Chronic Bad Dog Breath

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.

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Signs of Gum Disease in Dogs

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.

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DOG HEALTH

Gingivitis and Swollen Gums in Dogs

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.

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3 Valentine's Day Dangers to Your Pets

A bouquet of flowers, a box of candy, and a chocolate heart. Who wouldn’t be delighted to receive any one of these treats this Valentine’s Day? But although these may be a delight for you, they may pose a hidden health risk for your dog or cat.

Sadly, chocolate, xylitol in candies, and lilies all have substances that are potentially deadly to pets. Countless dogs each year come in for chocolate toxicity, and then there are the heartbreaking cases of cats poisoned by lilies, and dogs practically in a coma from eating low-sugar candies and cookies.

Chocolate

Picture this: A rambunctious pair of Labradors, bounding into the surgery for emergency treatment.

To look at them you’d think they were in bursting good health as they bounced off the walls with even more exuberance than usual. However, a clinical examination revealed a different picture. Hearts racing dangerously fast, with the potential for them to collapse at any second. Their hyperactivity was caused by too much of a chemical from the caffeine family, theobromine, in their bloodstream.

Unfortunately, chocolate contains theobromine, an extreme stimulant to dogs. It causes a racing heart and stimulates the central nervous system. Some dogs are so sensitive to the effects that even a small amount can cause seizures and death.

Treatment involves making the dog vomit, giving diazepam to calm their central nervous systems, and administering activated charcoal by mouth every few hours to mop up the residual chocolate.

It’s possible for a full recovery, but this isn’t always the case! So, take care where you stash those chocolates.

The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous for your pet. For more information about how much chocolate is toxic, see our article on Chocolate Toxicity.

Candy Containing Xylitol

Perhaps a lesser-known threat is the risk that low-sugar candies and cookies pose to dogs.

These may contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol. Unfortunately, xylitol and dogs don’t mix. The sweetener stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, which in turn suppresses blood sugar levels. As if that isn’t bad enough, xylitol can also cause liver damage, which results in a problem with blood clotting.

Immediate treatment is essential to saving your dog’s life. This involves an emergency trip to the veterinarian, who will administer intravenous glucose and fluids (among other things), to try to get the blood sugar levels back up to normal.

Dogs who have eaten xylitol can suffer from excessively low blood sugar levels with 60 minutes and fall into a coma. Just as those chocolates, store these candies well out of paw’s reach.

For more information about the dangers of xylitol and other toxins, read our article on pet poison prevention in the kitchen.

Lilies

Beware of Valentine’s bouquets containing lilies — specifically, the big showy ones that are so common in floral displays. (Be alert for Easter, Asiatic, Tiger, Rubrum and Day lilies, as well as any flower from the Lilium family.)

If your cat chews on the leaves or petals, drinks the water that the flowers stand in, or rubs against the pollen and grooms themselves, they are at risk of kidney failure. We don’t know why this happens, but the fact remains that lilies contain something that is deadly to cats.

Sadly, there is no cure for lily toxicity. If your cat has just ingested lily pollen, prompt veterinary attention is critical. The cat may need their stomach pumped to remove any residual contamination. Aggressive intravenous therapy can help protect the kidneys and flush the toxin, but even this is not guaranteed to be successful.

The best advice is not to allow lilies in the house (or the garden) with cats. Some people suggest cutting off the stamens (the spiky bits bearing pollen) because the most common exposure is cats who brush past the bloom, get pollen on their coat, and then groom themselves. However, to be honest, the risk just isn’t worth taking.

I hope this Valentine’s Day brings you and a loved one closer, but to avoid heartache of an altogether different sort, for the sake of your pets, take care where you put those Valentine’s gifts.

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Your Dog's Gums and Problems to Watch For

Gums can be an often-overlooked part of a dog’s mouth, but they’re just as important to keep clean and healthy as your dog’s teeth! Below, learn more about what color your dog’s gums should be, gum problems to look out for, and how to help your dog maintain healthy gums.

What Color Should My Dog’s Gums Be?

If you want to know what healthy dog gums look like, look no further than the seafood bar at your local grocery store. Healthy gums should appear shrimp-colored pink and unhealthy gums will appear red and inflamed.

