Doggie breath is the normal smell a dog’s breath has when he’s healthy! While that odor doesn’t always smell great to us, it’s a sign your dog is healthy. But what happens if a dog’s breath starts to smell really bad?
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. No waiting for appointments or office hours. No high fees. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Has your dog’s breath begun to smell like burnt rubber? Are you worried this could be a sign 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 a symptom of this kind.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what can cause a dog’s breath to smell like burnt rubber and what you can do to help your dog. Let’s get started!
First Check This!
Is there a chance your dog could have encountered a skunk? Many pet parents describe the smell of skunk spray as similar to the smell of burned rubber. And with more skunks living in urban areas, it’s entirely possible for your dog to have been around a skunk and gotten sprayed.
In this case, while your dog’s breath may smell like burned rubber, his entire body probably smells the same way. If your dog has been licking the place that was sprayed, the smell could be transferred to his mouth, too.
So, this may be the reason your dog’s breath smells like burnt rubber. Even so, there are some other reasons your dog’s breath may smell foul.
Other Causes of Burnt Rubber Smell in Dog’s Breath
There are some underlying health issues that could also cause a dog’s breath to smell like burnt rubber, including:
Kidney disease: can cause a dog’s breath to smell horrible. This is because when the kidneys are not able to function correctly, waste products build up in the dog’s system. As the waste products build-up, the dog’s breath will start to smell foul and will be accompanied by other symptoms, as well.
Coprophagia: some dogs love nothing better than eating the poop of other animals. This can cause the dog’s breath to smell like poop or even like burnt rubber.
Oral tumors: can cause a dog’s breath to smell like burned rubber or even a sewer.
Dental issues: such as rotting teeth, abscesses, gum disease, and more can cause a dog’s breath to become very foul.

Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live NowHow to Help Your Dog
As you can see, there are a number of health issues that can cause a dog’s breath to smell bad. If your dog wasn’t sprayed by a skunk and you can’t determine the cause of the burnt rubber smell, then it’s best to get your dog an appointment with the vet.
The vet will be able to make a diagnosis and treat the underlying health issue that’s causing your dog’s bad breath. The good news is that once the health issue has been treated, your dog’s breath should go back to his normal doggie breath again!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. No waiting for appointments or office hours. No high fees. No need to worry about your furry family member.

Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now