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Do you know of a dog that has minty fresh breath? Most pet parents would answer no to that question! Healthy dogs have breath that’s not exactly fresh, but pet parents wouldn’t say their dog’s breath was horrendous! However, what happens if a dog’s breath begins to smell very bad?
Has your dog’s breath begun to smell like seafood? Are you worried this could be a sign your dog could be sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog develops a symptom like this.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what causes a dog’s breath to smell like seafood and how you can help your dog. Let’s get started!
Check This First!
A dog’s breath can begin to smell like seafood or fish if he’s recently eaten something from the sea. For instance, stop and consider whether your dog may have gotten into the trash. Was there some leftover fish or fish bones your dog could have eaten? Did you feed your dog some seafood recently? Or does your canine companion’s food contain seafood?
If so, then one of these could be the cause of your dog’s smelly breath! If not, then read on to learn about other causes of seafood breath in dogs.
What Causes Seafood Breath in Dogs?
There are other causes of seafood breath in dogs that go beyond eating fish or seafood. Doing the research, we found that a dog’s seafood breath could be caused by the following medical conditions:
Microbiome issues: not many people are aware that their dog’s gut bacteria could be causing his seafood breath. When an imbalance of bacteria in the gut occurs, it can cause bad breath.
Liver problems: can cause very bad breath in dogs. Accompanying symptoms may also include yellow coloring of the dog’s gums and eyes, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
Dietary indiscretion: dogs are famous for eating things they shouldn’t! For instance, dogs may eat something they find on the ground, such as dead fish or other types of sea creatures. This can lead to problems with a dog’s breath, his gut bacteria, and more.
Kidney problems: any type of problem with the kidney can lead to smelly breath or even very smelly urine.
Dental hygiene issues: problems in the mouth are one of the most common causes of bad breath in dogs, including dogs who have seafood breath. Here, the issues are plaque and tartar build-up, rotting teeth, abscesses, ulcers, and even tumors in the mouth can lead to bad breath in dogs.
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Ask a Vet Live NowHow to Help Your Dog
If your dog’s breath has started to smell like seafood, then it’s best to take him to the vet. The reason is that it can be difficult to really determine what’s causing your dog’s halitosis problem. The vet has all the knowledge and tools to determine what’s causing the bad breath. And the chances are that when the underlying health issue is cured, your dog’s breath will return to a normal, healthy dog’s breath once again!
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.
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.
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