canine halitosis

Chronic Bad Dog Breath

2-24 _ chronic bad breath halitosis _BlogTh.png

Halitosis in Dogs

Halitosis is the medical term used to describe an offensive odor that comes from the mouth, producing bad breath. A number of causes may be responsible for this condition, notably periodontal disease, a disease resulting from bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria is also associated with plaque and cavities.

Small animal breeds and brachycephalic breeds (characterized by their short-nosed, flat-faced features; e.g., the Pug, Boston Terrier, Pekingese) are the most prone to periodontal and other mouth diseases, in large part because their teeth are close together.

Symptoms and Types

In most cases, there are no other symptoms aside from a bad odor emanating from the mouth. If the cause of the odor is a disease of the mouth, other symptoms may become apparent, including pawing at the mouth, inability to eat (anorexia), loose teeth, and excessive drooling, which may or may not have traces of blood.

Causes

A variety of conditions may lead to halitosis, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus (commonly known as sugar diabetes); respiratory problems such as inflammation of the nose or nasal passages (rhinitis); inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis); and gastrointestinal problems, such as enlargement of the esophageal tube, the main channel that leads from the throat to the stomach.

Other possible causes of halitosis might be traced to a trauma, like that of an electric cord injury. Viral, bacterial or fungal infections can cause foul odors to emit from within the body, and dietary problems can play a role in the emission of odor as well. For example, if your dog has been eating offensive foods, or is exhibiting a behavior called coprophagia, where it is eating feces, your dog will have correlating foul breath.

Further possibilities are pharyngitis, an inflammation of the throat or pharynx, and tonsillitis, an inflammation of the tonsils. The presence of cancer, or the presence of foreign bodies may also result in disease of the mouth and accompanying bad breath. But, the most notable cause of halitosis is a disease of the mouth such as periodontal disease, which is due to plaque bacteria buildup.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic procedures to evaluate periodontal disease as the most likely cause of halitosis include X-rays of the inside of the mouth, and an examination of the mouth for characteristics such as tooth mobility and sulfide concentrations.

Treatment

Once the specific cause of halitosis is known, various therapies may be used to address the problem. In some cases, multiple causes may be to blame. For example, your dog may have periodontal disease along with having a foreign object present in the mouth. Treatment for the condition is dependent upon the cause(s).

If periodontal disease is to blame, treatment will include cleaning and polishing the teeth, or extraction of teeth that have greater than 50 percent loss of the supporting bone and gum tissues around them. Some medications may help to reduce odor, and help to control the bacteria that infect the gums and other oral tissues, causing bad breath.

Living and Management

You will need to continue to remain observant of your dog’s symptoms. It is important to consistently provide proper professional dental care to your dog, as well as to supplement this with at home tooth care. Daily tooth brushing can help prevent the plaque buildup that leads to related halitosis. You will also need to prevent your dog from eating bad-smelling foods, such as garbage. Cleaning the yard frequently will also avoid incidences of coprophagia.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Signs of Gum Disease in Dogs

2-22 signs of gum disease.png

Bacteria are everywhere on human and canine bodies, but when they get under your dog’s gums in the form of plaque, they can lead to gum disease— the most common dental condition that occurs in adult dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Most of what many people think they know about gum disease in dogs is false. While many pet parents believe that tartar, a brown-colored coating on the teeth, causes gum disease, it actually does not— at least not by itself. Perhaps you lift up your pup's lip and look for tartar, but it is actually bacterial plaque that causes gum disease. Tartar, which is just calcified, hardened plaque, does provide more hiding places for bacteria to thrive, however.

Learn more about the most common signs of gum disease and how to prevent this condition in your dog, below.

Signs of Gum Disease in Dogs

These are the top five signs of gum disease in dogs:

  • Gingivitis. Symptoms of gingivitis include redness and swelling of the gums.

  • Bad breath. Maybe even before you notice gingivitis, pet parents may notice that their dog has bad breath. While you may think that doggy breath is normal— it's not. It’s a common misconception because so many dogs have gum disease, but it isn’t normal. The most frequent cause of bad breath in dogs is dental disease.

  • Receding gums. A separation of the gums away from the teeth is a sign of gum disease. In the most advanced stage of the disease, the gum tissue will recede and expose the roots of the teeth.

