While it’s common to get an occasional doggy kiss, take note if your pup’s breath seems overly stinky. Bad breath in dogs can indicate dental disease as well as larger health issues, including gastrointestinal trouble or diabetes. The people at Nextrition say that monitoring mouth and breath changes allows early detection and treatment of conditions.
Causes of Bad Breath
The most common source of bad breath in dogs stems from bacteria accumulation from poor dental care. Tartar buildup, gum inflammation, and cavity progression all enable smelly microbe overgrowth. Without brushing, plaque sticks, hardens and spreads decay.
Infections and abscesses in teeth and gums manifest foul breath as well, especially with pus discharge. Salivary gland disease also harbors bacteria, but foul odors arise secondarily with other conditions, including:
Kidney Disease
As kidneys struggle to filter blood, urea builds up internally. This ammonia-scented compound exits through the lungs and mouth. Similarly, other toxins can accumulate when organs don’t effectively process waste.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Signs of bad gut health in dogs include loose stools, vomiting and gas. Malabsorption of nutrients stresses organs trying to break down food. Yeast and bacteria then infiltrate elsewhere, releasing wretched smells.
Diabetes
Inability to regulate blood sugar enables yeast growth inside the mouth. Skin infections can cause this as well. The distinct sweet or acetone smell helps differentiate it from other bad breath causes.
Assessing Oral Health
Begin examining your dog’s mouth health with their puppy teeth. Lift lips to monitor swelling, discoloration, abnormal growths and plaque accumulation around gum lines and teeth. Tartar buildup, reddened gums that bleed easily or loose teeth all require veterinary attention and cleaning.
Get your dog accustomed to having you open and inspect inside their jowls, under tongues and along the inner cheek. Report any development of lesions, painful spots or abnormal formations, including on the tongue.
Addressing Bad Dog Breath
Address dental decay and disease through regular tooth brushing, dental chews and professional cleanings to limit smelly bacteria activation. Make sure to get fast treatment of infections with antibiotics to resolve foul breath.
For possible gut trouble or kidney disease, discuss diagnostic testing of organ function, bacterial cultures and evaluation of digestion efficacy. Discover and address the root source prompting breath changes rather than masking odors.
Support Your Dog’s Health
Good nutrition bolsters immune response and aids organ efficiency and teeth and gum integrity to prevent system-wide infiltration of bad bacteria. Ensure adequate protein levels in your dog’s diet for tissue support and feed them per calculated caloric needs.
Adding probiotic supplements supports a healthy balance of microorganisms. Probiotics in yogurt help fight yeast overgrowth and consider omega fatty acids to reduce plaque and inflammation risks. Protect organ function through bloodwork monitoring and wellness visits to enable early intervention when shifts occur.
See the Veterinarian
If your dog rapidly develops bad breath or if it persists despite dental care and oral washouts, further examination is needed. X-rays and exploratory procedures check for obstructions, foreign items, tumors and abscess pockets hidden internally that could harbor bacteria. Lab testing assesses organ function for signs of trouble requiring medication or diet change.
Conclusion
While occasional doggie kisses might be smelly, significant foul breath indicates problems with your dog’s health. Careful monitoring should include not only their teeth, but also their digestive health, as diabetes and kidney disease can often present with oral manifestations. Pay attention as soon as you notice breath changes. Seek veterinary examination and diagnostic testing to pinpoint the root cause, whether simple plaque buildup or something much more serious. Treat problems early and help your dog’s body come back into healthy balance again.
