Help! My dog has bad breath

Causes of bad breath

In a healthy mouth, the gums should be uniformly pale pink and moist, and the teeth should be shiny and white (the crown), including the molars at the very back of the mouth! Bad breath isn’t normal and can be caused by many different things. For example, dental disease, diet, things stuck in the mouth, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, airway infections or full anal glands.

When plaque (white/cream soft deposit) builds up it becomes calculus, also known as tartar. Tartar is a hard, brown material that sticks to the teeth, allowing bacteria to lodge on the surface. Plaque and calculus cause inflammation of the gum, which is called gingivitis. This usually affects the area of gum closest to the tooth. Gingivitis is identifiable as red, swollen or bleeding gums.

If an inflamed gum is not treated, it allows bacteria in the plaque to penetrate the tooth below the gum line. The bond between the tooth and the gum weakens, forming pockets of bacteria, which cause further tooth damage. At this stage, gingivitis is usually painful but can still be reversed with prompt treatment to remove the plaque and calculus.

Inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth is called periodontitis. Left untreated, periodontitis damages the structure of the tooth and the surrounding ligament. It also destroys the bone underneath the gum line, loosening the tooth, which can result in tooth loss. Bacteria from the damaged tissues are released into the bloodstream and can cause heart disease, such as endocarditis.

Signs of dental disease

• Bad breath
• Red, inflamed or angry-looking gums
• Drooling/excess salivation
• A change in eating behaviour: reluctance to eat, chewing on one side, gulping food, preferring wet food, no longer wanting to chew normal treats, or vocalising when they chew something firmer than normal
• No longer wanting to play with toys
• Facial swelling: may indicate an abscess
• Tooth loss

How can you help your dog?

• Prevention: brushing your dog’s teeth everyday is the best way to remove and prevent plaque build up
• Use a finger brush or a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. For example, Vetruus Stomodine, Logic Oral Hygiene Gel or Virbac Enzymatic Toothpaste Poultry Toothpaste
• Your dog will take time to get used to having their teeth brushed. Advice on how to start brushing your dog’s teeth can be found on the Virbac website
• If you are finding it difficult to brush your dog's teeth, other methods of plaque reduction are available, but they are designed to complement brushing:
  • Water additives: for example, Virbac Aquadent
  • Oral rinses: for example, Virbac Hexarinse
  • Seaweed supplements: for example, ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder
• Change your dog’s diet. Dry food is more abrasive than wet food, and can help to prevent plaque build-up. Specialised dental diets are designed to clean teeth by chewing. For example, Royal Canin Dental, or Hills t/d, which comes in two different sizes to suit smaller dogs as well as large breeds
• Choose a good quality brand that is low in sugar if your dog will only eat wet food
• Encourage your dog to play with rope toys; the fibres will rub against their teeth as they chew

Treatment of dental disease

Once plaque is attached to the tooth surface it can only be removed by mechanical means. Toothbrushing will remove mild plaque. However, ultrasonic descaling and polishing is needed for more advanced cases. A general anaesthetic will be required to enable thorough descaling and polishing, and to assess the health of the teeth and gums. Dental radiographs may be offered, which assess the tooth roots and identify any changes within the crown of the tooth. Whilst under anaesthetic, extractions of any teeth that have an infected root or fracture may be recommended.

When to see your vet

• If your dog has halitosis
• If you see any of the signs of dental disease mentioned above
• If your dog has a sore mouth, or a change in eating or chewing behaviour

Still worried?

Book a video appointment to have a chat with one of our vets.