Bad breath dogs treatment: How To Fix Bad Dog Breath (5 Tips)

How To Fix Bad Dog Breath (5 Tips)

Bad breath can be a major problem for dogs, especially dogs who like to get into the garbage or eat the feces of other animals. As a pet parent, dealing with bad dog breath can be tough, but knowing how to fix bad dog breath is important. Regular brushing, dental treats, and other routine care can help you keep your dog’s breath from stinking.

Keep in mind that bad breath can be a sign of other medical conditions, such as diabetes and liver disease. If your dog has bad breath that won’t go away with regular brushing and other dental care, you should take them to the vet. If you’ve got a dog with particularly smelly breath, here are some tips and tricks you can try to fix bad dog breath.

1. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth Frequently

As a pet owner, brushing your dog’s teeth frequently is the most important thing you can do to prevent and treat bad dog breath. As strange as it might seem to brush your dog’s teeth, you should be doing it at least once per week, and your vet may even recommend brushing your dog’s teeth several times per week.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth, you’ll have a handful of different options as far as toothbrushes go. However, it’s important to make sure you’re using toothpaste that’s specifically designed for dogs because human toothpaste can be toxic to dogs. Ask your vet for toothbrush and toothpaste recommendations to find one that’s well suited for your pet.

It might take a while to get your dog used to having their teeth brushed, but keeping up with regular brushing helps prevent dental disease and promote fresh breath.

2. Give Them Chew Toys

Believe it or not, chew toys can actually be a helpful tool when it comes to fixing a dog’s bad breath. When dogs gnaw away at chew toys, it helps work some of the plaque and tartar off of their teeth. As an added benefit, you don’t have to worry about your dog chewing up furniture or electronics if they have plenty of good chew toys.

Chews that are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) are a good place to start when it comes to getting rid of bad dog breath. KONG pet toys are also good and come in several varieties and styles for different dogs. You might also consider giving your dog edible Nylabones or rubber Goughnuts to chew on.¹

3. Try Dental Treats

If you’re looking for tips on how to fix bad dog breath at home, dental treats can be a huge help. Making sure you pick a dental chew that’s approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council helps you promote dental health and prevent bad breath.

Some of the popular dental chews that are VOHC-approved include1:

• Purina Pro Plan Dental Chewz
• Greenies
• C.E.T. VEGGIDENT Chews
• Milk-Bone Brushing Chews
• OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews
• Purina DentaLife Chews
• Hill’s Prescription Diet Dental Chews
• Pedigree Dentastix

Other popular dental chews include Virbac Tartar Control Dog Chews. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Bones are a good option if you’re looking for grain-free dental chews. When you ask your vet about how to fix bad dog breath, you should also ask about appropriate dental treats and chew toys.

4. Use a Water Additive

Dental water additives can be a good way to promote dental health in dogs, which can help prevent bad breath and long-term dental problems. These additives can easily be added to your dog’s water. However, some dogs don’t like the taste of dental water additives, so these may not be the best option for your dog.

5. Visit the Vet

Regular trips to the vet can help you prevent bad dog breath and keep your dog’s mouth healthy. You should take your dog to the vet at least once a year to have their teeth cleaned. In addition to regular dental cleanings, you should also visit the vet for routine checkups to make sure your dog doesn’t have a medical condition that’s leading to bad breath.

Why Do Dogs Get Bad Breath?

In many cases, dogs get bad breath as a result of poor dental hygiene. If you’re not brushing your dog’s teeth often enough or taking them to the vet for dental cleanings, plaque and tartar will eventually lead to bad breath.

While bad breath is often caused by poor dental hygiene, it can also be a result of several other medical conditions and other problems in dogs.²

Dental & Mouth Disorders

If your dog has a dental disease or mouth disorder, that may be the cause of their bad breath. For example, tissue necrosis that occurs as a result of oral tumors can cause bad breath in dogs. Periodontal pockets can also get food trapped in them, which can lead to bad breath as the food decays in your dog’s mouth. If your dog has a dental or mouth disorder, you should see your vet to get started on a treatment plan.³

Diet

Dogs are a lot different than humans, especially in terms of their diet. Dietary indiscretion isn’t uncommon in dogs, and some dogs will even eat things like feces, trash, and decomposing animals. If your dog has a problem with eating things that cause bad breath, you need to keep them away from things like feces and dead animals and keep your trash closed.

