Bad Breath in Dogs - What Are the Causes?

By Betsy Reinier

Bad breath in dogs are most commonly caused by dental disorders. Check your dogs teeth to see if there is tartar buildup or gum inflammation. Be sure to check all the teeth clear to the back of his mouth. It's harder to see, but it's important to check all of his teeth.

If there is no obvious tarter buildup on his teeth and the gums are the normal pinkish gray color, then check out the skin involving the lip folds. Sometimes there is a skin disease involving the fold of the lips that can smell like bad breath. This is a dermatological problem.

Brushing your dogs teeth on a regular schedule is the best way to protect their teeth and gums. Toothpaste that is made especially for dogs is needed, as it can be swallowed without any harm to the dog. (Never brush the dogs teeth with human toothpaste, as it is meant to be spit out and dogs can't spit out toothpaste, so they have to swallow it and that is very dangerous to their health).

Dogs can also have "bad oral odors" in their mouth from eating their own feces or another animals feces. It's a nasty habit, but it can be corrected. (Note: try putting cayenne pepper or Tabasco on the feces -- or buy a food additive such as Forbid. You can also put a small bit of pineapple in their food every feeding for awhile, as this makes the feces taste bitter. The best way of course, is to keep the feces picked up so they won't have a chance to eat it).

Be sure to take your dog for a yearly check-up, with your veterinarian. (Schedule your dogs dental check-up in the month of February, as it's dental month for canines). Your Veterinarian can spot problems before they get out of hand. If it's to late to save a dogs tooth, it will have to be pulled. Your veterinarian can also show you the proper way to clean your dogs teeth and tell you what dog "chews" are save for your dog to chew on to help keep the tarter and plaque buildup under control.