Why does a dog’s mouth smell and what to do about it

Many dog ​​owners report that their pets have bad breath. It would seem that the food is good, and there are no problems with digestion – so where does the problem come from? Let’s talk with your veterinarian about the causes of bad breath in your dog and how to fix it. 

In humans, bad breath most often indicates problems with digestion. And in dogs, in most cases, the cause of an unpleasant smell from the mouth is diseases of the oral cavity. Usually it is tartar, periodontal disease and gingivitis. All these diseases are interconnected, since one provokes the occurrence of another.  

Let me take an example: tartar is formed as a product of the vital activity of bacteria in the oral cavity. It leads to the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms and provokes periodontal disease – inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth. And also gingivitis – inflammation of the gum tissue. It turns out a vicious circle. 

If timely measures are not taken and treatment is not started, the lesions will move to the teeth and jaw bones. Periodontitis will develop, the consequences of which are irreversible. The health, and sometimes even the life of your dog, depends on the promptness of the intervention.

As always, a problem is easier to prevent than fix. Moreover, plaque with all the ensuing consequences is easy to prevent at home. How – I will tell below.

French Bulldog Winnie Pwow with his loved ones dental health treats Mnyams Dental 

To protect your dog from plaque and tartar, follow two main rules. 

• Feed your dog the right way.

Choose professional balanced dry food on a regular basis and balanced wet food. When a dog eats dry food, soft plaque is removed from its teeth due to mechanical friction. So dry food in itself is already prevention.

Adhere strictly to the diet and do not give the dog treats from the table. If you want to indulge in something special, it is better to get professional goodies. Moreover, there are dental ones among them: for cleaning enamel, preventing tartar and protecting against bad breath. 

Depending on the strength of the jaws, you can pick up treats of different hardness: sponges, tooth sticks and bones. If you combine such treats with dry food and follow the feeding rate, your pet’s teeth will be cleaned of soft plaque in a natural way. 

• Observe oral hygiene. 

Check your dog’s mouth and teeth regularly. Brush your teeth 4-7 times a week using veterinary toothpastes and the softest toothbrushes. If there is no brush for the dog, you can use children under 2 years old or gauze. 

If redness or ulcers appear, cleaning is contraindicated. Contact your veterinarian.

As an additional prevention, it is useful to use dental toys to remove plaque and special nutritional supplements that prevent the development of tartar. However, all these methods do not replace brushing, but enhance its effect. That is, they work together.

In the photo, a charming collie with his favorite toy for dental health Petstages Opka

Before using new products for pets, I recommend consulting with your veterinarian.

As you can see, preventing the causes of an unpleasant smell in a dog is not so difficult. The techniques in this article will help maintain the health of your pet’s oral cavity and avoid serious consequences in the future. 

I’ll be honest with you: there is no one hundred percent protection against tartar. However, the set of techniques from the article will help delay brushing your teeth at the dentist. And in some cases, it will keep your pet’s oral cavity flawless until old age.

Take care of the health of your pets!