Diabetes

If your dog’s breath is sort of sweet or fruity, they might have bad breath as a result of diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious health complications in pets, so you should talk to your vet about treatment options if your dog has diabetes.

Liver Disease

Bad dog breath combined with vomiting, a lack of appetite, and yellowish gums is often a result of liver disease. This liver disease may even be caused by a more serious medical condition, so getting your dog to the vet is crucial.⁴

Kidney Disease

Bad dog breath that smells like urine may be a result of kidney disease in dogs. If your dog has bad breath that smells like urine, you should take them to the vet right away as kidney disease can be very serious if left untreated.⁵

Dog Bad Breath: Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dog have bad breath?

There are several reasons your dog might have bad breath, including poor dental hygiene, dental and mouth disorders, or one of several diseases that can cause bad breath in dogs. If your dog has bad breath as well as symptoms of another medical condition, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible for a diagnosis. Diagnosing conditions like kidney and liver disease early on is crucial.

How can I fix my dog’s bad breath?

Fortunately, learning how to fix bad dog breath is simple. In many cases, it’s as simple as brushing your dog’s teeth and giving them dental chews regularly. If your dog has bad breath that persists even with regular brushing, dental chews, and dental cleanings at the vet, you may need to treat the underlying condition to get rid of bad breath.

How often should I brush my dog’s teeth?

As a pet parent, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth at least 2-3 times per week. If you have the time, however, it’s best to brush your dog’s teeth daily. Like humans, good dental hygiene in dogs helps prevent dental disease and bad breath.

How often should I bring my dog in for a teeth cleaning?

You should bring your dog to the vet for a teeth cleaning at least once a year. Taking your dog to the vet for a thorough dental cleaning is important because you can’t get the same quality clean at home.

Final Notes

Bad breath in dogs can be caused by lots of things, including poor dental hygiene, diabetes, and dietary indiscretion. Fortunately, brushing your dog’s teeth regularly and giving them dental chews can help fix and prevent bad dog breath.

If you want to know more about how to fix bad dog breath, Dutch can get you the help you need. With Dutch, you can schedule an online video chat with a vet to learn more about dental hygiene in dogs. You can even get tips for brushing your dog’s teeth from the comfort of your home. If your dog has bad breath, try Dutch and chat with a vet today.

Bad Breath in Dogs: Causes and Treatment

You may love getting kisses from your dog as a greeting when you get home, except when they’re accompanied by bad breath. Is it normal for a dog’s breath to stink?

Bad dog breath can actually be a sign of a number of health issues, and some that you would never guess could be related to your dog’s breath. Understanding why your dog has bad breath is the first step in appropriately treating not only the smell but the underlying cause.

Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?

In the past 10 years, dental hygiene in dogs has changed from occasional tooth extractions to yearly dental examinations and routine teeth cleaning. Preventative dental care options have become widely available, as well as the knowledge of what a dog’s mouth can tell us about our canine patients. Bad breath has evolved from being a nuisance for pet parents to a veterinarian’s tool for diagnosing certain health issues.

Here are some of the most common:

• Dental or Gum Disease: The most common cause of bad breath (halitosis) in dogs is periodontal disease. Similar to humans, dogs with crowded teeth or crooked, misaligned teeth (malocclusions) may be at a higher risk for secondary dental disease; however, most dogs will develop some tartar or plaque buildup (dental calculus) or gingivitis at some point in their life. Dental disease develops when an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth forms a plaque, which leads to tartar buildup. Tartar can lead to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). If enough tartar is allowed to build, hair and other debris can get stuck between a dog’s gumline, adding to the development of bad breath.

