Bad breath in dogs

The reasons for bad breath in dogs could be due to various reasons:

Dental disease in dogs is medically called periodontal disease. It is one of the most common clinical conditions seen in almost 80 percent of the dogs as soon as they attain the age of three. It clinically presents itself as red bleeding gums, a thick layer of plaque and tartar on the teeth, and a really bad breath (halitosis). Poor oral hygiene can result in periodontal disease in dogs.

Other than gum diseases, other painful inflammation and growths in the mouth of your dog could lead to bad breath. Oral masses or tumours both malignant (cancerous) and benign, oral ulcers and even gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gums) that creates bumps and deep crevices in the mouth wherever bacteria proliferate.

Kidney disease in dogs can make their breath smell like ammonia. In the case of kidney dysfunction, they are unable to eliminate the bodily waste that increases the load into the bloodstream. This increased load of waste changes the smell of the breath to urine-like.

Diabetes can change the smell of your dog’s breath to acetone-like or sometimes fruity. If your dog has a fruity breath along with symptoms like frequent urination and excessive thirst, then you must take your dog to the veterinarian as these are signs of diabetes.

In the case of diabetic ketoacidosis, you may notice acetone-like breath in your dog. It happens because the level of ketone bodies increase in the bloodstream and can be potentially dangerous to the dog.

A healthy liver has a job of throwing out toxic substances from the body. In the case of liver disease, these toxic substances build up in your dog’s body leading to the appearance of symptoms like foul breath, vomiting, yellow-tinged eyes and gums with lack of appetite. This is a potentially life-threatening condition which requires immediate medical attention.

Eating habits of your dog sometimes can also lead to bad breath in them. Some dogs develop a habit to get into garbage to search for decomposing animal remains, which certainly lead to bad breath. Others suffer from a condition called coprophagia, which means that the dog has a habit of eating his/her own poop, or faeces of other dogs or cats. Not only is this smelly, but also unhygienic and causes bad breath in dogs.

Any infection in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to persistent foul breath in dogs. It may be accompanied by diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting.

The treatment for bad breath in dogs relies on treating the underlying cause. 

• You must brush your dog’s teeth regularly. It will not only keep your dog's breath fresher but also reduce plaque and tartar build-up, which is the reason behind dental disease in dogs. 
• You may find special finger brushes to brush your dog's teeth. You can also give toothbrush stick to your dog, which doesn’t require human help for cleaning dogs’ teeth.
• Never brush your dog's teeth with a toothpaste developed for people. Specially formulated canine toothpaste should be used to clean dogs’ teeth.
• Give your dog chews, as they act as self-cleansing agents and prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar on their teeth.
• You must take your dog to a vet annually, for professional cleaning of tartar.
• The owners must keep an eye on their dogs when taken out for a walk and should not let them engage in activities like eating garbage or faeces.
• If you find any unusual mass in the mouth of your dog, mention it to your vet, as he might suggest a biopsy of the mass.
• Go for tests like blood chemistry, Kidney Function Test, Liver Function Test etc. annually to keep a track on your dog’s overall health.
• If you smell a fruity or acetone-like breath in your dog, then take him/her to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis.