Dog Bad Breath: Not Always a Disease - What to Know!

One: Causes of Dogs' Bad Breath

IllnessInduced Bad Breath

When dental issues persist for an extended period, bacteria can spread from the mouth to other parts of the body, leading to more severe health problems in dogs, such as liver, heart, and kidney diseases.

1. Stomatitis:

Main Symptoms:

The mouth may become warmer, with the mucous membranes appearing red, swollen, and painful during chewing. In severe cases, blisters, necrosis, and ulcers may form, accompanied by an unpleasant odor and swollen lymph nodes.

2. Cheilitis:

Primarily caused by dogs biting on foreign objects or injuries, which can also be an extension of dental or stomatitis infections. Symptoms include scratching the lips, drooling, decreased appetite, and hair loss around the mouth.

3. Dental Tartar:

Dental tartar can affect dogs of any age, with feeding habits playing a significant role, such as feeding human food, which can lead to severe tartar buildup. Tartar can affect tooth growth, erode the gums, cause tooth松动, and harbor bacteria.

4. Glossitis:

Caused by foreign objects or trauma in the mouth, misaligned teeth, burns, ingestion of toxins, or infections like Leptospirosis, Herpesvirus, and Calicivirus. Symptoms include drooling, difficulty with eating, chewing, and swallowing, unpleasant mouth odor, red and painful tongue, and ulcers or paralysis.

Bad Breath Caused by Diet

Imbalanced diets, particularly those high in sulfurcontaining amino acids, can increase the proportion of these acids in saliva, dead cells, and food residue, leading to excessive bacterial growth and resulting in bad breath.

Bad Breath Caused by Digestive Issues

When dogs burp, the smell comes directly from the digestive tract. Dogs with gastrointestinal diseases may have a smelly breath due to gases exhaled.

Other Causes

Severe internal diseases can lead to oral odor, and kidney dysfunction can cause excess ammonia to be exhaled through the breath. In cases of canine diabetes with acidosis, the mouth may have a sour taste.

Two: Daily Pet Oral Care

Regular Brushing

Every pet owner can perform regular dental care at home for their dogs. Start by gently touching their teeth, then gradually introduce your fingers into their mouths, allowing them to open their mouths slowly and gently to become accustomed to the process.

Dry Dog Food to Prevent Bad Breath

Regular diet habits also affect the teeth. When it comes to preventing tartar, dry dog food is preferable to wet dog food, as wet food can easily lead to tartar buildup on the teeth. Dry food, being harder and crisper, can help clean the teeth as dogs chew it.

Regular Dental Checkups

With proper daily care, it's essential for dog owners to schedule professional teeth cleaning at a vet's office once or twice a year. Additionally, you can provide your pets with dogspecific mouthwashes.

Focus on Your Dog's Health

Occasionally, bad breath in dogs can be due to digestive issues or internal problems. If you notice your dog experiencing unusual symptoms like weight loss, increased drinking and urination, vomiting, abdominal swelling, and loss of appetite, it's important to seek veterinary care promptly.

Tip: For more information on treating dogs' bad breath, click How to Treat Dogs' Bad Breath to read more.