Occasional bad breath in dogs is not uncommon, however, a noticeable foul smell could be a symptom of an underlying condition. Bad dog breath is usually caused by bacterial overgrowth, most commonly from dental disease, unhealthy diet practices, a lip infection or an object in their mouth.
When your dog starts to give off an offensive smell, you should let your veterinarian know so they can assess them and recommend a treatment plan. If there is a need for treatment, it may include a scale and polish under anesthetic and/or a dental extraction. In some cases, it might be necessary for you to adjust your dog’s dietary habits.
Nonetheless, the most important thing to note is that bad breath in dogs can often be treated.
If you have suddenly noticed bad breath but your dog remains well and is eating as normal, take a look inside their mouth. Check for any red gums or tartar build-up, or something lodged on the roof of their mouth, any lumps or bumps, look around their lower lip for irritated skin folds that the smell might be coming from.
If the mouth looks healthy and the smell isn’t very noticeable, you may wish to wait it out for a few days with simple home remedies before visiting the veterinarian.
The take home message? Bad breath is generally easy to treat but it is important we address it early to prevent chronic pain and infection.
