Dog Bad Breath: Causes, What Helps and When to See the Vet

A little "dog breath" is normal. A smell that makes you turn your head when your dog yawns is not. Most of the time bad breath comes from plaque and tartar on the teeth, but it can also come from food stuck in a beard, a lip fold, something your dog ate, or, less often, a health problem that needs a vet. Here's how to tell the difference, what actually freshens breath, which home remedies to skip, and when it's time for a cleaning.

What causes bad breath in dogs?

• Plaque, tartar and gum disease. By far the most common reason. Bacteria in plaque produce smelly sulfur compounds, and as plaque hardens into yellow or brown tartar and the gums get inflamed, the smell gets stronger. Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in adult dogs.
• Small mouth, crowded teeth. Small breeds such as Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Maltese, Shih Tzus and Pomeranians, and flat-faced breeds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs, build tartar faster because their teeth sit close together.
• Food trapped in the hair or skin around the mouth. Beards on Schnauzers and doodles, long mouth hair on Shih Tzus, and lip folds on Cocker Spaniels and Bulldogs hold food and drool. Sometimes the "breath" is really the beard.
• Something they ate. Poop, garbage, dead things or a strong-smelling food can all leave a temporary smell.
• Teething. Puppies lose their baby teeth around 3 to 6 months, and breath can smell different while the gums are sore. It should settle once the adult teeth are in.
• A stuck object, broken tooth or infection. A stick or bone fragment wedged between teeth, a cracked tooth or an abscess can cause a sudden, very bad smell, often on one side.
• Health problems beyond the mouth. Less often, breath changes are a sign of kidney disease, diabetes, liver problems or digestive issues. These need a vet.

What your dog's breath smell can mean

Smell alone can't diagnose anything, but it's a useful clue for your vet.

• Fishy: usually dental disease. It can also happen when a dog licks its rear end after its anal glands release.
• Like poop: eating poop is common, but a constant poop-like or rotten smell can also mean advanced gum disease or a digestive problem.
• Like a dead animal or rotting: often a badly infected tooth, gum disease, something stuck in the mouth, or a growth. Have the mouth checked.
• Like urine or ammonia: can be a sign of kidney disease, especially in older dogs who also drink and pee more. See your vet.
• Sweet or fruity: can be a sign of diabetes. See your vet, especially if your dog is thirsty or losing weight.
• Metallic: may be blood from the gums or a mouth injury.

How to get rid of bad dog breath

1. Brush the teeth. Daily is ideal; 3 times a week still helps a lot. Use a toothpaste made for dogs and focus on the outside of the back teeth, where tartar builds fastest. Start slowly: let your dog lick the paste, then touch the teeth with a finger, then a brush.
2. Add a dental chew or water additive with the VOHC seal. The Veterinary Oral Health Council lists products shown to reduce plaque or tartar. Chews and additives help, but they don't replace brushing.
3. Check the mouth once a week. Lift the lips and look for red gums, yellow buildup, broken teeth or anything stuck.
4. Keep the face clean. Wipe beards and lip folds after meals, and keep the hair around the mouth trimmed. A groomer can do this between full grooms; at our Boca Raton salon it's part of the Tidy Up.
5. Book cleanings. Follow your vet's advice on professional dental care, often a yearly exam. For healthy mouths, a cosmetic cleaning between vet visits keeps tartar from building up. See our anesthesia-free teeth cleaning guide.

Home remedies to skip

• Human toothpaste: not safe for dogs. Many contain fluoride and some contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Dogs swallow toothpaste, so use one made for them.
• Baking soda pastes: salty, unpleasant for most dogs and don't remove tartar.
• Apple cider vinegar, coconut oil or yogurt: there's little evidence they freshen breath in a lasting way, and none of them remove tartar.
• Mint or parsley treats and breath sprays: they can mask the smell for a while but don't fix the cause.
• Scraping tartar yourself: metal scalers can scratch the enamel and cut the gums, and they don't reach below the gumline where the real problem is.

When to see a vet

Call your vet if bad breath comes on suddenly or comes with any of these: red, bleeding or receding gums, loose or broken teeth, swelling on the face, pawing at the mouth, dropping food or chewing on one side, heavy drooling, not eating, vomiting, drinking much more water, or yellow gums or eyes. Senior dogs with new bad breath should get a checkup too.

How a groomer can help

Every Pawradise bath and groom includes teeth brushing and a nail trim, plus a clean face, so your dog comes home smelling fresh from nose to tail. At our Boca Raton salon we also offer anesthesia-free teeth cleaning as an add-on for dogs with healthy gums, done by Pawradise owner Gerson. It's a gentle cosmetic cleaning of the visible tooth surfaces, not a replacement for your vet; if we see signs that need a vet, we'll tell you. Learn more in our anesthesia-free teeth cleaning guide.

Breeds that need extra dental care

Small and flat-faced breeds tend to build tartar fastest. See the grooming and teeth tips in our Yorkie, Chihuahua, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Pug, French Bulldog and Dachshund guides. Got a beard to keep clean? Read the Miniature Schnauzer guide.

Dog bad breath FAQ

This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog's breath changes suddenly or comes with other symptoms, see your vet. More Pawfile guides.