Why Does My Dog's Breath Smell?

You love your canine pal but not so much his smelly breath. What causes it, exactly? And are you stuck smelling it for the rest of his life? Our team at TLC for Pets serving Owings Mills, MD, and Reisterstown, MD, can help answer those questions. For pet care from a “veterinarian near me” at an “animal hospital near me,” call us.

Causes and Treatments for Bad Breath

Dogs can have smelly breath for both some really normal issues and some that are a bit more serious. We’ll go over the most common ones below.

Their Choice of Food

You might feed your dogs food made specifically for them, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try out other cuisines. Sometimes, they’ll eat dead animals, rotting food, garbage, feces, and other not-so-nice-smelling things. These can definitely make their breath smelly, but it should go away on its own. Even normal dog food itself can cause a bad smell.

Lack of Hygiene

Even if you brush your canine’s teeth, you probably don’t do it every day. This means that food, bacteria, and other things are sitting in their mouths and can cause foul breath. Regular dental care at home and dental care visits with a veterinarian near you can help take care of such things.

Liver Disease

The liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and eliminating waste. When liver disease is present, those toxins build up instead. Unfortunately, this can cause smelly breath.

Kidney Disease

Kidneys are also responsible for filtering out toxins. If the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, the toxins build up and can lead to breath that smells like urine or ammonia.

In many cases, regular dental care can put a halt to bad breath. However, in cases such as kidney disease and liver disease, you’ll likely need the expertise of a veterinarian to manage the condition and treat the bad breath.

Get Pet Dental Care from a Veterinarian

Our team at TLC for Pets can help determine the underlying cause of bad breath and the best method of treatment. Call (410) 833-1717 to schedule an appointment. If you’re in the Owings Mills, MD, or Reisterstown, MD, vicinity, and searching for “veterinarian near me” or “animal hospital near me,” we are here for you.