What causes bad breath in dogs?

Foul breathe, otherwise known as halitosis, is certainly something that most people expect in their dogs. This can certainly be a hint that your dog has a health problem. Your dog’s breath will at times smell similarly to what the dog has eaten. But this may not be too good if the dog has eaten something scavenged. Certainly bad breathe isn’t a good sign at all.

Most cases of bad breath come from the odor of food left in the mouth although sometimes it can also be attributed from the teeth’s odor. Dogs can also get plaques on their teeth due to bacteria just as in humans. If plaques continue to build up, this can become a very huge problem. Tartar then forms, which comprises of calcium deposits adhered to plaque and bacteria. The latter are the ones responsible for the awful smell. These bacteria produce toxins responsible for the inflammation of the gums and in the long run may lead to the erosion of the roots of the teeth.

The timely solution is to have the tartar removed. The vet will then carryout this procedure using a common anaesthetic but you should be aware of the fact that prevention is better compared to cure. One natural alternative for the dog keeping its teeth clean is by chewing fresh bone regularly. However, there are other effective alternatives available. Give your dog some dental chews often so as to help him maintain healthy teeth.

Alternatively, you may brush your dog’s teeth with special toothpaste and not that of humans as dogs tend to swallow the toothpaste. Training your dog to this routine while he is still young will make him more adept to the brushing of his teeth. Some dogs may get the benefits from the toothpaste without having to brush the teeth. Nevertheless, brushing is very important to dogs that do not chew that much especially in younger dogs.

In addition, bad breath may arise because of an infection in the mouth or somewhere around it. Loose and floppy cheeked dogs are susceptible to infections in the skin folds thus leading to the smell. When something gets stuck between the dog’s teeth it may soon begin to smell as well.

Overall, try and look at some of these problems and do away with the thought that all dog breaths stink all the time. When your dog’s breath begins to stink on a regular basis even before meals, then you must consider that it is possible that he may have a health problem. Bad breath for dogs should not be taken for granted as it may signal a fatal issue in the dog’s health. Some people never pay close attention to the breath of their dogs because they do not even try to get close to the dog’s mouth. This is the obvious case since it is ordinarily stereotyped that a dog’s breath has to stink because it is a dog after all. For better dog care, do some research online.

Disclaimer

This pet health article is for reference only.

If your pet is showing any symptoms or distress, and you suspect your pet is ill CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.