A dog’s breath may not be one of your favorite smells; however, it does show your dog is healthy and happy! Normal dog breath shouldn’t smell bad or foul. It should just smell like doggie breath! But what happens if a dog’s breath changes and all of a sudden smells really bad?
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Has your dog’s breath started smelling like baking soda? Are you worried this could indicate that your dog is sick? If so, then 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 can cause a dog’s breath to smell like baking soda and what you can do to help your dog. Let’s get started!
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One of the most common causes of a dog’s breath smelling like baking soda is diabetes mellitus. Pet parents have described their dog’s breath as smelling sweet or sometimes like a chemical, such as baking soda or chemicals.
When a dog has diabetes, his body isn’t able to produce enough insulin. It means his body can’t effectively break down sugar for energy. Instead, the body begins to use fat for energy. This can cause a dog’s breath to smell like baking soda or chemicals.
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If your dog has diabetes, he may show these symptoms in addition to bad breath:
- Frequent drinking/urination
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Foul-smelling breath
- Depressed attitude
- Vomiting
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, it’s best to call the vet right away. Diabetes is a serious illness that must be treated right away. Diabetes can lead to further health issues such as blindness, enlarged liver, seizures, organ failure, and more.
Other Causes of Baking Soda Breath in Dogs
There are some other health issues that can cause baking soda breath in dogs, including:
Dental problems: this can include all types of issues such as tooth decay, oral tumors, abscesses, gum disease, and more. Dental problems can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, which can form tartar and other nasties. A dog with dental problems can become very sick.
Kidney disease: can cause foul-smelling breathing in dogs. This is because the kidneys are not able to function correctly and remove waste products from the blood. These waste products then stay in the bloodstream, causing bad breath and more.
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Ask a Vet Live NowHow to Help Your Dog
As you can see, there are many conditions that can cause a dog’s breath to smell bad. For this reason, it’s recommended that you make an appointment for your dog with the vet.
The vet will examine your dog and run tests to determine what’s causing his bad breath and other symptoms. The good news is that once the health issue has been treated, your dog’s breath should return to normal! You’ll have a happy, healthy dog that has regular doggie breath again!
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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