  • Bleeding. If your dog’s gums bleed when they chew, when you’re probing their mouths or brushing their teeth, it could be a sign of advancing periodontal disease.

  • Loose teeth. This is a sign of later stages of periodontal disease.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Gum Disease in Dogs

If a dog’s gingivitis is diagnosed and treated before it advances to full-scale periodontal disease, it is reversible.

If gingivitis continues to advance, however, it could mean serious health consequences for your dog. Most dogs, especially those under 20 pounds, develop various stages of gum disease and, depending on their genetics, this can develop in dogs as early as 18 months old.

As gingivitis advances into more serious periodontal disease, your dog will begin to lose bone and tissue surrounding the teeth and your veterinarian may be forced to extract teeth.

Other consequences may include fractures of the jaw as a result of a weakened jaw bone, bone infection, and development of a hole (or fistula) into the naval cavity, causing nasal discharge. Periodontitis can also have systemic effects on the heart, liver and kidneys, according to the AVMA.

How to Prevent Gum Disease in Dogs

The number one way to prevent gum disease in dogs is to brush your dog’s teeth daily or at minimum twice a week.

There are many other products, such as chews and water additives, that can help you maintain your dog’s gum health, but use only those with the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal of approval and to only use them to assist in maintaining oral health— not as a substitute for brushing.

The next step in maintaining your dog’s oral health is scheduling a professional dental cleaning with a veterinarian. This includes cleaning under general anesthesia with scaling and polishing.


Small dogs (under 20 pounds) should undergo a cleaning at least annually, in addition to brushing at home, while large breed dogs can generally have their teeth cleaned every two to three years.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Categories:

DOG HEALTH

Gingivitis and Swollen Gums in Dogs

2-17 _ swollen gums in dogs _BlogTh.png

Gingivitis in Dogs

Gingivitis is a reversible inflammation of the gums and is considered the earliest stage of periodontal disease. In the early phases of gingivitis, some plaque is present and there is mild redness of the gums, but the gingival surfaces are smooth.

The gingival sulcus (gum pocket) is the narrow space between the inner wall of the gum and the tooth. As gingivitis develops, the bacteria present in these pockets changes for the worse, and the accumulation of more bacteria, which release toxins, destroy gums.

In advanced gingivitis, there is plaque and calculus under the gums, moderate-to-severe redness of the gums, and the gum surfaces are irregular. Dental calculus is calcium phosphate and carbonate mixed with organic matter, while plaque is a collection of food, debris, bacteria, dead skin cells, and mucous that forms within 24 hours on clean tooth surfaces. The gum responds to plaque with an inflammation of blood vessels, swelling, and collagen loss.

More than 80 percent of pets aged three years or more have gingivitis. It develops earlier in life in toy breeds, and in general, affects dogs earlier in life than it does cats.

Symptoms and Types

  • Red or swollen gums, especially on the side of the gum facing the inner cheeks

  • Bad breath (halitosis)

  • Variable amounts of plaque and calculus

Causes

Plaque accumulation is one of the main causes leading to gingivitis in dogs. Predisposing factors include:

  • Old age

  • Crowded teeth

  • Soft food

  • Open-mouth breathing

  • Bad chewing habits

  • Lack of oral health care

  • Uremia and diabetes mellitus

  • Autoimmune diseases

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible conditions that might have led to this condition. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health and the onset of symptoms, such as when the bad breath began, what your dog typically eats, whether your dog has had trouble eating/chewing, and whether your dog has had any previous health conditions. The routine you have been using to keep your dog's teeth clean, if you have been using one, should be shared with your veterinarian as well, including the products you use.

Part of the physical exam involves closely examining your dog's mouth to identify the condition. Your veterinarian will then make an appointment with you to bring your dog in for a dental exam. During the dental exam, your dog will be anesthetized. Your veterinarian will check the depth of the gum pockets, the amount of plaque and bacteria on the surface of the teeth, and will pull any teeth that are rotten or that are too crowded. All of the plaque and calculus will be removed using a scaling process that is done with special dental equipment, and if necessary, root planning. The tooth surfaces will be polished and the teeth will be reexamined after cleaning.

