Why does my dog's breath smell so bad?

Bad breath is something we’re all affected by from time to time. And, yes, that includes coming from your beloved dog! After all, kisses are sweet but not quite as enjoyable when their breath begins to hum. Find out the potential causes of your pup’s stinky mouth and how to support it below with good hygiene practice and dog dental care.

What causes bad breath in dogs?

Many things could cause bad breath in your dog. Luckily, if spotted early and you make the right changes to your dog’s life, it can be helped.

1. Plaque is a big contributor to bad breath. But what exactly is it? It’s the build-up of sticky bacteria that produce acids to break down the food particles in your dog’s mouth. However, if your dog doesn’t receive effective regular dental care, this plaque will build up, creating conditions better suited to the overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria associated with bad breath.
2. These bacteria produce gas, causing that not-so-rosy smell we’re all familiar with. This build-up of plaque can also lead to the formation of tartar or dental calculus – a hard deposit that you may see on your dog’s teeth. This tartar provides another surface for plaque to adhere to which again, if ignored, will favour the growth of ‘bad’ bacteria associated with bad breath.
3. Food is another culprit. Many wet and dry foods don’t include ingredients to help with plaque formation and are too soft to help keep your dog’s teeth clean. These foods can also contain ingredients that linger, so without something to freshen their breath, our dogs might blow us away with one huff.
4. Some breeds are also more prone to bad breath than others, for example, smaller and flat-faced breeds are more likely to develop gum issues which can cause an odour.
5. It’s also important to consider our awareness. Many owners are either unaware that we need to, or cannot effectively, clean our dogs’ teeth, and plaque builds up and leads to greater issues down the line. . Bacteria can spread through inflamed gums, into the bloodstream to remote locations like the kidneys, heart, and liver, causing damage. Read more about the silent signs of dental discomfort in dogs. 
6. It’s worth noting that bad breath can be seen in other medical conditions, too. Examples include patients with ketoacidosis (uncontrolled diabetes), end-stage kidney disease, or those who have been licking excessively full anal glands. If your pet has bad breath, we advise speaking with your vet to rule out other health complaints and confirm whether dental disease is to blame.

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What smells mean bad odour in dogs breath?

Anything that smells overly strong on your dog’s breath is an issue. A healthy pet’s mouth should have no odour, or only very mild ‘dog breath’. But smells that are unpleasant, fishy, or rotten are a sign that there is a problem. These sorts of odours could indicate dental disease, a trapped foreign body, or an oral tumour. Read more about why your dog has fishy breath. 

Very occasionally, owners may notice a sweet, fruity, acetone smell. Some say it smells like old-fashioned pear drop sweets. This can occur in dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis, but other symptoms are usually noticeable alongside this, like changes in thirst, lethargy, dehydration, or collapse.

If your dog has stinky breath, get your vet to examine them so they can confirm the cause and suggest appropriate treatment. In the meantime, read our guide to finding out how healthy your dog's teeth are. 

How to take the whiff out of your dog’s breath

Getting rid of smelly breath once and for all usually involves some long-term maintenance. The following are recommended to improve your pet’s oral hygiene:

Professional teeth cleaning

While we try to avoid vet visits, it’s important to take your dog for regular check-ups. In fact, vet clinics are the best place to start if your dog has smelly breath. Your vet will begin with a general examination of your dog’s mouth and then use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar along the gums, finishing with a polish to keep their pearly whites shining. This will be performed under a general anaesthetic so that a safe and thorough procedure can be carried out. Dental extractions may also be required for any teeth that are suffering from severe periodontal disease.

This is a good way to bring your dog’s mouth back to a healthy state, but to keep their breath fresh all year round, we need to step up regular toothbrushing and add products to their daily diet that target teeth - such as
 - such as dog dental powder.

Brush their teeth

That’s right! You can brush their teeth yourself and you should aim to build this into your daily routine. This is something you should introduce early on to your dog, especially if you have them as a pup, as it’s a strange feeling for them to get used to – but it’s never too late to start!

There are products designed to make the introduction to brushing easier, such as toys and finger toothbrushes with silicone bristles, but a soft human toothbrush is recommended longer term. will work just as well. However, it’s important to use specially formulated dog toothpaste because many human toothpastes contain xylitol, which is incredibly poisonous to dogs.

The brushing action removes any leftover food and plaque build-up on the teeth, taking away the bad bacteria and helping to eliminate bad breath alongside the dog toothpaste. Follow our guide to cleaning your dog's teeth.

Diet

As we mentioned before, food has one of the greatest impacts on your dog’s breath. A great way to support their teeth and gums is to give them food that contains ingredients for oral health, such as spirulina, peppermint oil, and green tea extract. Dry food can also help to keep teeth clean because of its abrasive, crunchy texture that brushes against the teeth and removes some of the plaque. However, choosing a diet designed specifically for dental health is usually the best bet. These will have a carefully formulated shape and size to help remove plaque more effectively.

 Wet foods can be tricky because they often cling to the teeth, and can leave a film, which, if left, can lead to greater plaque build-up and very stinky breath.

Other foods like carrots and raw broccoli can act as natural abrasive chews and help with oral hygiene, but they are no replacement for daily teeth brushing.

Dental chews and sticks

While teeth brushing is considered the gold standard in oral care, dental chews and sticks are another excellent way to maintain clean teeth and fresh breath when fed on a regular basis.  Case in point: our YuMOVE Dental Care Sticks, our innovative monthly regime, developed by our clever veterinary scientists to target plaque, freshen breath, and create a barrier along the teeth and gums. Their fast-acting formula means you can expect to notice a difference in your dog’s mouth in just 4 weeks. Alternatively, you can look at a daily dental stick. 

So, what’s makes them so special? Well, it’s all down to our unique, scientifically proven ActivBarrier™ technology that can be found in the sticks’ soft centre. It targets existing bad breath and plaque but also tackles the root cause – the balance of bacteria in your dog's mouth. What’s more, ActivBarrier™ helps to reduce the formation of new plaque and tartar on your dog’s teeth.

Their flexible spiral shape is designed to maximise contact with the tooth surface, effectively cleaning away existing plaque from the surface of the teeth. A cleaner mouth means fresher breath, plus peace of mind that you’re supporting your dog’s overall oral health! What could be better?

"Dental disease is the most common cause of stinky breath in pets. If your dog’s breath smells, then a trip to the vets is recommended to confirm the cause. Depending on the severity of the situation, your vet may advise a professional assessment and clean under anaesthetic, or they might be able to make some home-care suggestions. Daily teeth brushing is usually recommended, but dental chews and an appropriate diet can also be extremely helpful at keeping bad breath at bay."

 

Dr Rebecca MacMillan BVetMed BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVS

Get rid of dog bad breath fast

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for bad breath in dogs. In many cases, it indicates the presence of periodontal disease, which always requires veterinary attention.

Get your dog checked over by your vet so that they can determine the severity of the problem and suggest a treatment plan. Your pet may require dental surgery to examine their mouth thoroughly, clean their teeth, and extract any diseased ones. Or it might just be that you need to tweak your pet’s oral care regime at home with teeth brushing, a change of diet, or dental chews!

Either way, your vet is the best place to start.

Looking for ways to improve your pet’s oral hygiene? Check out our innovative YuMOVE Dental Care range to support your dog’s fresh breath and healthy teeth.