Mary Allen
Does your dog have bad breath? Do you love your dog very much and you can generously overlook many quirks? But bad breath really doesn’t have to be! Here you can find out what causes bad breath in dogs, what you can do about it and which home remedies help!
How does Bad Breath Manifest Itself in Dogs?
The symptoms of bad breath in dogs are not difficult to spot. Especially when your dog pant at you or wants to lick you, you notice him quickly. In extreme cases, bad breath in dogs can be so bad that the unpleasant odour spreads everywhere. Then even the whole car or the entire room can stink.
Most dog owners describe the symptoms like this:
- Foul or putrid breath
- Saliva smells fishy
- Putrid belching
- Bad breath in dogs is reminiscent of rotten eggs
What are the Causes of Bad Breath in Dogs?
Not every form of bad breath in dogs is pathological. Bad breath for a short time after eating, for example, can be completely normal. But then the unpleasant smell usually disappears quickly. Bad breath in dogs lasts for a long time. Long-term bad breath can have various causes. Either it indicates diseases in the oral cavity or other diseases such as diabetes or kidney problems. If your dog’s bad breath persists, you should see your vet.
Wrong diet as a cause of bad breath
Diet has a major impact on your dog’s breath. The wrong food can cause bad breath.
- Canned food/wet food can get stuck in the spaces between the teeth and cause the odour
- bad-smelling dog food (e.g. fish or tripe)
- Diet change (dog does not tolerate new food)
- Food intolerance (dog cannot tolerate a certain component of the food)
Diseases of the oral cavity of the dog
Diseases in the oral cavity are usually caused by bacteria. These often arise from:
- Tartar in the dog
- gingivitis
- Remnants of food between the dog’s teeth
- Foreign bodies, e.g. tree bark between the teeth
- Dying oral mucosa
- rotten or ulcerated tooth
- Tumours in the mouth or throat
Bad breath in puppies during the change of teeth
Young dogs can also be affected by bad breath. Inflammation in the mouth can occur during the change of teeth. Bad breath is caused by increased bacterial growth. Certain bacteria cause a fishy-smelling mouth. If you notice this smell in your puppy, it’s best to take him to the vet. Because severe inflammation should be recognized quickly in order to avoid damage to the permanent teeth.
Causes of bad breath in dogs outside the mouth
Bad breath in dogs can also indicate other diseases.
- Kidney problems: Dogs smell like urine from their mouths
- Diabetes: Dog has a sweetish bad breath
- Diseases of the oesophagus, stomach and intestines: unpleasant pungent odour from the dog’s mouth
- Tonsillitis can cause bad breath in dogs
- Decreased sense of smell: Loss of appetite causes bad breath
- Clogged anal glands: Dogs lick the glands and absorb the secretion.
What Can You Do About Your Dog’s Bad Breath?
First, the cause of bad breath in your dog must be found. The cause is the basis for the right treatment. Therefore, you should first take your dog to the vet and clarify the cause of the bad breath. The veterinarian will then prescribe a suitable therapy for your dog and can give you further tips. If there is no disease and the oral cavity is free of tartar and inflammation, you can try the following tips:
Dental care – brushing your teeth regularly
Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly reduces odour-causing bacteria – just like you do. All you need is a soft toothbrush and dog toothpaste (you can make your own with coconut oil and baking soda). At first, brushing your dog’s teeth is certainly unfamiliar and requires some practice. However, brushing your dog’s teeth has many advantages: it reduces diseases of the oral cavity, relieves the internal organs, prevents tartar and eliminates bad breath.
The right diet
Do you feed your dog canned or wet food? This dog food likes to settle between the teeth and causes unpleasant bad breath. You might want to consider switching to dry food. There are also special dry foods that promote the abrasion of plaque. Some ingredients such as fish or tripe in dog food can also cause unpleasant breath. A change of feed helps here too. Your dog may also have a food intolerance. In this case, you can try a different type of food or switch to hypoallergenic food. Sugar in food can also lead to bad breath in dogs and cause tooth decay.
Dental care treats
Dog with treats There are special dental care snacks. These can take care of the teeth in different ways and thus reduce bad breath in the dog. Some treats help prevent tartar build-up in dogs, others remove existing plaque, and still, others neutralize odours.
Home remedies for bad breath in dogs
Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, is a reliable home remedy for bad breath. You can either give your dog chlorophyll tablets or in the form of fresh herbs. Simply chop the parsley, basil or mint and mix into the feed. You can also give your dog fresh fruit, such as apple slices. This is especially helpful if your dog has eaten food that smells bad.