Treatment

If teeth are overcrowded or baby teeth are present in an adult dog, your veterinarian may remove some teeth. Special dental tools will be used to remove all plaque and calculus, to polish the teeth, and rinse them. Your vet will then teach you how to clean your pet’s teeth, and appointments for follow-up examinations should be scheduled.

Living and Management

You can help maintain your dog’s oral health care by brushing or rubbing (with a special finger pad) its teeth once a day or at least twice a week with veterinary toothpaste. Your veterinarian may also give you a veterinary antibacterial solution to squirt on your pet’s teeth to decrease plaque build-up. Rawhide chew strips and specialized food recommended to you by your veterinarian can reduce tartar and improve the dog's oral health as well.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Understanding Bad Dog Breath

2-17 _ bad breath _BlogTh.png

Bad dog breath is very common and dog owners simply get used to it. But it should not be that way. Most times, canine halitosis is a sign of poor periodontal health.

The term “doggy breath” is normally used in a condescending way to refer to people who have stinky breath. You’d think that this is because a dog always has bad breath, but this really couldn’t be farther from the truth.

What does a dog's stinky breath smell like?

Usually, a dog’s breath is known to stink of fish, poop, urine, acetone, ammonia, sewer, garbage, dead animals, rotting cheese, blood, and other similar smells.

In fact, it is abnormal for a dog’s breath to consistently stink. Bad odors coming from your dog’s mouth are indicative of diseases and disorders. If your dog’s mouth stinks like any of the smells mentioned, it means that they have a problem that needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.

A dog’s breath, just like human breath, should smell of nothing in particular.

Is bad dog breath a symptom or a medical condition?

Stinky dog breath is a symptom as well as a medical condition, depending on what it smells like.

Halitosis is a medical condition where the dog suffers from chronic bad breath due to disease and poor oral hygiene. If a dog’s teeth are not brushed properly, it can lead to plaque and tartar buildup that causes a bad smell.

In some cases, certain specific smells may indicate that something is wrong with the dog’s internal organs. It could be a symptom of something more serious, like tumors or kidney disease.

A study even showed that there seems to be a correlation between bad breath in the human owner and their dog.

Causes for Bad dog Breath

As discussed above, bad dog breath can be a symptom as well as a medical condition. As a condition, bad breath in dogs is caused by a number of factors. The main factor being a lack of oral hygiene for extended periods of time.

Periodontal Disease

Poor oral dental hygiene is the number one cause for stinky dog breath or halitosis in dogs.

Not brushing your dog’s teeth for a long time and not changing toothbrushes regularly could be the root of the problem. They cause a plaque or tartar buildup on the teeth. Over time, this plaque gets so thick it starts to push the teeth away from the gums.

Consequently, this creates more space for bacteria to thrive inside the gums and mouth, resulting in bad breath as well as teeth and gum infections. Cavities, root infections, and a condition called gingivitis are all caused by poor dental hygiene.

By far, most cases of stinky breath and halitosis in dogs can be traced back to poor periodontal health.

Kidney Disease

If your dog’s breath smells strongly of ammonia or urine, it could be a symptom of kidney disease.

The logic behind this is that if the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, urea in the dog’s body isn’t being eliminated. The residual urea remains in the dog’s system for longer than it should and causes an ammonia smell and urine-like breath.

Kidney disease, which causes halitosis, is in fact also caused by periodontal disease. When neglected, dental disorders in dogs can become advanced and cause an overflow of germs and bacteria into the mouth. These get ingested and enter the bloodstream, causing long-term damages to kidneys and liver.

Toxic Plants

If your dog’s breath smells like rotting cheese or toxic fumes, it could mean that they have consumed a poisonous plant.

It’s normal for dogs to be seen chewing and eating plants when they have an upset stomach—it helps them vomit.

However, domestic dogs lack the sense to differentiate poisonous plants from the safe ones and sometimes end up eating the former. This causes an acidic, rancid smell from their mouth. In some cases, the dogs will eliminate the poisonous plant from their system, but sometimes, medical intervention will be needed.

Diabetes

When your dog’s breath smells like chemicals or gives off a whiff of acetone, it’s likely that they are suffering from diabetes. Diabetes can also cause your dog’s breath to smell sickly sweet like your breath smells after drinking very sweet tea.

