Another gross animal question - why does my dog suddenly have really bad breath?

Question

Okay. I went to work. When I left, my dog did not have bad breath.

Our dog walker didn't show up today, so my dog was unattended all day :(

When I got home, his breath was rank. Awful. Never smelled worse.

What could cause this? Should I be concerned?

Could he have thrown up and then eaten it?

Answer 1

Dogs will eat some pretty disgusting things without a second thought, including vomit and feces. If the bad breath continues, consult a vet as it could be a sign of liver problems. Your sudden onset, however, is more likely due to something the dog ate.

Answer 2

Dogs do eat a lot of gross things including their own vomit and feces. There is a possibility he could have done that while you were gone. Otherwise any of the reasons other people mentioned on here also could be true. A trip to the vet is then necessary to find the culprit. There are a variety of options at pet stores to help with his bad breath including breath sprays, plaque\breath rinses you put in their water, and even doggie toothpaste to brush the teeth with. I do suggest you start brushing his teeth if you don't already. Practicing good canine dental hygiene is very important obviously for the breath and teeth just as it is for humans. They should also go to the vet to have their teeth cleaned once a year as they age (I would think after about 5 years) especially if their teeth are bad. If you keep brushing them about once a week, and he eats hard food, bones, and treats then his teeth should be OK for a long time.

Answer 3

In this case, since the smell is SO sudden ... he probably ate something nasty, or got something lodged in his mouth (roof of his mouth, or even his throat) that is causing the odor. I'd check his mouth and throat ASAP to make sure it's not the latter, and if it is, off to the vet you go!
If it was an on-going problem, there would be other things to think about ranging from tartar/plaque build-up and periodontal issues, all the way to internal organ issues.
Good luck!

Answer 4

1

Answer 5

There is a product called Galvonite. You make biscuits out of this stuff that not only takes care of a dogs bad breath but also it's body odor. Remarkable stuff.

Answer 6

He may have eaten his own poop. My Jack Russell does that and her breath is rank. Or, he may have an issue with tarter. That can do it.

Answer 7

He may have an infection in his mouth, that happened to a friends of mine's dog.
Take him to the vet asap.

Answer 8

hum let me think your dog could have eaten its throw up, it could have eaten something worse who knows? maybe you knew this but if your dog dose not it dry dog food it will get bad breath, your dog brushes its teeth with dry dog food.

Answer 9

My reletive's dog's breath smells bad too. i guess that's how dogs are.

Answer 10

http://youtu.be/byV--AkiGFY
Most cases (85–90%), bad breath originates in the mouth, sinus and throat. The intensity of bad breath differs during the day, due to eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish, and cheese), obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Since the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night, the odor is usually worse upon awakening ("morning breath"). Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, or rinsing with mouthwash.
Causes:
1, Tongue, A common location is the tongue. Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids, and account for 60 to 70% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, only temporarily mask the odors created by the bacteria on the tongue, but cannot cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath.
Cleaning the tongue - Many companies promote tongue scrapers as a bad breath cure however the bacteria on the tongue can’t be removed with a scraper or brush as they live between the taste buds. Use a tongue scrapper to reduce the food source for bacteria but don’t expect it to cure bad breath. The method of stopping bad breath from the tongue involves rebalancing the bacteria load. Once tongue bacteria are in balance bad breath will cease. For this complex procedure you’ll need to consult Oraltech Labs program at http://www.oraltech.com.au
2. Mouth, There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Other parts of the mouth may also contribute to the overall odor, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. These locations are, in order of descending prevalence: inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures. To fix you will need a dentist to examine your teeth and repair any faults found. Or use Oraltech Labs Unusual Causes Of Bad Breath.
3. Gum disease, advanced periodontal disease is a common cause. Waste products from the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line (sub gingival) have a foul smell and have been clinically demonstrated to produce a very intense bad breath. To fix remove the tartar or hard plaque and friable tissue with a soft bristle tooth brush angled on the gum line. This has been shown to improve mouth odor considerably.
4. Nose, in this occurrence, the air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odor that differs from the oral odor. Nasal odor may be due to sinus infections, foreign bodies & commonly Post Nasal Drip. To fix this you will need to flush your sinuses with salt water. It’s very difficult. Use Oraltech Labs program to properly clear all sinus cavities.
5. Tonsils small bits of calcified matter in tonsillar crypts called tonsilloliths that smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath. To fix use warm to hot salt water mix to break the stones down or use a water pic to dislodge them. This topic is covered in depth in the Oraltech Labs Program.
6. Stomach, very uncommon source of bad breath. The esophagus is a closed and collapsed tube, and continuous flow (as opposed to a simple burp) of gas or putrid substances from the stomach indicates a health problem—such as reflux serious enough to be bringing up stomach contents or a fistula between the stomach and the esophagus. To fix use Oraltech Labs program to cure bad breath caused by GERD & Acid Reflux.
Management:
1. Gently clean the tongue surface twice daily; that can be achieved using a tooth brush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
2. Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
3. Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial build-up and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Chewing may help particularly when the mouth is dry, or when one cannot perform oral hygiene procedures after meals.
4. Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash.
5. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing rotting food debris and bacterial plaque from between the teeth, especially at the gum line.
If none of the above works for you just use the Oraltech Program by visiting - http://www.oraltechlabs.ph
To Your good health, Dr Devon, M.D, D.D.S
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