signal of illness or simply that the dog has eaten something strong-smelling.
2. It is necessary to carefully monitor your pet's oral hygiene. And it is entirely your responsibility if you want your pet to be healthy.
3. Brushing your dog's teeth is not a whim, but a necessity for health. The main thing is to do it right.

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Urine

If your dog smells like urine coming from his mouth, he needs to see a veterinarian very urgently . Because, most likely, the smell of ammonia is associated with kidney problems. But there may also be liver problems: one of the most serious consequences is Cushing's syndrome.

How are kidney or liver problems and bad breath related? Slowing down the removal of metabolic products from the body leads to the formation, even increased release of ammonia by tissues.

Read more about this and other problems in the article “Why does a dog smell like dog, fish or rotten meat: we solve problems quickly”