A diabetic dog lacks insulin. And without insulin, it becomes very difficult for the dogs to break down the sugars that they consume. In order to derive the necessary sugars, the dog’s body starts breaking down fat. This results in the dog’s body going into ketosis, and ketones are a byproduct of this. These ketones smell like acetone causing their breath to smell like chemicals.

This is a very serious disorder and may even cause blindness, dehydration, and weaknesses in the dog. It must be treated with urgency and due care.

Pica and Coprophagia

Pica and coprophagia are eating disorders in dogs when the animals believe inedible items to be food and try and eat them. This is what causes their breath to smell of whatever it is that they have eaten – from paper to poop!

Pica refers to the act of eating objects like shoes, paper, wood, etc. Most dogs tend to eat toys, rocks, wood, and even chew off some fabric. This could be dangerous as they may choke on the small parts.

Coprophagia is more distasteful and refers to a dog’s habit of eating feces, either their own or of other animals. This causes their breath to smell like poop, for obvious reasons. While coprophagia may harm the dogs by causing an infection transmitted via the bacteria and viruses in the fecal matter, it won’t necessarily kill the animal.

Both these disorders are caused by the behavioral traits of the dogs and sometimes by wrong training practices also.

Oral Tumors

Oral tumors or advanced dental diseases that cause an influx of bacteria into the mouth can make the dog’s breath smell like garbage or sewers. It gives off an extremely foul odor. In extreme cases of negligence, these oral tumors may bleed and give off an unpleasant metallic odor due to blood iron content.

Dogs usually develop oral tumors, lesions, and masses, as a result of poor oral hygiene. Over a period of time, negligence of periodontal health causes the gums to deteriorate and finally rot. This causes the teeth to fall out, gums to bleed, and teeth sockets to develop tumors. The rotting flesh and bacteria in the mouth cause the stinky breath in the dogs.

Diet

Vet-approved dog food can also cause bad breath in dogs. Meat, bones, and other food items tend to get stuck in their teeth, causing their mouth to stink. Sometimes, it could just be that the food that is not being digested properly and is giving off a bad smell.

It’s a good idea to speak to your vet about what food to feed the dog. Very dry meals food that is too wet could also be causing the issue. Undigested food could be sending stomach acids and gases up into the mouth and causing a stench. Favor raw feeding or freeze-dried and even human-grade dog foods when possible.

Treatment for Halitosis in Dogs

The treatment of halitosis depends on the severity of the problem and the cause of the condition. One size doesn’t fit all in this case.

Obviously, it is always better to try and eliminate the root cause of the problem instead of finding temporary solutions like dental chew sticks and fresh smelling herbs.

Here’s what to do if your dog’s bad breath problem persists or gets worse.

Dental Cleaning

Most bad breath problems in dogs are due to poor oral hygiene. So the first thing you must do is visit a dog-dentist to get your pet’s teeth cleaned thoroughly.
Get the vet to perform an exhaustive dental and mouth checkup—they’ll look for lesions, tumors, cavities or rotting food inside the mouth.

To get rid of all the plaque that has been building up over a period of time, you may need multiple dental sessions. Speak to your vet about dental hygiene maintenance for your dog. The market is full of innovative products that help you maintain your dog’s dental health with little-to-no effort. Get regular dental follow-ups done until your dog breath smells like nothing.

Vet Treatment

If the stench persists in spite of thorough plaque removal, the root cause could be something else. You’ll have to speak to your vet and get the necessary tests done in order to confirm what the problem is first.

If your dog has a kidney or liver problem or is found with oral lesions and tumors—you must take utmost care and follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.

In such a scenario, your dog’s breath is a telltale sign of how their health is improving.

Dietary Changes

If your dog suffers from coprophagia or pica, it could be that eating feces is a sign of poor nutrition in your dog. Your dog could be relying on feces for the nutrition that they aren’t getting from the food you give them. Find out the root cause and get to it.

If the bad breath is due to certain foods that your dog finds difficult to digest, start making the necessary changes to their diet.

In order to cure bad dog breath, you’ll need to have a lot of patience. Finding the right diet for your dog will require some trial and error.

Incorporate fresh fruits, veggies, and other healthy foods like probiotic yogurt into your dog’s diet. This will not only cleanse the internal system but will also help them keep their teeth clean.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered to your inbox (here). Or, you can keep up to date by liking and following our Facebook page (here).

Related: We have more information under our dog health categories.