Receiving those slobbery kisses from their dogs is probably not something that even the most affectionate dog owners would look forward to. However, bad breath can indicate an underlying medical condition, making it more serious than just a nuisance. Your dog’s breath can be impacted by a variety of conditions and illnesses, ranging from common issues like periodontal disease to more challenging issues like end-stage kidney disease. Learn what might be causing your dog’s bad breath and how maintaining his oral health can be achieved by providing him with products like Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews®, receiving professional dental cleanings, and practicing good at-home dental hygiene.
What’s causing your dog’s bad breath?
Poor dental hygiene is the leading cause of halitosis, or canine bad breath. There are many reasons pet parents fail to brush their dog’s teeth – we’re not judging! – including time, aggression, ignorance, or their dog simply won’t allow it. We’ll admit that cleaning a dog’s teeth requires some expertise, skill, and perseverance, but the benefits can be enormous.
Over three years old, periodontal disease—a fancy word for gingivitis, another fancy word for inflammatory gum disease—affects about 80% of pets. Plaque builds up on your dog’s teeth and your own teeth when you don’t brush them, attracting bacteria that produce odors. Depending on the size, age, and extent of periodontal disease in your dog, an advanced dental cleaning can cost anywhere between $300 and $900. Dogs who have other oral conditions, tumors, or abscessed teeth may also have bad breath. Run, don’t walk, your dog to the vet if the smell is so offensive that it literally makes you gag!
Why I’m Not a Big Fan of Puppy Breath
Whether or not normal puppy breath is pleasant is controversial. Humans have a genetic predisposition to how their noses interpret the specific smells like puppy breath.
I, for one, don’t particularly care for it. When cute little dogs try to lick my face, my nose picks up a strong, sweet-sour, skunk smell that is not at all pleasant.
Many other people experience a sweet, pleasant odor and are sad when the puppy grows out of the puppy breath stage.
In fact, if you do a search for “puppy breath” online, you’ll find lots of unscientific opinions that say puppy breath exists to make people fall in love with puppies and not abuse them. If only that were true.
The scientific explanation is also a bit unscientific.
Even though we still don’t fully understand what causes puppy breath, the majority of veterinary dentists and specialists come to the following conclusions:
Do puppies get bad breath when teething?
We’ve established that puppies can get bad breath when teething. Understanding why is the best cure because you can then lessen or prevent it
What’s the deal with puppies and sudden smelly breath?
Well, teething is the number one culprit. Since teething is a common experience for puppies, it is reasonable to assume that each puppy will eventually have foul breath.
During the teething process, a puppy’s mouth is very active.
You’re likely aware that puppies are born without teeth. Around three weeks old, they typically begin to erupt their first set of milk teeth, or deciduous teeth.
These razor-sharp teeth will start to fall out around the time your little furry friend is three months old to make room for a new set of healthy, permanent adult teeth.
When puppies are six months old, the majority of them typically have adult teeth. For some, it takes an extra seven to eight months to get their entire set of adult teeth.
Let’s just say that when your puppy reaches adulthood, the bad breath caused by teething will no longer exist. In other words, teething won’t be to blame if your animal friend develops bad breath as an adult.
A puppy going through teething has it rough. In addition to being painful, teething also heralds the beginning of problems with bad breath.
Here are a few teething problems that can cause bad breath in puppies:
FAQ
Why does my puppy’s breath smell so bad?
Having poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease are the two most typical causes of bad breath in dogs. The development of the bacteria that cause bad breath can result from the accumulation of plaque and tartar, just like in humans.
Why does my 5 month old puppy’s breath smell so bad?
Halitosis, or bad breath, is typically brought on by a buildup of plaque. Dog bad breath can be brought on by bacteria entering the spaces left by missing baby teeth and, to a much lesser extent, mouth cancer. The accumulation of plaque and bacteria is by far the main cause of bad dog breath.
How do you get rid of puppy teething breath?
- Brush those teeth. Brushing your puppy’s teeth is one of the best things you can do to prevent bad breath in them.
- Provide safe chew toys. Make sure your puppy has a lot of non-edible safe chew toys.
- Herbs. …
- Water. …
- Pick your puppy’s food with care.
Why does my 5 month old puppy breath smell like fish?
Fishy-smelling breath is frequently caused by abscesses or cavities in the mouth and teeth. Additionally, foreign objects, such as food or sticks, can become lodged in the mouth and produce a bad odor. Sadly, it’s estimated that by the age of two, dental disease affects 80% of dogs in some way.