My dog gags all the time and his breath is horrible. Any idea why? Could they be related?

Question

His breath usually smells like rotten fish! We have tried brushing his teeth and that doesn't help. I have given him things to chew on (rawhide and greenies) and that doesn't help. He gags when he isn't doing anything but sitting still. He has been checked for worms and heartworms. Both were negative. I plan to take him to the vet when I'm off Friday, but was curious if anyone has any ideas in the meantime.

I forgot to mention. My dog is a schnauzer/yorkie mix. He's a small boy-about 17 lbs.

Answer 1

Look at the roof of his mouth. Is there anything stuck crosswise up there? It is a common problem iwth dogs. They chew a stick, or bone, or what have you, and they get a piece stuck across the palate. It makes eating difficult, and it retains unswallowed food, which decays and stinks. Still take him to the vet, but this is a thought.

Answer 2

First, I am glad you are going to the vet as this could be a serious problem. Rawhide and greenies could easily be part of the problem, they are not the best for all dogs. Dogs and humans have very similar problems sometimes. Your vet may x-ray or use a tube through the esophagus to see if there is a blockage or an intestinal reason that food may be coming back...sorta like acid reflux on humans. You do not give the breed of your dog and certain breeds have pockets or folds of flesh in and around the jaw area that capture food and can become infected...periodontal type disease or sinus problems...yes dogs get phlegm just as humans when this happens. Good luck to you and your dog. My email shows and would like to hear how this turns out.

Answer 3

Sounds like your dog needs a dental done by your vet. This involves a general anesthetic and a full scale and polish. You can imagine if you had sore teeth and had gum disease how painful it could be. It can cause constant pain and discomfort especially when they're trying to eat.

It usually isn't a cheap thing to do but well worth it. In my experience as a vet nurse the change in dogs after they have a dental done is huge. It really will take away the pain and remove that horrible bad breath.

Answer 4

When you go to the vet, ask him about anxiety. Grandfather has a 8 yr old pom that was gagging for no apparent reason. When they went into the vet they were told it's like a panic attack. The same that humans get. My aunt's shitzu and cousin's dachshund both do it too. Especially if they get over excited or stressed. As for the bad breath, your pup might just need a good cleaning, which the vet can also do.

Answer 5

Same thing that causes horrible breath in people. Do you brush her teeth daily? If not, she probably has gingivitis. People think that giving their dogs those dumb little DentaStix and "teeth-scrubbing bones" will rid them of tartar. Yes, those dinky little treats might freshen their breath for an hour or so, but dogs teeth need to be brushed daily just like ours. They can't help having bad breath if they're not properly cared for. Not to mention, heart issues are one of the leading causes of death in dogs, mainly due to plaque build-up! Your pet store will sell little rubber dog toothbrushes that you can slip over your index finger as well as flavored toothpaste. If your dog is older, she may not tolerate it now, so there is also a few great gels on the market that you can just squirt into the back of their mouth on both sides. I would recommend taking her to the vet and having them professionally clean her teeth before you start this regiment, but it's only going to get worse if you don't start daily brushing.

Answer 6

He may have an abscessed tooth,tonsillitis,sinus infection,or even a tumor.A thorough teeth -cleaning,during which the dog would be anesthetized,would allow the vet to carefully check out the entire mouth and throat.I would schedule a dental cleaning if I were you.

Answer 7

My mum's dog had vile breath and nothing helped, she tried all those things too and she didn't know what it was either . she spent a lot of money on him to look at his teeth/ mouth , which were perfectly healthy. They also ruled out worms of any kind. It ended up being something wrong with his bladder / urine problem and he had to be put down, poor dog :(

sorry couldn't help you , but i hope it's nothing serious .

Answer 8

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Answer 9

This is definitely a vet solved problem. He could have rotten teeth and an infection from them. He could have kennel cough, throat infection, sinus trouble.....don't try any home remedies on this guy...let your vet do the diagnosis.

Answer 10

Could be a collapsing trachea like my dog. He can just be laying there and start coughing. I notice if he lays his neck on his arms or paws he starts to cough because it is pushing his trachea. My vet told me this condition is very common in smaller breeds.