How to Get Rid of Stinky Dog Breath in Sonora, CA

Have you ever been licked or kissed by your dog and smelled your dog’s bad breath? Most people with dogs have been there at least once. However, if it becomes a regular occurrence, you may want to look into what is causing it.

Your dog’s bad breath could result from not brushing his teeth, or it could signify something more serious going on. To get rid of your pet’s stinky breath, you should try brushing his teeth, or if it appears as though it might be an illness, you should take your dog to see the veterinarian.

If other medical symptoms accompany bad breath, you need to take your dog to the vet or emergency clinic. If you keep reading, you will get some tips on how to get rid of stinky dog breath.

bad dog breath in sonora, ca

Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?

Bad dog breath can be an underlying symptom of something else going on. There could be a plethora of issues. The following are all possible causes of your dog’s bad breath:

Oral Hygiene and Periodontal Disease

The accumulation of plaque and tarter can trigger bacteria that can cause bad breath. If you do not brush your dog’s teeth regularly, chances are their bad breath is caused by not taking care of their teeth.

This habit can cause severe plaque and tartar build-up that will render your puppy’s mouth stinky. Plaque can turn into cavities, infection, tissue damage, and even tooth loss, all of which can instigate lousy breath.

Dietary Habits

Sometimes your pup’s dog food can cause bad breath, especially if it is poor in quality. Switching to a new food might help in this case. If your dog feasts upon garbage from outside or picks up a dead animal in their mouth, this can all cause bad breath.

The cause could be an imbalance of the oral and gut microbiome. The disparity can occur when the harmful bacteria have overpowered the good bacteria, resulting in malodorous gas and bad breath.

Diabetes and Kidney or Liver Problems

If your dog’s breath has a sweet or fruity smell to it, you should see your veterinarian. It could also be kidney or liver problems, resulting in your dog’s breath having a sour or ammonia-type smell to it.

If your dog is vomiting and also has yellowish-colored gums, this could be liver disease. You need to take your dog to the veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately if this is the case.

Oral Tumors

Oral tumors can cause bad breath as the cells will often be destroyed because of a lack of blood flow. The death of the cells can stink like rotting vegetables, which makes your dog’s breath smell awful.

There could be many different causes of bad breath in your dog. If your dog’s bad breath is accompanied by a host of other symptoms that seem more serious, you should get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

What Can I Do to Get Rid of my Dog’s Stinky Breath?

If plaque, tartar build-up, or periodontal disease are the culprit, you should book an appointment with your vet to determine if your dog needs a professional teeth cleaning. Your veterinarian will take bloodwork to see if your dog can handle anesthesia.

Your vet will make sure to find out whether your dog’s bad breath is because of not cleaning their teeth or if something more serious is going on. Some of the remedies for your dog’s bad breath include:

Dental Chews

Dental chews can help decrease tartar and plaque build-up

Regular Teeth Brushing

Regular brushing is an important way to prevent your dog from having bad breath and remedy it. Be sure to purchase pet-friendly toothpaste, as human toothpaste is not safe for dogs.

Chopped Parsley

Parsley is a natural breath freshener and adding it to your dog’s food could help. It also contains chlorophyll, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components that combat the bacteria that cause bad breath. Just a few pinches will do the trick.

Digestive Enzymes

Adding digestive enzymes to your dog’s food could help with their bad breath. You and your veterinarian should have a conversation about how your dog does with digesting their food. It is worth it to find out if that could be a reason why their breath is terrible.

If your dog is having trouble breaking down and digesting food, bacteria can grow in their digestive tract, which can cause bad breath. Digestive enzymes help your dog absorb essential vitamins and nutrients in their food, which can help remove toxins from their adorable little bodies and fight bad breath.

Give Your Dog a Bone

You should purchase a clean, hard dental chew bone. Chewing is a great tooth and gum cleanser for your dog because it creates saliva. This cleanser flushes out harmful bacteria. It also helps scrape plaque from their teeth.

Clean Your Dog’s Dishes

Clean your dog’s food and water bowl often. As disgusting as it sounds, leftover food can start to decay in your dog’s food bowl. You should try a stainless-steel bowl. It is non-porous, and bacteria cannot get into the cracks of the surface.

Plastic bowls do not protect your dog’s health like stainless steel ones. Various types of bacteria can grow on your dog’s water bowl. You should wash your dog’s food bowl with hot, soapy water after every meal, and you should wash your dog’s water bowl every couple of days.

There are several ways to combat your dog’s bad breath. All the above are valid options to explore when looking to remedy your dog’s bad breath.

Conclusion

If your dog has stinky breath, try brushing their teeth. If that does not help and there are symptoms of illness, then there may be an underlying cause to your dog’s bad breath. If there is any question about your canine’s overall health, you should take them to the vet as soon as you can. Your dog will thank you with big licks or kisses. Only this time, his breath will be fresh and clean!

If you have questions about your dog’s bad breath or to book an appointment with your Live Oak Veterinary Hospital vet call 209-432-9437 or use the online form!