CAUSES OF BAD BREATH IN PUPPIES
In healthy puppies, the odor from the oral cavity is mild, sometimes with an admixture of milk odor. If the owner does not notice how the puppy smells from the mouth, then the baby is healthy.
Change of teeth. Bad breath can appear for several reasons. Puppies get to know the world, including "by the tooth", simultaneously with the change of teeth, which takes place at the age of 3 to 6 months. They put everything into their mouths, sometimes completely inedible things with an unpleasant odor. But sometimes the reason why the dog has bad breath can be diseased.
Dental diseases. Some illnesses in puppies can lead to changes in the odor from the mouth. For example, gum disease, ulcerative lesions, stomatitis, pharyngitis, gastroenteritis, especially of an infectious nature (parvoviruses, coronavirus).
These diseases will be accompanied by the appearance of other changes: refusal to feed, salivation, bowel disorders. Puppies with bad breath from eating stale food will not have these symptoms.
Congenital pathologies. Pathologies of the hard palate, for example, cleavage of the hard palate, when the oral cavity is in communication with the nasal cavity, leads to the development of inflammation and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Also, some breeds of puppies are prone to congenital enlargement of the esophagus, when the esophageal tube becomes a sac where food masses are retained. In this case, in addition to the violation of food intake, regurgitation, bad breath appears.
Another reason for bad odors is leftover baby teeth and malocclusion. These pathologies can lead to the accumulation of food debris and change the environment of the oral cavity, the appearance of plaque, an increase in the number of bacteria, and a change in bad breath.
CAUSES OF BAD BREATH IN ADULT DOGS
Eating spoiled foods. It happens that adult dogs have a tendency to eat stale, spoiled foods that are found either in the trash can or on the street. Then the dog may get bad breath.
Foreign bodies. Foreign bodies lodged in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus can cause bad mouth odor.
Dental diseases. An unpleasant smell from the mouth in an adult dog can also occur with some diseases that can be directly related to damage to the oral cavity and teeth or due to internal diseases.
A large number of domestic dogs of middle and older age suffer from diseases of the oral cavity, the most predisposed to this is dwarf dog breeds. The tooth is located in the alveolar socket and is surrounded by tissues called the periodontium. Most dental diseases in adult animals are associated with gum disease and tartar formation, which often leads to tooth loss.
The mechanism of calculus formation and the development of periodontitis
The appearance of plaque (a film of bacteria, saliva, and food debris on the periodontium and tooth surface)
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Plaque accumulation, formation of new layers
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Plaque mineralization, stone formation
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Inflammation of the gums and gum pocket formation
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Exposure of the neck and root of the tooth
With the development of inflammation in the oral cavity, a large number of bacteria multiply, which causes the appearance of bad breath. A more general name for a disease in which inflammation and dystrophic processes affect a large number of structures (tooth roots, alveoli, periodontium, gums) is periodontal disease.
Other diseases. Chronic kidney disease with uremia (an increase in the metabolic products of protein in the blood - urea, and creatinine) also provokes the appearance of a repulsive odor. In severe cases, the dog starts to smell like urine.
Diabetes mellitus leads to the accumulation of ketones, which is accompanied by the appearance of an acetone odor from the animal.
Inflammations of the respiratory system with a bacterial component, neoplasms of the larynx, tumors of the bronchi and lungs with tissue destruction provoke the occurrence of bad breath and when the animal breathes.
Other causes of bad breath: purulent inflammation, tumors of the stomach, and duodenum. The smell from the mouth can have various contrasts: sour, putrid, fetid, mixed.
OTHER SYMPTOMS ACCOMPANYING MOUTH ODOR
Diseases of the oral cavity, tartar, in addition to an unpleasant odor, are accompanied by other symptoms. The pet's food intake is disturbed, the dog refuses to eat dry granules, chews food on one side of the jaw. Drooling may appear, the dog rubs its face, does not play with toys and chopsticks, and does not gnaw treats. With severe lesions of the teeth, swelling may develop in the muzzle, which is abscesses (a cavity in the jaw near a diseased tooth with purulent contents), which open after a few days with the appearance of purulent discharge. Redness of the gums, enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes are noted. When pain occurs, the pet becomes lethargic or restless, appetite decreases the dog whines.
Dogs with gastroenteritis have symptoms of intestinal upset, such as decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, and a bubbling stomach.
Diseases of the respiratory system with severe halitosis/halitosis (unpleasant odor from the oral cavity) are accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, purulent nasal discharge, increased body temperature, decreased activity.
Uremia, as a sign of chronic kidney failure, does not only lead to urine odor from the mouth. The animal also has a refusal to feed, vomiting, shortness of breath, weight loss, dull coat.
With diabetes mellitus, the pet will smell unpleasant, an increase in blood sugar causes weakness, a decrease in appetite, the dog's thirst increases, and urination increases. Vomiting and soft stools may develop, and sometimes itching and skin changes are observed.
EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT PROVOKE BAD BREATH
External factors that provoke a repulsive odor from the mouth in a pet are bacteria, food residues that get stuck in the gum pockets and undergo decomposition, as well as eating spoiled food by animals.
CARING FOR YOUR DOG'S MOUTH
The main protection of the oral cavity and teeth from diseases is regular care and timely access to a doctor. At each appointment at the clinic, the doctor must examine the pet's oral cavity, in addition to other manipulations.
Taking care of your domestic dog's oral cavity itself includes:
- Plaque removal is a commonplace tooth cleaning. To do this, there are toothbrushes and toothpaste that can be purchased at pet stores. They can be used to remove plaque.
It is recommended to brush your dog's teeth several times a week. You need to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth. After oral hygiene, you can rinse your dog's mouth with plain water.
We recommend that the wearer use a gauze pad on his finger or ear sticks to sanitize the teeth. But the owner should be warned to ensure that the dog does not swallow them.
When teeth are sanitized, not only the teeth are cleaned from plaque, but also the gums are massaged, breath is freshened and the number of bacteria in the oral cavity is reduced.
It is necessary to accustom the dog to oral hygiene from a young age. Then in the future, there will be no problems when brushing your teeth. Otherwise, it will be difficult even to just open the mouth of the animal. Currently, in addition to hygiene pastes, there are pastes for the prevention of plaque formation.
- Dental Plaque Treats are prophylactic pet treats that are textured to help clear plaque from your dog's teeth while chewing. They can be given several times a week. Some treats use additives, such as mint, to further freshen the pet's breath. The advantage of such delicacies is that when chewing, no pieces with sharp edges are formed (unlike bones and sticks), and the pieces themselves are well digested in the intestines.
Certain treats can also help maintain healthy teeth and gums. For example, PRO PLAN ® DENTAL PRO BAR for adult dogs and for small and dwarf breeds gently massages the gums thanks to its elastic structure and soothing clove extract.
- Food supplements for the prevention of plaque formation. Liquid food additives are usually added to drinking water, and mainly they have a local effect: they whiten teeth, dissolve plaque, reduce the number of bacteria, have a weak anti-inflammatory effect, while not affecting the stomach and intestines.
Powders based on seaweed are an additive to feed and act systemically: being absorbed in the intestines, they are included in saliva, thus preventing the accumulation of plaque.
DIAGNOSTICS
Diagnosis of the causes of bad breath is carried out by a veterinarian. Diagnostics consists of several stages:
- Collecting anamnesis. At the first stage of diagnosis, you need to ask the owner about the presence of changes in the condition of the pet.
- General examination of the animal. It allows you to identify external signs and suspect a disease.
- Examination of the dog's oral cavity. Evaluation is in progress:
head position;the presence of salivation;the symmetry of the muzzle, closing of the jaws;condition of the gums and tongue;the number of teeth, the presence of milk teeth, plaque, tartar;submandibular lymph nodes;pharynx (if the pet is not aggressive).
If the doctor did not detect changes in the oral cavity, then additional studies are carried out to identify systemic diseases. To do this, use laboratory methods (blood and urine tests - clinical and infectious profile), ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy, etc.
TREATMENT
Hygienic manipulations will not help remove tartar if it has already formed. In this case, they resort to dental manipulations.
Quality dental procedures in pets can only be performed under general anesthesia. These are rather lengthy procedures, which can take 1-3 hours, depending on the degree of tooth damage. After sedation, the pet undergoes dental radiography to determine the depth of the lesion, since outwardly it is not always possible to identify bad teeth.
The doctor has to remove all the diseased teeth of the animal. It is recommended to explain to the owners that they should not be afraid, as pets can live without teeth and freely eat food. If you do not get rid of sick teeth, then there is a high risk of re-intervention, the development of inflammation, abscesses, and the appearance of chronic pain in the dog.
In the postoperative period, antibiotics and local treatment of the oral cavity with antiseptics are prescribed, as well as pastes to reduce the formation of dental plaque.
PROPHYLAXIS
Prevention of bad breath should be comprehensive:
regular oral hygiene;
prevention of eating spoiled food and other substances;
balanced feeding;
using a combination of dry and wet food;
the use of agents to reduce the formation of plaque and calculus - preventive delicacies, liquids, and dietary supplements;
preventive dental treatment under general anesthesia to remove plaque, tartar, and polish teeth;
clinical examination for the detection of chronic diseases.
WHAT DOES IGNORING TREATMENT LEAD TO?
Diseased teeth and sore gums not only cause local discomfort and pain in the animal, loss of teeth and even fractures of the lower jaw. They also adversely affect the general condition of the body. A large number of bacteria from the oral cavity through the circulatory system are carried to vital organs. Dogs with chronic periodontal disease and tartar often develop rhinitis, fistulas (openings between the mouth and nose), sinusitis, and chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, stomach, and intestines. Nutrient deficiencies and weight loss develop due to poor feed intake. Inattention to the general condition of the dog and bad breath due to systemic diseases can lead to serious consequences and death of the pet.
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