Bad Breath in Dogs
Although a dog's breath under normal circumstances is not the sweetest smell in
the world you will certainly notice when it becomes foul smelling. Bad breath is
usually an indictor that something is not right with your dog's health.
The most common cause of bad breath in dogs is tooth decay.
Check your dog's mouth or get your vet to check for plaque
build up and bad teeth.
Possible Causes of Bad Breath in Dogs
Broken, Decayed or Abscessed tooth.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth)
Bone or foreign body stuck between the teeth
Gastrointestinal disease including cancers and obstructions
Sinus infections
Kidney Disease
Mouth tumors
Firstly, ask yourself if there are any other symptoms associated with the bad
breath.
Does your dog seem to be in pain around the mouth area?
Is there a
reluctance to eat?
Does your dog try to eat but drops the food once it gets into
the mouth?
Does your dog run to the food bowl eagerly then cannot eat.
Is your dog pawing at the mouth?
Is your dog drooling?
These could be
signs of a bad, broken or abscessed tooth or gum disease. If possible, check
your dog's mouth for foreign bodies such as splinters of bones lodged between
the teeth. Check to see if the gums look normal and that there are no signs of
swelling or bleeding. An abscessed or damaged tooth may not be noticeable to you
so if in doubt get your vet to check your dog's mouth. Look for brown staining
on the teeth, this could be a sign of plaque build-up.
Sometimes the food (or garbage) a dog eats can affect it's breath
but usually this is not long lasting. After a couple of hours the food has
passed through the stomach and into the intestines.
Some underlying conditions that cause canine bad breath can only be successfully diagnosed by your veterinarian.
 Avoid
expensive dental bills by caring for your dog's teeth. Remember the old adage
that prevention is better than cure.
Dental disease is one of the most common symptoms of bad
breath in dogs. Tartar build up caused by plaque should be avoided by either
cleaning your dog's teeth yourself or having an annual scaling by your vet.
There are specially formulated toothpastes and specially designed toothbrushes
for dogs.
Brush your dog's teeth daily. You may have some difficulties when
you first begin to do this
but many dogs end up enjoying the procedure. You may wish to use a regular dog
toothbrush or a finger brush. A finger brush is a rubber cap that you place over
your finger. It has soft rubber bristles and is useful for getting into hard to
reach areas. Many dogs who won't let you brush with a toothbrush will allow you
to put your finger in their mouth using the finger brush.
Never use human toothpaste on your dog. Your dog will invariably
swallow whatever you clean his teeth with. There are many flavored dog
toothpastes on the market which are designed to be swallowed. Finding the flavor
your dog likes will make brushing all the easier. Toothpastes come in many
flavors including beef, chicken, malt, vanilla and many more.
Other preventative measures such as plaque sprays, dental chews
and special prescription diets can be purchased to prevent tartar and plaque
buildup. Chewing is important! Bones, rawhide chews, dried pig's ears etc
are a great way to avoid plaque build up.
Persistent Bad Breath should
be checked by your vet
Bad Breath can also be caused by underlying
medical problems such as liver or kidney disease.
Gastrointestinal disease including cancers and obstructions
may also cause bad breath. Consult your vet if your dog's
bad breath is persistent.
This article
article is provided for informative purposes only. Always
seek veterinary advice for any medical problem |