• Something Stuck in Your Dog’s Mouth (bone, stick, foreign body): Dogs fond of chewing on toys, ropes, and sticks are at greater risk of getting foreign material stuck in their mouths. Cloth materials tend to get stuck between the teeth, whereas sticks or other firm material such as chew toys may get wedged in the roof of a dog’s mouth. Some foreign bodies, like splinters, can get stuck under the tongue or in the cheek and may be hard to see. In some circumstances, strings or linear foreign material may get hooked under the tongue, and the bad breath could be accompanied by not eating and vomiting.

• Kidney Disease: The kidneys function as the body’s filtration system. When there’s underlying disease or kidney failure that causes the kidneys not to function, a dog may start to build up toxins called urea in their blood. The urea can make a dog’s breath smell like ammonia or urine, which may be an indicator of serious kidney dysfunction. Excessive urea, called uremia, can cause ulceration in the mouth as well, which your vet may see on examination.

• Liver Disease: Bad breath along with yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) in conjunction with weight loss, poor appetite, and vomiting may indicate that your dog’s liver may be affected. Along with the kidneys, the liver acts as a filter for the body’s toxins. When there’s a problem with your dog’s liver function, toxins can build, and this can show up as bad breath.

• Diabetes: When diabetes becomes unregulated or untreated for a long enough period of time, the body starts breaking down fat, creating molecules called ketones. Dogs that are producing ketones secondary to diabetes may have an acetone or sweet smell to their breath. Dogs with diabetes often have other symptoms such as weight loss, changes in appetite, and increased thirst and urination.

• Ate Something Toxic: Certain toxins like plants can cause rancid or a rotting smell in a dog’s breath. Dogs who eat cigarettes may have a nicotine odor to their breath. There are hundreds of toxins present in the environment, and being able to detect what your dog may have been exposed to could help determine the right treatment.

• Ate Something Gross (non-food item): Puppies or adolescent dogs may be more inclined to eat feces of other dogs or be curious about what is in the cat’s litter box. Dog breath that smells like fecal matter may be linked to simply eating poop. Alternatively, dogs who eat household objects or toys can develop rotten-smelling breath and may vomit if they aren’t able to digest the foreign material.

• Oral Tumors: More common in older animals, the development of oral cancers or tumors can lead to bad breath. As masses grow, they can become infected, and parts of the tissues can start to die (necrose), leading to persistent bad breath despite good dental care. The most common oral tumors in dogs are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and peripheral odontogenic fibromas.

• Dietary Deficiencies: Feeding your dog raw or home-cooked diets may disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth or gut. Imbalances of bacteria and increased likelihood of Salmonella overgrowth in a dog’s gut caused by raw diets may contribute to bad breath. If you feed your dog a raw or home-cooked diet, try to consult with a veterinary nutritionist (or if not, your regular vet) to help prevent dietary deficiencies.

How to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Bad Breath

If your dog has bad breath, your first step is to schedule a dental exam. If you allow a veterinary professional to routinely exam your dog’s mouth, they can detect dental disease and other health issues earlier.

If your dog is prone to periodontal disease, routine cleaning may be needed to help prevent excessive tartar formation and frequent dental extractions (having teeth pulled).

Here are some other ways to improve your dog’s oral health and keep their breath smelling better:

• Regular Brushing: Weekly to daily brushing with canine toothpaste and toothbrushes can be the most effective way to prevent plaque formation. Many dog toothpastes are flavored to be enticing to dogs.

• Dental Treats and Products: Dental treats can either help physically remove plaque as your dog chews or may contain additives that promote a healthy oral environment. Other products like dental water additives can be used to help mask bad breath as well as promote oral health. These are typically unflavored, and you simply add a small amount to your pet’s water dish each day.

• Dental Diets: There are dental diets made for dogs that can help reduce plaque buildup. They use a larger kibble size and a course texture to scrape along the tooth and remove plaque as your dog chews.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can be a useful resource in picking veterinary-recommended dental diets, treats, and supplements that are safe and effective.

Featured image: iStock.com/adamkaz

Bad Breath in Dogs FAQs

Are there home remedies to treat bad breath in dogs?

The only way to completely resolve your dog’s bad breath is treating the underlying cause. However, there are products that can help to lessen the bad breath and prevent it from worsening. The Veterinary Oral Health Council has a list of recommended products that may help.

