Bad breath in dogs: what it usually means and what helps

A dog's breath should not make you turn your head. Mild doggy breath after dinner is normal; a smell that is there every day, or one that has changed, is information, and it is worth reading correctly before you reach for anything that promises to fix it.

Where the smell usually comes from

In most dogs the smell comes from the mouth itself. Plaque, the soft film that builds on the teeth every day, traps food and gives off an odour as it ages, and when it hardens into tartar along the gum line the smell becomes constant. The upper back teeth are the usual source, because they are the hardest to reach and the first to be missed.

Other things can be going on. Food caught between teeth or under the lip, something eaten on a walk, a chewed toy that has gone sour, or a problem elsewhere in the body can all change the smell. That is why a smell that persists, or a sweet, metallic or unusually foul smell, is a reason to book your vet rather than a reason to buy a product.

What a daily routine does

Brushing the outer surfaces of the teeth once a day with a pet toothpaste disrupts plaque while it is still soft, which is the stage at which it can be managed at home. Done daily, it keeps the mouth cleaner and the breath fresher-smelling. Done once a month, it does very little, because plaque has hardened long before the brush arrives.

We brush Merlo with Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste, which is VOHC Accepted for plaque control in dogs, on a soft bamboo brush. If your dog has never been brushed, start with taste alone for a few days and add the brush gradually; the FAQ has the week-by-week steps. Supervised chewing on a textured toy such as the tyre rope flosser helps between brushes, but it is a supplement, not a substitute.

What a daily routine cannot do

No toothpaste, chew, powder or water additive can shift tartar that has already set, and none of ours is intended to. If your dog's back teeth already carry a brown crust, or the gums are red where they meet the teeth, the first step is a vet check and, if your vet advises it, a professional clean. Home brushing then keeps the clean mouth clean, which is exactly what it is good at.

Be wary of anything described as a cure for bad breath. The smell is a symptom. Mask it and the cause carries on unnoticed.

Signs that mean your vet should look

• Breath that smells bad every day, or has changed character.
• Red, swollen or bleeding gums, or a brown build-up on the teeth.
• A loose, broken or discoloured tooth.
• Drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side or pawing at the mouth.
• Reluctance to eat hard food or to be touched around the face.
• Any swelling of the face or under the eye.

Petdentist® products are non-medicinal daily-care products. They are for keeping a healthy mouth clean and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition, so if any of the above applies, see your vet first and start the home routine on a clean mouth afterwards.

A realistic plan for a smelly dog

1. Lift the lip on both sides and look at the back teeth. Brown crust or red gums: book the vet.
2. Nothing obvious: start daily brushing with a pet toothpaste, taste first, brush within a fortnight.
3. Give it three to four weeks of daily brushing before you judge the breath.
4. Still smelly, or smelly in a new way: book the vet. The mouth may not be the cause.

Questions people ask

Can I use a breath spray or mints for my dog?

Sprays and mints mask a smell for an hour or two and do nothing about plaque. Spend the money on a pet toothpaste and a soft brush instead, and ask your vet if the smell persists.

Does a probiotic help with dog breath?

Our probiotic powder is a complementary feed that supports normal digestion. It is not a breath product and we do not make any claim about breath for it.

How quickly will brushing change the smell?

If the smell comes from soft plaque, most owners notice a difference within two to four weeks of daily brushing. If there is hardened tartar, brushing alone will not change the smell and your vet needs to look.

Read next: How to check your dog's teeth at home, Signs your dog's mouth needs a vet visit, Caring for your dog's teeth at home.

About the author. Dr Deepak Songra BDS (GDC 68552) is a dental surgeon with more than 35 years in clinical practice and the founder of Petdentist®. He is not a vet. He lives with Merlo, the Cavapoo you will see across this site.

This article is general information about daily care, not veterinary advice. Petdentist® products are non-medicinal daily-care products for dogs and cats and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are worried about your pet, please see your vet. Petdentist® is the trading name of Pet Dentist L.L.C-FZ, Meydan Grandstand, 6th Floor, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE. UK orders are dispatched from Northampton.