4 Reasons Why Your Dog Has Bad Breath in Ruston, LA

Most of us take for granted that pets will have bad breath. This just seems like part of the experience of owning a dog or a cat. However, there are some instances where bad breath can be more severe and linked to health conditions. You should be prepared for your pet’s breath to smell different than a human’s, but you should be worried about severely bad breath.

Dogs with really bad breath might have oral infections or other severe dental conditions, or they could be dealing with internal health issues that are causing their breath to be bad. You should not ignore dog bad breath due to the array of different conditions that can be linked to it. Getting your dog evaluated for bad breath in Ruston, LA should be important to you so that you can be sure that there is not something severe going on with their health.

Reasons for bad Dog Breath

Listed below are the main 4 reasons your dog has bad breath:

1. Tartar and Dental Issues

Dogs with dental issues like tartar, broken teeth, or infected gums can have terrible breath. This is the most common reason for your pet’s really bad breath. Your veterinarian will need to provide your dog with a professional dental cleaning, just like a human cleaning which is done under light sedation and using specialized tools. Your vet can also pull any damaged or infected teeth, and they can send you home with antibiotics to help your pet’s mouth heal.

Some dogs with really bad breath will also stop eating, or they might act like eating is not comfortable. These are all warning signs of severe dental issues that need to be addressed for your pet’s well-being. Issues with your pet’s dental health can actually lead to systemic issues and heart problems, so ignoring dental issues is not advisable.

2. Kidney Issues

Pets with kidney disease can have bad breath as well. This kind of bad breath often smells like urine or feces. This is because your dog’s kidneys are not filtering out the blood correctly, and this is leading to the overgrowth of bacterial compounds and a systemic issue that is causing the bad breath. Pets with kidney disease can be treated successfully unless the disease is really advanced. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you about a change of diet and some medications that can help make your dog’s kidneys able to handle their tasks on a daily basis again.

Kidney disease is progressive, so the sooner that your dog gets to the veterinarian, the better. You will be more likely to have a favorable outcome for this kind of issue if you get your dog treatment right away.

3. Liver Disease

Just like kidney health issues, liver disease can lead to bad breath as well as vomiting and diarrhea. Some breeds are more prone to this problem, and pets that have suffered from a severe gastric issue in the past might also be more likely to have liver disease. This is another condition that is often managed in part by changes to your dog’s diet, but you might also need to work with your vet for more advanced treatments. Liver disease is progressive, just like kidney disease, so the sooner that your pet gets to the vet, the better.

4. Eating Foul Things

Dogs can sometimes be really attracted to really disgusting things that they should not be eating. If your dog has a large yard to play in, they might be finding something really smelly to eat while they are outdoors. This can lead to bad breath, that seems like it is related to a health issue but is just being caused by the things that your dog is eating. You should comb the yard for things that might be causing this issue if your veterinarian does not think that your dog has a health issue that is leading to their bad breath.

Making sure that your pet is not eating anything that smells bad can be a good idea to prevent accidental toxicity or poisoning. Many of the things that your pet might be finding to eat in the garbage or the compost pile are not ideal for them to be eating.

What Else Can I Do About Stinky Breath?

If you have taken your dog to the vet and they are getting treatment for the underlying condition that is causing their bad breath, you might not be sure what else can be done about their smelly breath. You can actually brush your pet’s teeth, and many dogs learn to like having their teeth brushed. Make sure that you teach your dog with patience at first, but you should find that your dog will not mind having their teeth cared for in this way.

Brushing your dog’s teeth can also help to prevent major dental issues, lost teeth, and heart health issues. Always make sure that you get dog-specific toothpaste, as human toothpaste is toxic to dogs. Your pet will thank you for making sure to take care of their oral health. Bad breath in dogs is almost always a sign of more serious issues, and you should be sure to pay attention to this issue.

Contact Lagniappe Animal Health if Your Dog Has Bad Breath

If you notice your dog has bad breath or if you would like to learn more, contact Lagniappe Animal Health in Ruston, LA by calling (318) 255-3303 or scheduling an appointment. Your pet deserves a lifetime of heartfelt care and our team is here to do just that.