Can halitosis in dogs (bad breath) be cured?

Halitosis is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, and successful treatment depends on the underlying cause. It’s commonly caused by dental disease, which can be treated, but  halitosis frequently returns if dental disease recurs.

WRITTEN BY

Riley Shugg, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Currently living in Tampa, Florida, Riley enjoys working in Emergency Medicine and has a passion for Critical Care Medicine. In her off…

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Bad breath in a dog: how to get rid of it

Normally, the smell from the oral cavity of a healthy pet does not attract increased attention of people and does not cause disgust. Halitosis not only makes it difficult to communicate with the dog, but also indicates the presence of problems.

January 16, 2023

Dog owners enjoy spending time in the company of their pets. The opportunity to stroke and even hug a furry friend can bring a lot of joy to a person. But sometimes, with close contact, the owner suddenly discovers that his dog has an unpleasant smell from the mouth. In medicine and veterinary medicine, this symptom is referred to as halitosis.

author: Anna Solozobova

Contents

• Causes of bad breath in dogs

• Types of bad odors and what they mean

• When is it time to contact the veterinarian?

• Diagnostics

• Therapeutic manipulations

• oral care

• Prevention

Causes of bad breath in dogs

Normally, the smell from the oral cavity of a healthy pet does not attract increased attention of people and does not cause disgust. Halitosis not only makes it difficult to communicate with the dog, but also indicates the presence of problems. They can be associated both with the influence of external factors, and with serious disturbances in the functioning of the body.

External causes of an unpleasant smell from the mouth of a dog

The cause of an unpleasant smell from the mouth can be eating spoiled food, carcasses of dead animals and birds, droppings of other animals. Of course, no owner would allow a dog to eat like this. However, pets sometimes find a way to eat the contents of the bin in the house or eat what they found on the street during a walk.

Such behavior can be caused not only by shortcomings in upbringing, but also by an imbalance in the diet received. Persistently looking for and eating foods that are completely unappetizing from a human point of view, the dog tries to make up for the lack of certain vitamins and minerals.

The use of certain medications (painkillers, anti-allergy, diuretics, etc.) can lead to a decrease in saliva production, which contributes to the growth of bacteria in the mouth and the development of halitosis.

Disease-related causes of bad breath from the dog’s mouth

The most common cause of halitosis is dental problems . Many of the substances secreted by plaque bacteria in the process of life have an unpleasant odor.

Plaque is constantly forming on the animal’s teeth: bacteria, multiplying, form a biofilm, which gradually thickens. In the process of maturation of plaque, the number of pathogenic bacteria in it increases, which can lead to the development of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity : stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis.

The most intense plaque is formed on areas of the oral cavity that are not cleaned well enough and on rough surfaces. Contribute to its accumulation:

• lack of solid food in the diet;
• malocclusion;
• presence of tartar;
• damage to tooth enamel;
• insufficient production of saliva;
• low content of bactericidal substances in saliva;
• poor oral hygiene.

Over time, plaque mineralizes, forming tartar . Tartar masses can be yellow, gray or brown in color and located on the crown of the tooth above the gum or below it.

Tartar, reaching a significant size, injures the gums and shifts it, which can lead to the exposure of the neck of the tooth, its loosening and loss.

In addition, bad breath from the mouth may be accompanied by:

• kidney disease;
• endocrine diseases;
• purulent processes in the respiratory organs and disorders in the upper parts of the digestive tract;
• malignant neoplasms in the mouth and nose.

Types of bad smells and what they mean

The nature of the smell from the mouth can tell the pet owner what the cause of the problem is.

