Mouth Drops for Dogs

A natural herbal oral supplement that aids in eliminating bad breath, gingivitis, and helps combat bacterial infections of the mouth and helps guard against tooth decay and plaque.

USD $49.95

Add to Cart

Mouth Drops for Dogs USD $49.95 Add to Cart

Home » All Articles » Vet Talks » Vet Tech Rounds: Bad Breath in Dogs

Vet Tech Rounds: Bad Breath in Dogs

Vet Talks 4 min read

Jack Russell dog getting their teeth brushed

Bad breath in dogs is a quite common problem and it can be easy to understand why. Firstly, our dogs do not brush their teeth as we do. Our doggos also do not eat the food that we eat. A dog’s diet generally consists of wet or dry meat and some pet parents like to feed a raw diet too. There are many contributing factors to why a dog’s breath will not smell so fresh.

An awfully bad smell can often be related to other underlying health issues.

For starters, we must understand that dogs are just well… dogs. They dig, they scratch, and they eat things that maybe they shouldn’t eat. Our pups can be mischievous, and this will mean more dirt, more smells, and more bacteria. Naturally, bacteria will be in your pups’ mouth and this is what can make their breath smell quite bad. There are good and bad bacteria in the mouth. These bad bacteria will end up forming a buildup on the teeth, called plaque. Plaque can cause irritation to the gums and teeth, and if left untreated can cause infections.

Dental disease can be prevented by brushing your pet’s teeth regularly. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, roughly 80% of dogs will have gum disease by the young age of 3, so it’s always best to start early.

What If It’s Not a Normal Bad Smell?

If you notice that your beloved pooch has an extremely bad odor coming from the mouth, it might be best to get this checked out. An awfully bad smell can often be related to other underlying health issues. It may not be time to panic, but it would be advised that your vet looks at your dog’s teeth. Plaque can build up on the teeth and becomes tartar, this tartar can really irritate the gums causing discomfort and inflammation. This is how gum disease starts out and if left untreated it can become very uncomfortable and serious for your pet’s health.

Another issue that can cause a foul smell in your pup’s mouth can be an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Just like us humans, we all have a certain bacterium living in our digestive system. Luckily, it is a good bacterium that can help with digestion and keeping the bad bacteria at bay. This becomes unbalanced when the bad bacteria take over in the small intestine and can cause gas. This gas is absorbed into the bloodstream and then exhaled causing bad breath. Dogs also tend to swallow a lot of bacteria that are already in the saliva, which then ends up in the stomach. This will also cause an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.

What Else Can Cause Bad Breath?

There are many other conditions that can cause your pet’s breath to smell pretty bad. These other conditions include:

Diabetes – It causes a buildup of ketones because the body is breaking down fat instead of breaking down glucose. Ketones make the breath smell quite sweet; they also cause the urine to have an overly sweet smell to it. It also results in higher sugar levels which means more sugar in the saliva and bacteria thrive off sugar.
Kidney Disease – Kidney issues will cause the urea levels to increase and this is what causes the breath to smell like urine and slightly fishy. The kidney’s role in the body is to filter out toxins, therefore, when they are not functioning correctly, these toxins are building up in the system.
Liver Disease – This will cause the breath to smell quite bad too. The liver also works to filter out any toxins, so when it can no longer do this efficiently, many different sulfur compounds are released into the lungs.

What Can I Do To Prevent Bad Breath?

To prevent these foul smells when getting a loving kiss from your pooch, regular teeth brushing is vital. You should also provide your pet with chew toys (ensure they are safe and of good quality) The gnawing of these toys can help remove some plaque and increase saliva production to wash away any bacteria that might be there.

It is also especially important to routinely check the gums and teeth. This is the best way to know how healthy the gums are, inflamed gums are very red and sore to touch. Gum disease can be reversed; therefore, it can be good to catch it in its earlier stages so that it can be treated and cured. A dental cleaning can be provided by many veterinary practices and can be an option for keeping the gums and teeth clean.

Our pet experts suggest the use of NHV Mouth Drops. It acts as a herbal disinfectant that aids in eliminating bad breath, inflamed gums, and can help to combat bacterial infections of the mouth. It also helps guard against tooth decay and plaque.

If you have any other questions about your dog’s oral health or how you can support them with underlying conditions, reach out to our pet experts. We are always here to help.

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Holly RVN

Holly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland. She also completed a 1-year Animal Care course. Worked in small Animal Veterinary practice for 3+ years before moving on to working in the Equine Industry. Holly is passionate about animals and spends much of her spare time going on long walks with her Boston Terrier, Lloyd.