Dog kisses suddenly become less cute when they’re accompanied by a stinky smell. Luckily, there are steps you can take to combat dog bad breath. Learn about the causes of bad breath in dogs and what you can do to help freshen up your dog’s mouth.
Recognizing Bad Breath in Dogs
You might notice your dog’s bad breath when they’re licking or breathing in your face. Another way you might recognize that something is off with your dog’s breath is if their chew toys have become rather stinky. In some cases, particularly with advanced dental disease, you can smell your dog’s bad breath from across the room.
Bad breath in dogs is called halitosis. Halitosis in dogs can develop at any age, though we often think of it as happening in older dogs who do not get regular dental care.
In puppies, bad breath often develops when the adult teeth start to grow in. Puppy pet parents sometimes report that their dog’s breath smells like metal. This is because of gum inflammation and bleeding that occur as puppy teeth fall out and adult teeth come in. Puppy bad breath can also be associated with eating items they shouldn’t, like dog poop.
Bad breath in dogs can be described as fishy, sweet, metallic, rotten, or smelling like sulfur. We’ll get into what causes these different smells as we talk about the causes of bad breath.
Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath? 7 Possible Causes
Stinky dog breath can have a range of causes, including what your dog eats, oral health issues, and systemic diseases. The following are seven causes of bad breath in dogs to consider:
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, which refers to infection and inflammation of the tissues around the teeth, is the most common cause of dog halitosis. According to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, over 80% of dogs that are 3 years of age or older have periodontal disease.
Within a few hours of eating, a dog begins to develop plaque on their teeth, including beneath the gumline. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar. Bacteria that are associated with plaque and tartar infiltrate the tissues around the teeth, causing gum inflammation (gingivitis). As the condition worsens, pockets will begin to develop around the teeth. Eventually, the dog can start having teeth fall out.
The bad breath of periodontal disease is associated with the bacteria causing decay of the tissues around the teeth. These bacteria produce sulfur compounds, so the smell is often described as smelling like sulfur or garbage. If there is bleeding in the mouth, a metallic odor may also be noticed.
Fractured Teeth
Fractured teeth, especially if the tooth is fractured into the pulp canal (where the blood vessels and nerves are), can contribute to dog bad breath. Bacteria can infiltrate within the tooth and cause infection of the tooth and surrounding tissue. Much like periodontal disease, bad breath associated with fractured teeth often has a sulfur smell. In some cases, bleeding will also contribute a metallic component to the stinky breath.
Oral Tumors
Not all oral tumors will cause bad breath, but if the tumor bleeds, you may notice a metallic smell to your dog’s breath. Some oral tumors can be aggressive, such as melanoma, so it’s important to get any growths you notice in your dog’s mouth examined by a veterinarian.
Something Your Dog Ate or Licked
Sometimes, bad breath simply comes down to what your dog ate or licked. If your dog’s breath smells like garbage, did they recently get in the trashcan? If it smells like poop, is your pup sometimes partaking in coprophagia (eating feces) or getting into the cat’s litter box?
Your dog’s normal diet also contributes to their breath. Dogs who eat a fish-based diet or take fish oil supplements are sometimes noted to have fishy dog breath, for example. People sometimes associate a fishy odor with a dog’s anal glands, as well. If your dog is having issues with their anal sacs, they may lick at them and develop stinky breath.
Diabetes
Sometimes bad breath in dogs can be a sign of illness. Dogs who have unmanaged diabetes can develop a sweet or acetone smell to their breath. Without proper insulin, the body begins to break down fat into ketones for energy. The dog develops diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which requires emergency treatment.
If your dog is experiencing excessive thirst and urination, losing weight, and having appetite changes, make sure to get diabetes ruled out.
Kidney Disease
Dogs with kidney disease often have an ammonia smell to their breath. This is because a dog with kidney disease has a build-up of toxins in their blood, called uremia. In some cases, dogs with kidney disease will also have metallic breath if they have sores in their mouth.
There is some crossover in the signs of kidney disease and diabetes in dogs. If your dog is excessively thirsty and urinating, losing weight, has a decreased appetite, and/or is vomiting, it’s important for your veterinarian to rule out kidney disease.
Liver Disease
Dogs with liver disease will have foul breath that is sometimes described as smelling rotten or like death. This occurs because the liver is no longer able to adequately filter toxins in the blood. Pets with liver disease sometimes have metallic breath if they are experiencing bleeding abnormalities or stomach ulcers.
Get your pet examined by a veterinarian right away if you’re noticing vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, bleeding issues, and/or yellowing of the eyes, gums, or skin (jaundice).
How to Get Rid of Dog Bad Breath
If you are regularly noticing bad breath in your dog, you should speak with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will perform a full oral examination and rule out systemic diseases.
If your dog has bad breath but is otherwise healthy, you can consider the following tips to get rid of your dog’s bad breath:
- Brush your dog’s teeth with a pet-safe toothpaste.
- Use dental toys that encourage chewing to soften tartar.
- Seek professional dental cleanings with tooth extractions if needed.
If you’re noticing any signs of illness in addition to the bad breath, such as vomiting, excessive urination, increased thirst, or jaundice, seek veterinary attention. The odor will not improve unless the underlying condition is treated.
Tips for Preventing Bad Breath in Dogs
While there are things you can do to combat bad breath after it develops, it’s preferable to prevent bad breath from developing in the first place!
When it comes to preventing oral causes of bad breath like periodontal disease, consider the following:
- Brush your dog’s teeth with pet-safe toothpaste at least three times weekly. Ideally, you would do this once daily.
- Consider prescription diets that scrub at the teeth.
- Give your dog dental toys that scrub at the teeth.
- Visit your veterinarian for oral examinations and professional cleanings.
While regular dental care is important, you can also consider the following tips for preventing other causes of bad breath in dogs:
- Use latching trashcans to keep your pet out of the garbage.
- Pick up fecal matter so it cannot be consumed.
- Seek veterinary attention if your dog is scooting or licking at their behind.
- Keep toxic substances like antifreeze or grapes out of reach.
- Regularly visit the veterinarian to monitor your dog’s overall health.
If you have questions or concerns about your dog’s breath, it’s always best to consult with a veterinarian.