1. Rotten smell results from the decomposition of sulfur-containing amino acids by bacteria living in the dog’s mouth. In this case, volatile compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan) are formed. They have a characteristic unpleasant smell, reminiscent of the smells of rotten eggs, cabbage, spoiled cheese, fish. Most often, it indicates the presence of dental diseases. Less often, they are accompanied by purulent lesions of the respiratory organs and malignant neoplasms in the oral and nasal cavities.
2. The smell of ammonia (urine) may appear in diseases of the urinary system associated with impaired renal function. It is formed as a result of the accumulation in the blood of the end products of the breakdown of substances containing nitrogen. In addition to the smell from the mouth, the disease can be indicated by a change in the frequency of urination, the amount of urine, the appearance of lethargy, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst.
3. The smell of acetone may occur during prolonged starvation, pancreatic diseases, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism. In diabetes mellitus, the smell of acetone occurs at the stage of active development of the disease and indicates significant metabolic disorders. In addition to the unusual smell, the animal has increased thirst, weakness, skin itching, deterioration in the quality of wool, and decreased vision.
4. Metallic odor usually occurs in the presence of bleeding lesions. It appears as a result of the interaction of hemoglobin contained in the blood and fat oxidation products. The reason for the appearance of this smell from the mouth can be injuries of the oral cavity, gum disease, stomach ulcers. In some cases, the smell may occur when the puppy is having difficulty changing teeth.
5. Liver odor , often described by dog ​​owners as murine, is caused by poisoning, severe parasitic and infectious diseases, leading to damage to a significant number of liver cells. In addition to the smell, the pet may experience depression, loss of appetite, the appearance of icteric staining on visible mucous membranes.

When is the right time to see a veterinarian?

Mouth odor is never the only symptom of a disease. If the pet is unwell, an attentive owner will certainly note other signs of poor health. These may include:

• increased salivation;
• nausea and vomiting;
• unusual drowsiness and lethargy;
• excessive anxiety;
• aggressive behavior for no apparent reason;
• loss or increase in appetite;
• increase or decrease in water consumption;
• increased frequency of urination, change in volume and color of urine;
• deterioration of skin and coat;
• noticeable and rapid weight loss.

If, in addition to halitosis, one or more of the above signs are observed, it is necessary to seek help from a veterinary clinic.

Diagnostics

In a veterinary clinic, to find out the causes of an unpleasant smell from the dog’s mouth, a veterinarian will perform:

• a detailed survey of the owner to find out the main complaints, living conditions, dietary habits, the presence of chronic and recent diseases;
• general examination of the dog;
• examination of the oral cavity, including an assessment of the position of the head, the closure of the jaws, the presence of salivation, the condition of the teeth and gums, the correctness of the change of teeth in the puppy.

If necessary, the following will also be carried out:

• laboratory tests of urine and blood;
• microscopic examination of the microflora of the oral cavity;
• Ultrasound examination or X-ray of the teeth and bones of the jaw.

Based on the data received, the veterinarian will prescribe treatment, recommend the necessary changes in feeding and keeping the pet, and also help to plan hygiene procedures.

Medical manipulations

If there are dental problems, to get rid of halitosis, oral cavity sanitation is required (treatment of diseases of the teeth and gums, brushing teeth, removal of tartar and plaque). In the conditions of a veterinary clinic, the treatment of dental diseases and hygienic cleaning are carried out after sedation and anesthesia.

If halitosis in a dog is associated with diseases of the internal organs, it will not be possible to get rid of the smell with the help of hygiene procedures. To eliminate it, treatment will be prescribed aimed at correcting the underlying health problem.

Oral care

After a dental cleaning at a veterinary clinic, it is necessary to keep it clean with home care. It includes the following items:

Regular plaque removal

It is advisable to teach your dog to brush teeth beforehand. To do this, the owner must regularly, starting from puppyhood, examine the teeth and gums of the pet. After making sure that the dog is calm about such actions, you need to introduce him to the toothbrush and gradually establish a regimen of brushing your teeth at least 4 times a week.

Teeth cleaning is carried out after feeding, when there are no food particles left in the pet’s mouth. For cleaning use a special brush and toothpaste for animals. Pastes intended for humans are not suitable and may be hazardous to health. If brushing is difficult for some reason, you can use a gauze cloth instead.

Use of anti-plaque products

These include special foods for the prevention of dental diseases and liquid toothpastes (drops).

Dental foods, in addition to a complete and balanced set of essential nutrients, contain substances that bind calcium compounds in saliva. This prevents the formation of tartar. In addition, the granules of such food have a dense and elastic structure, which contributes to the natural cleaning of the animal’s teeth while eating.