Certain diseases can cause discoloration of the gums. For instance, red, inflamed gums can be a sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque, which is composed mostly of bacteria. Plaque can accumulate on the tooth surface especially in the space underneath the gum line. Gingivitis is also caused by the body's oral immune system reacting to the plaque bacteria on the teeth.

If your dog’s gums are other colors, that can also be indicative of additional health problems. If the gums are pale or white, that could be a sign of anemia. If the gums are blue that often means that your dog is not getting oxygen. If the gums are yellow in a dog, it can be a sign of Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can cause liver disease, and jaundice, which can also be a sign of liver disease.

Common Gum Problems in Dogs

Another sign of unhealthy gums? Bad breath. Bad breath or especially a sudden worsening of the breath is often associated with worsening of gum disease.

Gum disease is usually caused not by problems with the gums, but by bacteria on the teeth. So to take care of the gums, brush your dog's teeth. The best and most common way to prevent gum disease is to brush their teeth every day using a soft-bristle toothbrush. Brushing aside, you also can use products approved by your vet, such as dental-maintenance chews (we sell OrvoVet Dental Chews—just ask our receptionists!).

Periodontal disease is the most common cause of unhealthy gums, but other diseases such as immune-mediated inflammatory disease, bleeding disorders, gingival enlargements, and even oral cancers can also cause unhealthy gums. Periodontal disease is most common in dogs under 30 pounds. This is due to crowding—small dogs tend to have large teeth in a relatively small mouth.

Read more: Periodontal Disease and Treatment: Dental Scaling

Additionally, breeds like boxers can be prone to gum overgrowth, a benign condition that is genetic in nature. Although the condition itself is benign, it can result in an almost tumor-like overgrowths of gum tissue which can cause pseudopockets in the dog’s gums.

If you can imagine gum tissue growing up and around the tooth, you can imagine it forming this little nook, cranny or pocket between the overgrown gum and the tooth where fur and debris and food can get stuck and subsequently cause bad breath and infection.

Additional Gum Issues to Watch Out For

Younger dogs, and puppies especially, can come down with papillomatosis, or warts of the gums. Signs include the appearance of solitary, clusters, or even hundreds of warts. If you see one or two warts, don’t worry. Those will usually fall off in one to two months. Dogs with an abundance of warts, however, may need to have surgery to remove them.

Over time, the texture of an older dog’s gums can become more cobbled looking. A cobbled texture in and of itself is nothing to fret about, but cobbled gums can be a sign of cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, if the cobbled gums are accompanied by bad breath, oral pain, reluctance or difficulty chewing, and oral bleeding, seek out a vet to examine your pet.

However, rather than fret over textural changes, it's the color of the gums or if they are bleeding or look like they are going to bleed easily to be more concerned about.

Additionally, rough or intense chewing on a toy or a bone can cause gums to bleed. Sharp pieces of the chew toy could temporarily roughen up the gum. If this is the case, this gum condition normally is not a serious issue, unless the bleeding doesn’t stop. If bleeding lasts more than 10 minutes, it is advised to seek emergency treatment.

Bleeding gums could be a sign of oral cancer, kidney failure (high levels of ammonia can accumulate causing ulcerations and gum bleeding), or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (or ITP)—when the immune system destroys platelets so blood doesn’t clot. If a dog consumes rat poison, it also could cause their gums to bleed,

How Can Gum Problems Be Treated?

If you suspect your dog has gum problems, head to the vet. Your veterinarian will perform a complete dental exam under general anesthesia and take dental X-rays to determine the appropriate treatment.

Treatment is based on the results of the exam and X-rays, and may include anything from a good cleaning of the plaque and tartar on the tooth surface to periodontal surgery or even tooth extraction. If other diseases are suspected (like an immune disease or cancer), a gum biopsy can be obtained and observed.

If you suspect your dog already has a dental disease, it’s best to have a vet treat the condition first and then start an at-home gum-care program.

If your pet has a preexisting dental problem that could be associated with oral sensitivity, it may be beyond the point where tooth brushing is going to do any help. It’s just going to irritate the dog. When your pet has a mouthful of healthy teeth left, then is the time to start on a home-care program with tooth brushing!

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