Doggie pet parents are very familiar with the smell of normal doggie breath. Sure, it’s not the best smell, but it usually doesn’t smell really bad. Your dog’s breath may smell like the last thing he ate (such as fish out of the trash), which can be pretty foul. The smell eventually goes away, and your dog’s breath is back to normal. However, there are times when a dog’s breath may become truly bad.
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Has your dog’s breath started smelling like a dumpster? Are you worried this could be a sign that your dog is sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog develops this type of symptom.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what may cause a dog’s breath to smell like a dumpster and what you can do to help your dog. Let’s get started!
First Check This!
The number one cause of dumpster dog breath is dental disease. Dental disease includes gum disease, periodontal disease, tooth decay/abscesses, oral ulcers, oral infections, oral tumors, and more.
For this reason, it’s strongly recommended that you make an appointment for your dog with the vet. Only the vet can definitively diagnose and treat any type of dental or oral disease your fur baby may have.
The chances are that once the vet has diagnosed and treated the issue, your dog’s breath will return to normal doggie breath again!
Other Causes of Dumpster Breath in Dogs
There are some other health issues that may make a dog’s breath smell like a dumpster, including:
Respiratory conditions: problems with any part of the respiratory system (from the sinuses to the lungs) can cause foul breath in dogs. The issue could be an infection, tumors, cancer, or even pneumonia.
Systemic disease: these include such conditions as kidney failure and diabetes. When the kidneys are not able to function normally, certain waste products build up in the dog’s system, which can cause bad breath. And diabetes may cause a dog’s breath to even smell like fruit.
Dietary indiscretion: this is another common problem in dogs. They love to eat anything and everything! If your dog’s breath smells like a dumpster, then you should check to see if he’s gotten into the trash. It’s possible his garbage breath is caused by eating things from the trash, eating feces from another animal, finding and eating something dead, and more.
Digestive tract issues: any part of the digestive tract could have a problem that makes a dog’s breath smell like garbage. This can include vomiting, stomach ulcers, and more.
How to Help Your Dog
If your dog’s breath is smelling like the local dumpster, then it’s best to make an appointment with the veterinarian. The vet can find and treat the problem, resulting in your dog feeling better. What’s more, his breath will smell better, too!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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