Giving your dog the opportunity to clean their teeth naturally

In nature, wild canids clean their teeth quite effectively from solid food. The same opportunity should be given to a domestic dog. To do this, high quality dry food, such as Purina ONE dog food, can be introduced into her diet. Also, regular use of chewable treats purchased at the pet store and natural, in the form of bones, helps to clean the teeth. Bones for a dog should be large enough, fresh, without sharp edges, cracks and chips. Industrial-made chews should be selected according to the size of the pet and replaced with new ones in a timely manner.

Contacting a veterinary dentist for oral problems

If the owner notices damage to the oral mucosa or teeth, or if you suspect that the dog is having difficulty eating food, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian without delay. Most dental diseases are treated faster and cause less harm to a pet’s health when detected in the early stages.

Prevention

To prevent halitosis, you need to pay attention to the following preventive measures:

1. Do not allow your dog to eat spoiled or foul-smelling foods. Make sure that the trash can is not accessible. Stop picking up food on the street. To feed your pet, use only balanced and complete high quality food.
2. Keep your dog’s mouth clean. From a young age, teach to examine and brush your teeth. For an adult dog, brush your teeth at least 4 times a week. If necessary, use means to reduce the formation of plaque.
3. At least once a year, carry out preventive examinations in a veterinary clinic. This will allow you to notice and correct violations in the work of the dog’s body in time. Include a visit to the veterinary dentist in your routine checkup. Regular professional cleaning and timely treatment of oral diseases will help keep your pet’s teeth healthy longer.

Let the closeness of a pet always bring you only positive emotions. Don’t let bad smells ruin your fun with your four-legged friend.

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Dog care

How to remove bad breath from a dog

Dogs don’t have hands, so they can’t get rid of bits of food and plaque stuck between their teeth, nor can they tell us that they have a bad taste or a toothache while chewing on croquettes.

Milk Teeth: First Steps in Dental Care

Start caring for your dog’s teeth at an early age. In puppies, milk teeth fall out imperceptibly. However, if the baby tooth has not fallen out, it can interfere with the growth of the permanent tooth. Teeth that have not fallen out in time should be removed to avoid complications such as malocclusion, painful bite, caries, or damage to the tooth.

Adult Dog Dental Care

Plaque and tartar build up on dogs’ teeth causing periodontal damage that leads to tooth decay, root resorption, gingival recession, tooth loss, bone loss and abscess formation.
The bacteria that cause periodontitis enter the bloodstream, circulate in it, and settle in the kidneys or on the heart valves, causing serious damage to these organs.

Professional teeth cleaning reduces the risk of periodontal disease and maintains oral health.
The first cleaning is recommended around 2 years of age, unless the veterinarian detects any problems. The frequency of professional cleaning depends on the individual dog and can vary from once every six months to once every few years.

Teaching your dog to brush your dog’s teeth

Brushing your dog’s teeth at home helps reduce plaque and reduces the need for professional cleaning. Teaching your pet how to brush their teeth starts with learning that toothpaste is a treat.
(Always use dog toothpaste, as they don’t like the smell of mint.) Then start applying the toothpaste as a treat to your toothbrush.
Brush one tooth a day for several days, and then, when the dog gets used to it, include other teeth in the daily procedure. It can take weeks or even months for your dog to fully get used to the procedure and allow you to brush all of your teeth.

Use veterinarian-recommended mouth rinses if your dog strongly refuses to brush; Spray teeth with a special antibacterial liquid with a pleasant taste for the dog several times a week.
Another good way to get rid of plaque is chewable treats, but first you need to make sure that you get not just a treat, but a functional plaque-fighting treat.
Ask your veterinarian which chew treats are best for your dog.

Once tartar builds up around the teeth and periodontal disease develops, there is a risk of tooth extraction.
Sometimes the amount of tartar deposits is so great that it makes it difficult to assess the severity of periodontal damage, so there is a possibility of damage to the roots of healthy-looking teeth and the presence of periodontal pockets in the gums.
Professional teeth cleaning and x-rays are the best way to diagnose, treat and prevent periodontal disease.