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.
Dogs are not exactly known for their great-smelling breath! Many pet parents agree that their dog’s breath doesn’t smell great. But what happens if a dog’s breath becomes foul and gross?
Has your dog’s breath started to smell like poop? Are you worried this could be a sign that your dog’s 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 poop and what you can do to help your dog. Let’s get started!
First Check This!
Some dogs love nothing better than eating poop. They may eat the poop of other animals they find outside. This is a common problem, which has a name – it’s called coprophagia. Another health issue that may go along with coprophagia is called pica.
Coprophagia is a type of eating disorder in dogs (and other animals) that eat poop. Now, in some cases, eating poop is perfectly normal. For instance, a mother dog may eat her puppy’s feces to keep the den clean. However, other dogs simply enjoy eating poop. They may be hungry, suffer from parasites, or have other health issues, including pica.
Pica causes a dog (and humans/other animals) to eat none food items, such as poop, dirt, and more. Dogs with pica may also have underlying medical issues such as parasites, nutritional deficiencies, or they can be hungry.
If your dog regularly eats poop, this could be the cause of his problem! This is a situation that definitely needs to be checked by the vet.
Other Reasons a Dog’s Breath May Smell Like Poop
There are also many other issues that can cause a dog’s breath to smell like poop, including:
Kidney disease: this may include infections, stones, and more. A kidney problem may cause a dog’s breath and urine to smell very bad.
Oral tumors & other dental issues: any type of dental problem can cause a dog’s breath to smell like poop. This includes oral tumors, lesions in the mouth, periodontal disease, gingivitis, abscessed/rotting teeth, infections, and more.
Gastrointestinal problems: there are certain digestive tract issues that can cause foul breath in dogs. These include gastritis, bacteria overgrowth, and more.
Anal gland issues: have you notice your dog licking his rear end a lot lately? This could be an indication that your dog’s having trouble with his anal glands. The anal glands are located on either side of the rectum. So, if your dog is licking in that area quite often, his breath could smell like poop.
Dog’s diet: what a dog eats has a direct bearing on how good or bad his breath maybe! If your dog loves to munch down on garbage, for instance, this could be one source of his breath problem! Another problem could be your dog is allergic to his dog food. This may be accompanied by other symptoms such as itchy, red, irritated skin, excessive scratching, breathing difficulties, and more.
These are some of the most common problems that can cause a dog’s breath to smell like poop.
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
If your dog has dietary problems such as eating poop or just has poop-smelling breath, then it’s time to call the vet.
Your vet will have the knowledge and experience to determine what’s causing your dog’s breath to smell like poop. The good news is that once the underlying health issue is cured, your dog’s breath will be much fresher again! You and your canine companion can then again enjoy being close once more!
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.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now