Reasons Your Dog Has Bad Breath

We love our dogs. Even when they are muddy or driving us crazy because they want to play when we want to sleep, we can’t help but melt after just one cuddle with them. However, this starts to become a little bit difficult when they have bad breath. Of course, we still adore them, but the cuddles and the licks become an especially unpleasant experience when your dog’s breath quite frankly stinks! So, it is important that you get to the bottom of this – for your sake and your dog’s sake! With that in mind, read on to discover some of the most common reasons why dogs suffer from bad breath.

They have eaten something toxic – One reason why your dog may have a smell breath is that he has eaten something toxic. After all, dogs have a tendency to want to eat anything, and there are a whole host of substances out there that smell bad and are toxic. If you suspect that your dog has ingested a potential toxin, such as rodenticide or antifreeze, you need to call your vet straight away. It may be, though, that they have simply eaten something smelly, which is not toxic, in which case, you can easily use a dog bad breath home remedy to fix the problem – there will be no need to go to the vet and you can ensure your dog smells lovely again!

Gum or dental disease – One of the most common reasons why your dog may be suffering from bad breath is because they are suffering from some type of dental condition, for example, tooth decay, an infection, or a gum disease. If you have noticed that your dog’s gums are inflamed and red, this is likely to be because of a dental issue. You should also be able to see if they have any build up of tartar on their teeth. Of course, not all dental issues are visible, though, so it is a good idea to book an appointment with your vet.

Foreign substances – As mentioned, dogs like to eat anything they set their eyes on! their bad breath could simply be because a foreign object has got stuck in your dog’s teeth or mouth, for example, a stick or a bone.

Diabetes – if your dog has diabetes, this could be the reason why they are suffering from bad breath. Diabetes will often give dogs a smell that is rather sweet. It can even be described as fruity. If you already know that your dog has diabetes and you have seen your vet for this, you have nothing to worry about. However, if diabetes is not controlled, it can cause problems because the immune system will become surprised and this causes bacteria to develop in the mouth. Needless to say, this is just one of many issues, which is why your dog needs to see a vet for the required medical attention.

Kidney disease – One of the more serious reasons for bad breath is kidney disease. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia this could be because of a decrease in kidney function. This happens because the waste products that the kidneys would typically eliminate start to accumulate in the bloodstream, and then they show up in the breath of the dog. Needless to say, if your dog’s breath does smell like ammonia, you need to see a vet as soon as possible to make sure it is not something serious.

Food – Last but not least, the type of food that your dog eats will clearly have an impact on his breath – just like food impacts our breath! There are pros and cons associated with both wet and dry food. Dry food can be better for overall cleanliness and the teeth. However, the water contained in wet food is also good for your dog’s mouth.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding regarding the different reasons why your dog may be experiencing bad breath. Once you have discovered what the problem is, you can then cure it, and luckily most issues can be resolved with simple home remedies. Nevertheless, if the issue continues to get worse, then you should take your dog to see a vet so you can be sure that there are not any further problems.