How to fix dogs bad breath

Of course kisses from your pup are welcome no matter what—but those licks ‘o love can be even better if you just knew how to get rid of your dog’s bad breath.

According to veterinarian Dr. Danielle Bernal, BVSc, MRCVs, and global director of vet nutrition at WellPet, LLC, dog parents shouldn’t just grin and bear their pet’s less-than-fresh breath: “A lot of pet parents will overlook stinky dog breath and consider it ‘normal,’” she says. “But bad breath can actually signal dental disease or other serious health concerns.”

To keep your dog healthy and their kisses at their most pleasant, here’s everything you need to know about bad breath in dogs, including why it happens, how to fix it and how to prevent it in the first place.

What Causes Bad Breath in Dogs?

That stinky smell coming from your fur baby’s mouth is likely caused by one of five reasons, our experts tell us.

Plaque and Tartar Buildup

Just like humans, dogs can get plaque and tartar buildup on their teeth, too—and it’s the most common reason why dogs have bad breath. Dr. Sarah Dougherty, DVM, explains that the buildup of bacteria on a dog’s teeth releases byproducts that contain stinky sulfur, causing the smell you may notice when your fur baby kisses your face.

If you do detect bad breath from your dog, give your vet a call. They can inspect their teeth for plaque and tartar buildup and help you prevent it in the future.

Periodontal Disease

If plaque and tartar continue to grow on a dog’s teeth, it may lead to periodontal disease.

“Plaque and tartar push gums away from their teeth, which leaves their mouth susceptible to holding on to bacteria in the newly exposed areas and inflaming the gums,” explains Dr. Katie Billmaier, DVM, shelter veterinarian at Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in Jupiter, Florida. “Cavities, infection, tissue destruction and pus can form.”

All of these things can cause stinky breath—and worse: They can cause discomfort to your pet and, in severe cases of periodontal disease, lead to tooth extractions.

Again, if you catch a waft of bad breath from your dog, or if your notice that their gums look red or inflamed, talk to your vet. Dr. Billmaier says to keep an especially close eye on small and flat-faced dog breeds, like Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs, who are more prone to developing periodontal disease due to their teeth being closer together.

Something Stuck in Their Teeth

Unless you’re brushing your dog’s teeth every day (more on that later!), it’s quite possible your pup may have gotten something caught in between their teeth or gums.

When a piece of food or another foreign object gets stuck, bacterial infection may begin to set in, causing your dog’s bad breath, says Annette Louviere, DVM, technical support veterinarian at Wisdom Health in Vancouver, Washington.

“If you suspect your pup has a foreign body stuck in their mouth, you should consult your veterinarian immediately,” says Dr. Louviere.

Curious Habits like Eating Trash

A lot of dogs have the habit of getting into questionable things throughout the day, and this mischief can actually have an impact on how their breath smells, says Dr. Bernal.

“If a dog rummages through the garbage for scraps or … is inclined to eat poop—whether it be their own, another dog’s, or a cat’s—their breath may stink,” she says. Obviously, you may think, but what can you do about it?

You can learn more about coprophagia (the inclination to eat feces) here, and how to keep your dog from getting into what they shouldn’t here.

Another Potential Health Issue

Unfortunately, sometimes bad dog breath can be a sign of a serious health issue, like diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease, Dr. Billmaier says.

“A sweet or fruity smell [on your dog’s breath] could be a sign that your dog is diabetic. A urine odor could mean your dog is suffering from a kidney problem. And if your pooch is vomiting, or has loss of appetite, gums with a yellow tinge or extremely foul breath, it could be a sign of liver disease,” she says.

If you notice anything like what Dr. Billmaier describes, be sure to call your vet ASAP to schedule an exam.

How to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Bad Breath

How to get rid of your dog’s bad breath is dependent on what’s causing it, according to Dr. Dougherty, so it’s important to work with your vet to determine the underlying reason for your poor pet’s stinky breath.

Your veterinarian may determine a specific health issue (like the ones described above) is at play and may recommend appropriate medications, such as antibiotics and supplements, to properly treat it and prevent it from progressing.

If your dog’s bad breath is caused by plaque and tartar buildup, or if that buildup has progressed to periodontal disease, your vet may want to schedule a thorough teeth cleaning.

It’s worth noting that having your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned usually requires anesthesia, says Dr. Billmaier, although some clinics may offer non-anesthetic dental cleanings. Be sure to talk to your vet about what they offer and what’s right for your pup.

Brush Your Pup’s Teeth Daily

You wouldn’t go a day without brushing your own teeth, right? Well, your pet’s daily dental routine is just as important: It’s actually recommended that pet parents brush their pup’s teeth every day.

“Daily brushing is the best way to reduce the amount of plaque build-up and keep food particles from sitting on the teeth,” Dr. Dougherty says.

