Why does my 8 week old puppy have bad breath? Essential Tips

Why I’m Not a Big Fan of Puppy Breath

Whether or not normal puppy breath is pleasant is controversial. Humans have a genetic predisposition to how their noses interpret the specific smells like puppy breath.

I, for one, don’t particularly care for it. My nose smells a heavy, sweet-sour, skunk odor that is not at all pleasant when adorable little pups try to lick my face.

Many other people experience a sweet, pleasant odor and are sad when the puppy grows out of the puppy breath stage.

In fact, if you do a search for “puppy breath” online, you’ll find lots of unscientific opinions that say puppy breath exists to make people fall in love with puppies and not abuse them. If only that were true.

The scientific explanation is also a bit unscientific.

While we don’t completely understand puppy breath, most veterinary dentists and experts conclude that a number of factors are responsible for puppy breath:

Sometimes referred to as milk breath, puppy breath is most obvious during nursing and just after the pup is weaned. This is an insufficient explanation, however, since puppy breath lingers for several weeks after weaning.

Puppy mouths are clean and healthy, harboring none of the oral bacteria common in older dogs.

The GI tracts of puppies contain different bacteria and flora than do those of adults.

Why Do Puppies Get Bad Breath?

Below are 8 possible causes of bad breath in puppies:

Ingestion of Stinky Stuff. Puppies explore the world with their mouths and can chew on and/or ingest things as they explore. This is especially true with puppies that are teething between the ages of 8 weeks and 6 months. Learn more about Teething in Puppies. Puppies may ingest foul and sometimes stinky things that can cause bad breath. Some examples include dead animals they may find in the yard, mulch, compost, trash, and/or spoiled food.

Ingestion of Foreign Bodies. Puppies may ingest indigestible objects that can lead to problems that cause bad breath. Ingested items can get stuck in the stomach and intestinal tract, which can cause vomiting and halitosis. Learn more about Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies in Dogs and Puppies.

Tooth Abscess. A tooth abscess is a dental infection around the tooth that can cause bad breath. Although less common in puppies, it is possible to have an infected tooth at any age.

Oral Ulcerations and Infections. Ulcers in the mouth can occur from a puppy that ingests or licks caustic substances. Because puppies are curious, they commonly get into things causing chemical exposure that can lead to oral ulcerations and infections. Caustic substances that a puppy may lick or chew on include cleaning chemicals, soap and detergents, laundry or dishwater detergent pods, and liquid potpourri. These agents can cause oral ulcerations and infections that cause bad breath in puppies. Another cause for an oral infection is wounds that occur from a fight. Some dogs sustain bites around and in the mouth from fights with other animals.

Respiratory Infections. Pneumonia and infections of the trachea can cause foul smelling breath. It can be especially noticeable during exhalation (breathing out) and coughing.

Problems with Bones. Some bones given to puppies can break and splinter causing trauma to the oral tissues. Bones can also become lodged in the roof of the mouth or around the lower teeth and jaw. This can cause trauma to the tissues, an infection, and foul odor.

Digestive Problems. Some puppies may have underlying digestive problems that can lead to bad breath. Feeding a high-quality, easily digestible food specifically formulated for puppies can help digestion and prevent bad breath. In addition, puppies may have worms, which should be treated by your veterinarian with a deworming medication.

Other. There are additional causes of foul breath in dogs that don’t commonly occur in puppies, but are common in adult dogs. They may include diseases such as gum disease, periodontal disease, oral tumors, lung cancer, kidney disease, and uncontrolled diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis). Some pet owners even describe their dog’s breath as having a foul fish type odor.

If you suspect your puppy has any of the issues identified above, is not eating, vomiting, appears lethargic, is coughing, and/or appears to have pain around the mouth, please see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet can help you evaluate your puppy for abnormalities that can cause bad breath.

Health Issues and Conditions That Could Be Causing Bad Breath

Periodontal disease: By age 3, most dogs suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Bacteria in the mouth can form into plaque and tartar, which can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease. This condition can be very painful for your dog and may even result in difficulty chewing, tooth and bone loss, and damage to important organs like his heart and kidneys.

Teething: Starting a good dental hygiene routine while your dog is still a puppy can help ward off periodontal disease. But it’s also a great idea for another reason: Teething can cause bad breath in puppies. As your pup’s baby teeth are replaced by growing adult teeth, bacteria may collect at the gumline and cause bad breath. Brushing your puppy’s teeth regularly helps acclimate him to dental care and can help deal with stinky teething breath.

Oral problems: An oral growth, including benign tumors or mouth cancer, is sometimes the culprit behind bad breath. Your veterinarian may also find gingival hyperplasia, which is an overgrowth of the gums that may form deep crevices that breed bacteria.

Gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases: Halitosis (another word for bad breath) goes beyond just the mouth. A gastrointestinal disease that affects your dog’s esophagus, stomach, intestines or other parts of the GI tract can yield foul-smelling breath. Metabolic diseases are a concern, too: Serious conditions like kidney failure and liver disease might lead to the production of high levels of certain metabolites in the blood, which can result in bad breath.

We don’t mean to scare you, but the moral of this story is that bad breath (or, really, any noticeable change in how your dog smells) should be investigated by your veterinarian. While working with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any underlying causes of halitosis, consider additional ways to help alleviate bad breath. Good overall home dental care, including brushing your canine’s teeth every day with dog-safe toothpaste, is a great start. It may seem like a hassle at first — especially if it takes your dog some practice to get used to — but it’s important to make brushing a priority.

Your dog’s breath might be stinky because of food residue getting stuck in the back of his teeth or tartar buildup. In addition to daily brushing, it may help to give your dog a Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews® dog treat every day to help with these issues. The innovative shape of this dental twist bone is designed to clean like bristles on a toothbrush, and it can even help clean those hard-to-reach back teeth and down to the gumline. Plus, the chews have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance for tartar control, which means they are clinically proven to help reduce tartar buildup. Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews® also offer 12 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium to help support strong teeth. And best of all for our noses, Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews® Fresh Breath help combat bad breath.

Remember that no matter how extensive your dog’s at-home dental care is, he still needs to visit the veterinarian for regular dental checkups and cleanings. Your vet will want to examine his mouth — especially if your dog has bad breath — and that usually requires a thorough evaluation under sedation or anesthesia. This allows your vet to probe individual teeth and take X-rays, if necessary. Talk with your vet about how often your dog needs to have professional dental cleanings — for many canines, that’s annually or twice yearly.

Finding out why your dog has bad breath and working to fix it should be a partnership between you and your vet. With a veterinarian’s expertise, careful at-home dental care and tasty products like Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews®, you can help make your dog’s breath kissable once again.

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Why Does a Puppy’s Breath Smell That Way?

Even the most affectionate dog owners would probably admit that their dogs’ bad breath makes receiving those slobbery kisses less than desirable. But bad breath is more than just an inconvenience — it can signal an underlying medical problem. Many conditions and diseases, from common ones like periodontal disease to more complicated problems like end-stage kidney disease, can affect your dog’s breath. Learn what could be causing your dog’s stinky breath and how practicing good at-home dental care, getting professional dental cleanings and using products like Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews® can help maintain his oral health.