My dog has bad breath, how come?

Help my dog stinks out of his mouth,

Many dogs have bad breath or stink out of their mouth also called Foetor ex ore. Dogs smell from their mouths due to dental problems, gastrointestinal problems, but also what they have just eaten affects the exhalation smell. Fortunately, it is often possible to improve the smell. Read here what you can do about the unpleasant smell coming from your dog's mouth.

What can bad breath in your dog be caused by?

Dental plaque, tartar, inflamed or damaged gums as well as broken elements in the dog's mouth can cause foul odour. Although these are the most common causes of bad breath, we obviously see other reasons too. Dogs that are not healthy can also suffer from a different smell from the mouth. For instance, dogs that are generally ill, have oesophageal or gastrointestinal complaints or conditions such as diabetes, renal insufficiency or impaired liver function are more likely to smell an abnormal exhaled air.

Examples of diseases with altered exhalation air

Unusually fruity or sweet breath can sometimes be an indicator of diabetes (diabetes), but this is often combined with other symptoms such as urinating and drinking more than usual. If your dog's breath smells like ammonia, it may indicate less functioning kidneys. A foul odour combined with a lack of appetite, vomiting and yellow-tinged gums or corneas may indicate a liver problem.

Maintenance of the teeth in your dog, is often the solution against foul breath.

It is advisable to have your dog's teeth checked by your vet on a regular basis. Especially smaller dogs and dogs that only eat wet food are more likely to suffer from plaque and tartar. Many people also think that older dogs always have bad breath, however, this is not a give. Taking good care of the teeth themselves by, for example, brushing the teeth with toothpaste, giving them special kibble that mechanically cleans the teeth or adding anti-toothed plaque liquid to the drinking water can help to freshen the smell from your dog's mouth.

Go to the vet for abnormal exhalation air from your dog?

If your dog's breath suddenly has a different smell and he is not getting any other food or has just eaten something off the ground? Then it is always advisable to consult the vet. If there is a lot of dental plaque, tartar or red irritated gums, as an owner you often already have the idea that this could then be the cause of the foul smell. Still, it is highly advisable to always visit your vet to have your dog's teeth and gums, as well as the entire dog, checked because there can be so many different causes why the dog stinks out of its mouth. Also, you may think that the gums are a bit irritated, while in reality there is a good or malignant tumour. Only the vet can oversee the total picture and advise on the next steps. For example, it may be necessary to have a complete dental cleaning, or you may be advised to start feeding only special Dental dog food. Unfortunately, the standard examination may also be grounds for an add-on examination for suspicions of diabetes, for example. If, apart from a different smell, you also notice other changes in your dog, such as drinking more, urinating in the house or less appetite then always contact your vet.

How are dogs with a foul smell coming from the mouth treated?

The correct course of treatment obviously depends entirely on the vet's diagnosis. If your dog suffers from dental plaque, it may need professional cleaning. If it is a dietary problem, you may need to change your dog's normal food to special diet food from, for example, Hill's, Sanimed or Trovet. If the investigations show that the odour is caused by the gastrointestinal tract or organs, then of course a tailor-made treatment will be needed.

-This is an automated translation-