To get started, stock up on supplies: You’ll want to use a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed for dogs—so no sharing your own toothpaste with your pup! (It most likely contains ingredients that are unsafe to dogs.) Consider the Virbac C.E.T. Dual Ended Dog & Cat Toothbrush (its long handle and dual angled ends are specially designed to help you reach each and every tooth) or the Vet's Best Enzymatic Toothpaste and Toothbrush Dog Dental Care Kit, which comes complete with everything you need to clean your pet’s teeth.

To learn how to properly brush your dog’s teeth, click here.

Let Your Dog Chow Down on Dental Chews

While it’s best to brush your dog’s teeth every day, Dr. Dougherty suggests buying enzymatically coated dental chews as a supplemental way to better their dental health. These teeth-cleaning treats can help remove plaque from your dog’s teeth, keeping their breath smelling beautifully fresh.

“These chews are coated with the same types of enzymes that are in the toothpaste,” Dr. Dougherty explains. “This gives the benefit not only of mechanical breakdown of the tartar, but enzymatic breakdown of tartar and reducing bacterial counts on the teeth.”

For example, OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews for Dogs are formulated with delmopinol, which helps form a barrier against the bad-breath-causing bacteria, while WHIMZEES Variety Pack Grain-Free Dental Dog Treats contain powdered cellulose to help polish your pup’s teeth.

Use a Water Additive

Water additives can also help prevent bad breath by fighting off plaque, tartar and the resulting bacteria growth, according to Stephanie Liff, DVM, of Pure Paws Veterinary Care in New York City.

Like dental treats, these supplemental solutions contain plaque and bacteria-fighting ingredients, but in liquid form. They can be added to your dog’s water for an easy way to help boost their dental health. Try Virbac C.E.T Aquadent Dog & Cat Dental Solution, which contains pomegranate (a natural antioxidant that helps combat odor-causing bacteria) and TropiClean Fresh Breath Water Additive, which helps fight tartar build-up with green tea leaf extract.

Schedule Your Pup for an Annual Checkup

Your dog’s veterinarian is actually their dentist, too, so regular vet checkups are important in keeping their teeth and mouth healthy and key in keeping bad breath away, Dr. Bernal says.

“If your pup is consistently showering you in smelly kisses, clears a room with their yawns or has morning breath that lasts all day, I suggest connecting with your veterinarian for an evaluation,” she says.

“Their annual checkup can help your veterinarian pick up on the underlying cause of your dog’s bad breath before it gets serious.”

Treating bad dog breath at the source (and preventing it in the future) helps keep your furry pal at their healthiest—and their kisses smelling delightful!

This article is written by Dr Teagan Lever BVSc, one of Pet Circle's in house veterinarians.

Don't let foul breath stop you from getting up close and personal with your pooch. If your doggo's kisses are starting to smell less than appealing, it's important to look further to find and address the underlying cause.

Skip to - 4 simple steps to banish bad dog breath

Dental disease

Without a doubt dental disease is the most common cause of bad breath in our canine companions. Inflammation of the gums and bacteria growing in the mouth can leave your pooch with foul smelling or fishy breath. With at least 80% of dogs over the age of 3 having some degree of dental disease present, your first step to banishing bad dog breath is a dental check with your vet.

Medical problems

Some medical conditions like diabetes, liver disease and kidney disease, along with tumours, foreign bodies, inflammation and infection of the nose or throat can all cause changes to you pet's breath. Just another reason to head to the vet for a check up if your pet's breath is starting to smell nasty!

A smelly diet

Diets high in smelly ingredients, like fish oil, can sometimes leave your pet with unpleasant breath. Fish oil is an excellent source of the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which can help manage a range of health conditions such as skin irritations, arthritis, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, so it may be worth putting up with the smell to let your dog reap the benefits.

Want to know more about taking care of your pooch's oral health? Check out Dental Care for Dogs.

1. Brush your dog's teeth daily

While at first the idea can sound pretty daunting, working toothbrushing into your dog's daily routine is the best way to keep their breath fresh and prevent dental disease. Brushing every day helps to remove the build up of plaque and food particles which cause stinky breath.

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2. Switch to a dental health food

It may be tempting to think that adding a water additive to your pet's bowl will solve all their stinky breath problems, however they do need to be used in combination with one or more other dental health prevention management strategies to be effective.

Each water additive works a little differently, some contain mint extracts for fresher breath, while others can also help to slow down the growth of bacteria on the teeth. If you do use water additives, be sure to follow the packaging directions closely as most require you to change the water daily.

Shop all Dental Water Additives for Dogs

By checking in with your vet and taking some steps to support your dog's dental health, you can get their breath back to smelling fresh and clean - ready for lots of slobbery doggy kisses!

Want to know more? Check out some more of our articles below:

Dental Care for Dogs

Dental Care for Cats

Kidney Disease in Pets

The Best Treats for Your Dog

Why Do Dogs Roll in Smelly Things?