Severely Stinky Breath in a Dog: Mia’s Case of Terrible-Smelling Breath
What can I do about my dog’s stinky breath?
Asking how to get rid of a dog’s foul breath is one of the most common question dog parents ask. There are also many tips and advice they receive. The bottom line is, however, that a dog’s breath doesn’t smell bad without a reason. Unless you find and address the reason, you’re simply masking the problem instead of solving it.
Oral disease is the most common cause of bad breath in dogs. But it’s not the only one. Be particularly on guard when your dog’s breath starts stinking suddenly. Acute onset calls for prompt attention.
Mia’s story
Stinky breath can upset your relationship with your dog. Avoiding their love or trying to mask the odor, however, is not a solution.
Mia was a three-year-old, healthy, Golden Retriever. Her entire life, her breath didn’t have any odor. Until things suddenly changed. Suddenly, Mia didn’t even have to be that close for her mom to notice stink coming out of Mia’s mouth. It was a horrible, disgusting smell—the rotting garbage type.
Other than the sudden terrible smell coming out of Mia’s mouth, there were no signs of an obvious problem. Mia was full of energy and her appetite was good.
Mia’s mom tried some home remedies including a dog breath-freshening spray.
The smell is getting worse
In spite of all the things Mia’s mom tried, Mia’s breath kept stinking worse by day. Something else has changed too. Mia became quiet and less interested in walks and activities.
It wasn’t until Mia’s mom noticed a trace of blood-stained saliva by Mia’s food bowl when she realized something was seriously amiss.
At the veterinarian
The smell coming out of Mia’s mouth would be hard to miss by a dead person. The veterinarian noticed it at once. He did examine Mial carefully all over but her mouth seemed to be the source of the culprit. But what was going on? Bad tooth? An infected wound?
Mia didn’t want to open her mouth enough so the veterinarian could take a really good look inside. He had no choice but to sedate her to look for the problem.
Mia’s teeth, tongue, and gums looked fine.
What was Mia’s problem
And just like that, Mia’s problem became obvious. She had a piece of stick firmly lodged against the roof of her mouth. It was really stuck between her back teeth, pressing hard against her gums.
All this led to a deep, infected ulcer. The infection was the source of the horrible smell.
The treatment
The stick was stuck so tightly that it too forceps to get it out. The veterinarian then gave Mia pain medication and antibiotics and she could go home.
As it turned out, Mia loved chewing on sticks. That is, unfortunately, what can happen if your dog likes doing that.
Once Mia’s problem was found and addressed accordingly, Mia healed quickly and the smell of her breath became undetectable again.
In closing
Don’t dismiss your dog’s bad breath—it is not normal. Well, unless your dog just feasted on something awful. Make sure that you nail down the problem. Solve that, solve the stinky breath.
Source story:
Mia, a three-year-old Golden Retriever who had a bad case of halitosis
Related articles:
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Stick Injuries in Dogs: Watson’s Story
Further reading:
Embedded Objects in the Oral Cavity in Dogs
Wow! At least it was fixable and Mia is okay.
Yes, It does come to show how important it is to pay attention and seek answers.
I’m glad that Mia is okay now and that her stinky break wasn’t caused by something worse. I never would have thought that a stick would get stuck like that.
Yes, it could have been something worse. However, a foreign body like that can cause quite a mess too, including tissue necrosis. So it can get scary too.
That’s rather frightening, poor girl must have been in such pain. I assumed bad teeth was going to be the answer. Glad they got it sorted out for her.
Bad teeth are often the answer. But not always.
THAT sounds really painful for the dog! I totally empathise with Mia! That was a tough experience and I hope she is recovered now.
* ouch *
Yes, it was. Once it was removed, she recovered quickly with antibiotics.
A stuck stick – now that sounds painful! Poor Mia – but, I’m glad her mom knew to take her to the vet. Breath odor is definitely a telltale sign that something isn’t right. Hopefully Mia will cease her stick chewing ways!
Those things can do terrible damage. Not only infections and pain but even tissue necrosis.
Great post, Layla only chews turkey tendons but I watch her carefully also all the time and thank goodness to date no problems. I do use good dental products on her also to keep her teeth healthy
Cookie had a little piece of bone stuck once; but I noticed it right away and it came out easily.