Bad breath

[sandykay65]

What can I do to cure my dogs horrible breath? Whew!

[Misfits4Me]

Yes, terrible mouth odor can come from the stomach......Here's how to tell the difference:
Get your dog a STUFFED toy to play with.....Play catch or tug of war or something that gets he/she to chew on the toy....Take the toy & smell of it....If the odor is there, then it's the teeth!

Digestive issues can come from many things from food not agreeing, low quality food , acid reflux,  to malabsorption issues where they are not digesting their food correctly....

Look into Digestive enzymes & Probiotics for stomach problems....Happily, Great quality foods are starting to add probiotics to their recipes....I'm glad to see that....Digestive Enzymes IMO, are a must if your dog is eating only dry kibble.....Enzymes are the key to life for people, too. They can only be found in unprocessed foods.....Raw meats, fruits & veggies.....Good luck & please come back w/updates......Karla

[Margot49]

I've just been in too much of a hurry lately. LOL
Let me rephrase that......
Bad breath won't cause systemic problems but can be an indication of systemic problems.  
:-)

[Margot49]

Agree with Karla, poor dental care can cause bad breath and can also cause systemic problems. Bad breath can also be a sign of something internal going on.  I would give the dog's mouth a good inspection to see if anything looks nasty, red, swollen, etc as there may be an infection going on.  If you press on the gums, to they bleed easily?  They should be a nice pink color.  Make sure to check way in the back of the mouth around the back molars, on the outside and the inside of the tooth.  Those are usually the most likely ones to get plaque build up and to get infected.  Is your dog due for a Vet exam?  It may be time go take the dog in for an exam and discuss with the Vet.  
Another thought is, does the dog eat things he shouldn't?  Does he have access to areas outside where cats may be defacting?  Dogs love to eat cat poop!!  Disgusting, I know.  :-)  That will give them bad breath for sure.

[Ghilly]

Karla's post is spot on.  I would just like to add that, while most of the time, bad breath IS due to dental issues, if you have your dog's teeth cleaned and there is no periodontal disease present and your dog still has bad breath, it's time to look further down the digestive system to make sure there are no stomach problems.  Stomach problems can also be responsible for horrendous breath that wafts up when the dog belches.

Ghilly

[Misfits4Me]

Hello & welcome...Statistically, 85% of dogs have some kind of Periodontal Disease by the age of 3.....That kind of blows the theory that dry kibble cleans teeth!

"Horrible Breath" is a classic sign that you need to have your dog's teeth evaluated.....If he/she has never had a dental, then it's time to consider it......

Dental Disease can lead to pain, painful abscesses, not wanting to eat, bad breath & can get so bad, that the bacteria is filtered through the bloodstream and causes Severe Heart Problems......

After you have his teeth cleaned & extractions of any rotten/diseased teeth (This causes incredible odor), , brush them with doggie toothpaste (NOT people), 3-4 times a week........

There are many dental chews available, also......Or better yet, Raw Bones.....NEVER cooked.....Cooked bones are dangerous!    Good luck, Karla