If your dog is showing signs of bad dog breath, you might want to take note of it before disregarding it as something insignificant. There are a number of things that could be wrong with your beloved pet that could lead to this condition being developed.

Depending on the circumstances as well as a number of other factors, it is recommended that you look into this so that you can rule out some of the more commonly found conditions from the more severe ones.

What Causes Dog Bad Breath

How your dog smell is one of the oldest jokes in the world, but no joke when it’s bad breath on the dog. Giving your dog the love they deserve, can be a bit of a struggle when you almost faint with the smell of the dog’s breath.

Generally speaking, there are two types of bad dog breath: transient and persistent.

Transient Bad Breath

Dog breath can be transient, which means you only notice it at certain times, like in the morning when your dog wakes up, or after your dog eats something smelly.

A dog’s breath may be worse in the morning because the mouth is inactive at night, and the really smelly bacteria, anaerobes, multiply in numbers. Transient dog breath usually goes away after a dog eats and drinks or has his teeth brushed or after he chews on a dental treat.

If your dog’s breath does not improve after these activities, then your dog has chronic or persistent halitosis, which means it smells 24 hours a day.

Persistent Bad Breath

Chronic or persistent bad breath is generally a more serious problem than transient bad breath, not only for the owner’s nose but also for the health and well-being of the dog.

Persistent halitosis can be defined as a particularly foul smell coming from your dog’s mouth and signals a problem under the hood that probably needs to be addressed by your veterinarian.

Disease in a dog’s mouth can not only cause halitosis, but it can also cause problems in the whole body, including the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Mouth disease can also lessen your pet’s quality of life and shorten his life span, and needs your attention.

Once you determine if your pet has persistent foul breath, the next step is to play detective at home and try to figure out the root cause.

What to look for

If your dog has bad breath, there are other symptoms to look out for that can give you a clue to the cause of the halitosis.

Watching your dog at home can often help determine the cause of the bad breath or, at the very least, give you valuable information that you can relay to your veterinarian.

Try observing your dog when they are relaxed and answer the following questions:

1. Is your dog drooling? Is the drool clear or colored? Bloody?

2. How is your dog’s appetite? Does your dog appear to prefer soft food or does he have difficulty eating their regular diet? Is he chewing differently or dropping food?

3. Has your pet lost any weight?

4. Are there any swollen areas on your pet’s face? Areas that typically swell with tooth root abscesses are just below the eye.

5. Is your pet pawing at his mouth? Could be a sign of mouth pain.

6. Is your pet sneezing or does he have snot?

If you notice any of these signs in conjunction with bad breath, it is likely that a tooth or gum problem is at the root of the foul smell. However, even if the only sign is persistent bad breath, it is important to have your pet seen by a veterinarian.

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