Why Is My Puppys Breath so Terrible?

Bad Breath and Halitosis in Animals (dogs, puppies specifically)

He’s your best friend and confidante, and when you look into those big brown eyes, it’s pure puppy love. Maybe you could stand more face to face time with your furry friend, if only his doggie breath wasn’t so terrible! It may help to know you’re not alone, as veterinarians everywhere field the common question: why is my dog’s breath so bad?

For starters, it’s good to know that bad breath and halitosis in animals should not go unchecked. Besides being an inconvenience for the pet’s owner, bad breath can be a sign of hidden health problems, and a trained professional can give your pet a thorough examination to determine the cause of its bad breath. Most commonly, tooth and gum problems are the source of puppy halitosis, caused by tartar buildup around the animal’s teeth. The decomposition of bacteria caused by undigested food in the mouth is what ultimately causes the foul breath smell in most dogs and animals.

In puppies and young animals, halitosis is often caused by a different reason. As these young pets shed their baby teeth, the significant amount of accompanying drool can lead to bad breath. Diseases causing halitosis in older pets can include conditions of the kidneys and liver, or may include feline leukemia in cats, all of which are serious and should be treated immediately.

The best way to treat or prevent bad breath and halitosis in animals is to visit your veterinarian for yearly checkups. Additionally, dry commercial pet food and rawhide treats and bones can chip away at tartar while massaging the pet’s gums, plus dental buildup will not develop as quickly with dry food as it will in pets with soft food diets. Brushing the dog’s teeth is a practice that is gaining widespread acceptance, and is generally readily recommended by veterinarians to prevent dangerous buildup of plaque. Dr. Katz offers a number of effective and simple to use oral care products for your pet, including an oxygenating solution designed to systematically treat your puppy’s bad breath.

Copyright © 2006 bad-breath.org