Does Your Dog Have Bad Breath? Here’s Why

Dogs are man’s best friends, and they give a good company to play around with and have some fun. You may adore your dog licking and kissing you whenever he sees you. However, a foul smell from their breath can be a warning sign for you to know that there’s something wrong with their dental health. Here is a list of the different causes underlying your dog’s bad breath and tips to get rid of it by finding a suitable solution.

Poor Dental Hygiene

If you do not make it a habit to brush your dog’s teeth and if your dog is a slow chewer, there are chances that tartar and plaque are building up, pushing the gums away. You may not notice it initially, but this can lead to the growth of bacteria, and their activity gives out a foul smell. Ignoring this issue can be fatal as it can lead to bleeding gums and other dental conditions such as periodontal disease.

Solution: Practice tooth-brushing regularly. Initially, your dog might make a huge fuss to make this a routine. You could include chewy treats after a brush to happily encourage them to brush and maintain good oral hygiene.

Bad Habits

If your dogs have a bad habit of sniffing everything that’s there on the ground, this may pose a problem. If your dog likes to grab some treats from the garbage or move around animal carcasses, this can be a possible cause for the foul odor. Some dogs do have a habit of sniffing their poop or even eating it, a condition called Coprophagia, making them stink.

Solution: The first thing to do is closely observe your dog’s behavior when he is outdoors. If you find him indulging in such an activity, you will confront him not to repeat it. If you find the slightest signs that your dog is suffering from Coprophagia, you need to bring this to your veterinarian’s attention to cure it.

Diabetes

You might have heard of a sweet fruity odor from humans when diagnosed with diabetes. The same goes for the dog but in the form of bad breath. Diabetes can occur when the sugar intake is higher and their cells do not produce enough insulin. Apart from the breath, look out for other diabetes-related symptoms such as frequent urination, thirsty all day, weight loss, and slurry tongue.

Solution: If your dog has diabetes, the first thing to do is go to the vet and get some blood tests run to denote the blood sugar levels and confirm the diagnosis. Follow the medications given by the vet and do not include sugary treats in his diet. Also, adequate physical activity such as walks for around 30 minutes will help his condition.

Hepatic Damage

Suppose foul breath joins fatigue, yellowing of the gums and teeth, and vomiting with lack of appetite. In that case, it can be conditions associated with the liver, such as liver jaundice. You may even check the urine color if it is normal, which is pale light yellow, or a sign of jaundice which could be bright dark yellow.

Solution: Again, just like diabetes, hepatic damage requires medical attention so that renal tests can confirm the diagnosis. Take the dog for regular check-ups and monitor the liver function with medications and routine tests. The diet you feed him should be fat-free and do not include human teats like chocolates and sweets because they cause organ damage.

Renal Damage

If your dog’s breath smells like urine, then it is an indicator of kidney damage. Frequently monitor your dog’s urine output if there’s any difficulty in urination because kidney damage is a chronic condition.

Solution: Renal damage can be a fatal condition and also requires instant medical attention. You must follow all the protocols prescribed by the doctor.

Unbalanced Lifestyle

If your dog eats all day and does not drink adequate water, dehydration can lead to a dry mouth accompanied by a foul smell. One main reason why your dogs don’t get thirsty can be due to inadequate physical activity.

Solution: Increase in playtime and exercise can make him thirsty, and he will drink water more frequently, keeping his oral cavity well hydrated.

The bottom line!

Though bad breath can be a sign of fatal co-morbidities in most cases, it results from a poor lifestyle. Just as you need a balanced diet, accompanied by plenty of exercises and adequate sleep, your dog, too, needs to follow this routine. Please do not give your dog salty, sugary treats, which can be alarming in the longer run. Go for natural products which are tested and proven to be safe. Moreover, a well-balanced diet with proper oral hygiene will take care of bad breath.