Why does a dog smell bad breath?

Not all dog owners love when dogs lick them, it is especially unpleasant if, at the same time, the beloved pet has an unbearable smell of rotten meat. It should be noted that this is a fairly common problem and occurs in almost all animals. Although most breeders do not pay attention to this, considering it the norm. Most often, the owner of the pet suggests that the dog ate something not quite edible, from which there is a bad smell. But in fact, the dog may be sick, and he needs veterinary care.

Most owners not only never cleaned the dog’s teeth, but also consider it an optional activity. In an animal whose teeth have never undergone preventive brushing, a bad smell is understandable, but not considered normal. Any veterinarian will confirm that in 80% of cases the bad smell from the mouth is a consequence of some disease in the dog. And any treatment begins with a diagnosis and the causes of the disease.

Bad smell in kittens and young dogs

Bad smell in coot and young dogs is much easier to diagnose than in adults. As a rule, the puppy is given more care and attention than an adult dog, and if a bad smell comes from the mouth, the problem can be solved already at an early stage of the disease.

Another reason is the puppy’s small, unformed teeth. In adult dogs, teeth grow and fit snugly against each other, unlike puppies. Because of the gaps between the teeth, the food gets stuck and begins to rot, since the dog alone cannot brush its teeth - a rotten smell appears. It's no secret that puppies have an irrepressible energy, play and nibble everything, there is no harm from specialized toys, but sticks and bones can injure tender gums, and small fragments have an unpleasant feature of sticking and decomposing. As a result, harmful bacteria appear.

Why does it stink from the jaws of adult dogs?

Acute smell in adult dogs is a fairly common problem. The older the pet, the more pathologies can develop an unpleasant odor or be its cause. As a rule, most of the causes of fetid odor are in an advanced stage.

Important! Track the dog, perhaps the reason lies not in the disease, but in the dog’s habit is carrion for a walk.

The most frequently diagnosed problem in such situations is oral diseases or diseases of the intestines and stomach.

1. Tartar is one of the most common causes of unpleasant odors in adult dogs, you can see the peculiar thickening of a dark yellow or brown color without going to a veterinary clinic. To prevent tartar, it is enough to give special bones to the animal, which have abrasive properties and safely clean off plaque when the dog gnaws a treat, or brush the pet’s teeth with dog paste.However, these are only preventative measures. If the stone has already appeared, then this method of struggle is powerless. It is important to consider that the problem is quite serious, of course, the pet will not die from this, but if you do not fight, the tartar will continue to grind and destroy the teeth, which may result in their loss.
2. Benign tumor. It is a process or small seal in the jaws of a pet, or rather above the teeth or palate. Do not take such neoplasms solely for the visual component of the problem. Urgently contact your veterinarian. Breeds of dogs with a flat and raised face are more likely to be affected by such an illness.
3. A disease of the genitourinary system or kidney is characterized by the smell of ammonia, which exudes the dog’s saliva and mouth. This is explained by the fact that with such a disease, ammonia is eliminated from the body much more slowly and enters the blood and saliva of the animal, the whole organism is mainly a liquid component, so ammonia circulates through the organs.
4. Hormones or diseases of the immune system also contribute to the smell of ammonia from the mouth. So, for example, one of the main symptoms in diabetes is ammonia smell. At the very beginning of the disease, it is barely perceptible, if detected, it is necessary to pass a biochemical and complete blood test of the dog. Most likely, the reason lies in a disease of the digestive tract or thyroid gland.
5. Liver diseases cause a very sharp rotten smell. A rotten smell indicates the death of cells and gradually decomposing liver. Unfortunately, most likely the cause is cirrhosis.
6. Worms. Once a season, it is worthwhile to carry out prevention. With severe infection, especially roundworms, the dog smells from the mouth. Ascarids tend to multiply rapidly, so much that they fill the intestines, and food, acting, simply can not be digested. As a result, food rots - hence the smell. It should be noted that in the body of the dog there may be other types of worms, which should be regularly discarded.
7. Gingivitis is one of the common diseases of the oral cavity, expressed by swelling of the gums and their inflammation. The cause of this ailment can be either a usual vitamin deficiency, or a more serious problem associated with a disease and indigestion, including a neglected form of infection with worms. In a serious stage of the development of the disease, ulcers and dead spots form in the jaws of the dog.
8. Allergy. It is accompanied by numerous symptoms, however, a putrefactive smell is a clear manifestation of food allergies, the accompanying sign will be not only the smell from the mouth, but also skin rashes and itching. Before treating an allergy, you must absolutely be sure of the diagnosis, otherwise there is a chance to miss another disease.

Smell is not a symptom of illness

Smell is not a symptom - a fairly common occurrence, and may remain undetected only due to the unpreparedness of the owner of the dog. If the pet is healthy, it will not be difficult to get rid of the unpleasant smell

The root of the problem can be found especially in the breed, for example, in dogs with drooping cheeks, food often lingers behind skin folds and is not digested, causing a bad stench. If you feed your pet only meat without adding vegetables and cereals to the diet, such a problem may also appear, since the meat is digested for a long time. Do not go too far with cereals, because everything is good in moderation. Hard water can also be the cause of such an unpleasant illness, so give the dog only filtered water.

Eliminate odor from the dog’s mouth

If the reason is the disease, then there is only one way out - to treat the pet. If during the examination the veterinarian did not reveal any health complications, more careful care should be taken for the animal.

1. Take the dog to a specialist to remove tartar, in no case should you perform the procedure yourself at home.
2. Systematically brush your pet’s teeth with a special dog toothpaste and brush.
3. Add tomato or tomato juice to food - a proven method and really helps.

In modern veterinary clinics, teeth are cleaned using ultrasound equipment, which is absolutely painless for the animal. If the teeth are badly damaged by tartar, their surface is filled or a healing gel is applied, which reduces the sensitization of the tooth for a while until the enamel is restored. Often, a dog is introduced into a state of mild anesthesia during cleaning to avoid emotional stress of the animal. After this procedure, the smell persists for several days, and then disappears. If this does not happen, you need to contact another veterinarian, most likely, the pet still has internal health problems.

Video: how to brush your teeth in dogs