why does my dogs breath smell really really bad? What can I do?

Question

I have tried giving him dog treats that are suspossed to clean his teeth and breath

Answer 1

You may need to brush his teeth. You can buy a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste at the pet store or you can have a groomer do it for a small charge. Also, if you are feeding him low quality foods - think Pedigree or other cheap brands- that could cause the problem too. If these things don't help, then have him checked by the vet- he may need a professional cleaning which is vital to his overall health as oral problems can travel to other parts of the body.

Answer 2

Well, it could have been where your dog has been? My suggestion as a vet tech would be to brush the dogs teeth at least a few times a week. You can use a doggie toothbrush or you can use a soft human toothbrush (which I use an old one of mine - cheaper). Use dog toothpaste from the store though - human toothpaste actually isn't good for a dog - doesn't do good in the stomach. Then, I suggest getting greenies - it will scrap off plaque during brushings. Also, remember that you should only feed your dog hard food - no soft food. If it is a name brand (even pedigree) it should be fine. The soft food though gets stuck in between the teeth and is terrible for the teeth! You can also get hard bones (no circle ones though) for your dog to chew on - scrapes plaque off too between brushing. If your dog is over two, then you can also think about getting a teeth cleaning from a professional vet - don't waste your money though if your dog is a puppy. It is expensive however only needs to be done around once a year - unless otherwise prescribed by doctors. Try the brushing first though and invest into some dog treats that are hard! Good Luck!

Answer 3

The number 1 cause of bad breath in dogs and cats is periodontal disease! In layman's terms, this is dental disease. For proper treatment of periodontal disease, your dog needs an examination with his veterinarian, so the doctor can evaluate the mouth and breath, and to check for certain other things that could be the cause as well (kidney disease for example). If the vet does feel the bad breathe is due to dental disease, a full dental scaling and polishing with oral examination, as well as probing of the gumline needs to be performed to determine the full extent of disease. Dental x-rays may also be necessary, especially if loose teeth, cavities, broken teeth, or deep pockets are found on probing. Extractions may be necessary. After this procedure, the best way to keep the breath smelling good, and the teeth healthy is daily brushing at home. However, brushing a mouth that is already suffering from periodontal disease will do nothing to fix the problem, because a toothbrush alone cannot remove the calculus and damaged teeth.

See your veterinarian!

Answer 4

It sounds like your dog is in need of a dental cleaning. Call your vet to schedule one. Chances are if he hasn't been under general anesthesia before, or for awhile, or if he is older, your vet will want to check blood on him. After getting his teeth cleaned, start brushing your dogs teeth. Your vet's office, as well as most pet stores, sell special veterinary toothpaste in flavors like chicken and beef. There are also special "rawhide" like chews and even mouth wash. However, if the tartar and plaque is built up badly, which it sounds like it is by how bad you say his breath is, these things (toothbrushing, chews, rinse, etc) will not work unless his teeth are professionally cleaned first. If your dog is well behaved, the vet *might* be able to hand-scale his teeth while he is awake, but that's highly doubtful. My dogs have never had a dental cleaning that required being put under, but I have been able professionally clean their teeth since they were puppies. They also love when I brush their teeth because of the taste of the toothpaste. Good luck, and contact your vet.

Answer 5

Your dogs teeth might be the reason. My friends dogs breath smells extremely bad, she has to take her to the vet one time each year to get her teeth cleaned. If you don't want to take the dog to the vet try getting dog food and treats that help treat bad breath.

Answer 6

No Please don't use human toothpaste on your dogs teeth the fluoride is harmful to your dog. How old is your dog? If she is older than 2 she probably needs a dental leaning from your vet. Look at her teeth are the yellow and have tarter build up on the top of the tooth( the part of the tooth closes to the gums) Are the gums swollen? Does your dogs breath smell like rotten fish? If you answered yes to my questions she needs a dental cleaning from the vet. Hope this helps you

Answer 7

If you never brushed your teeth, wouldnt your breath smell really bad too?
Have his teeth cleaned at the vet and then try to brush them at least once a week to prevent it from happening again.

You dont have to keep them brushed every day like 'us' (unless you just want to)
But, once a week would do wonders!

Have the vet clean his teeth first though. That way, they can go ahead and remove any teeth that are bad or painful...

Answer 8

It's time to take your dog to the Vet and have them check the teeth and have them cleaned. This will help the breath.

Answer 9

Take him to the vet. A dog's teeth are vital to his health and they need to be professional cleaned every year.

In between professional cleanings, try brushing his teeth with a brush and pet toothpaste and give him treats that reduce tartar build-up.

Trust me, your dog will live a happier, longer life!

Answer 10

The problem is very often resulting from the other end of the dog. the most common reason for excessively bad doggy breath is impacted anal sacs. when the dog has anal sacs that become too full, they become somewhat infected, and it causes a condition similar to human's tonsilitis..which causes a rotten breath, un-fixable by treats or breath mints.

the other common cause is the ingredients in his dog food, being indigestible, causing yucky breath..dog foods with corn and/or soy will cause this.
the other reason is poor dental health..having a rotting tooth, excessive tarter or gingivitis..

If you are feeding a quality kibble, then your dog really needs to see the vet to determine which condition is causing the excessively bad breath. as any of the causes do need treated for your dog's over all health.