Take any five dogs off the street and chances are four of them will ‘bite you on the nose’ with their dog bad breath. Being such a common condition it’s understandable why so many dog owners accept it as normal… and why so few do anything about it. Yet dog bad breath (formally called canine halitosis) can be an early alarm-bell alerting you of a more sinister hidden disease.

Do an online search for causes of dog bad breath and you could be forgiven for thinking that all halitosis arises from one fundamental source - poor oral hygiene. True… 90% of cases are due to oral-bacteria and yes, these bacterial infections (in the form of tooth decay and gum disease) can give rise to more serious conditions. Yet, for 1 in 10 dogs with bad breath the source of foul-odor arises beyond their mouth. Consequently, by applying this blanket diagnosis to your dogs’ bad breath you run the risk of overlooking a potentially harmful underlying condition and in the process inadvertently delay critical early diagnosis and treatment.

So what can cause bad breath other than the usual dental diseases?

In essence, there are two broad categories of non-dental causes for bad-breath: gastro-intestinal conditions and non-gastro-intestinal causes.

Gastro-intestinal conditions comprise the most common non-dental causes of bad breath. Of these the most common odor-producing diseases include:

• Foreign bodies lodged in the oro-pharynx;
• Parasites;
• Food allergies;
• Poisoning;
• Stomach ulcers;
• Esophageal / stomach cancer.

As for non-gastro-intestinal conditions, while these are much rarer causes of bad breath they are definitely the more serious conditions to diagnose early and accurately. The most common of these conditions include:

• Diabetes;
• Kidney failure;
• Liver failure;
• Lung cancer.

Looking at this broad list of conditions it should be clear that dog bad breath is not simply a reflection of poor oral hygiene. Rather, dog bad breath is a non-specific symptom of a wide range of harmful and even potentially fatal conditions. In essence dog bad breath is Natures’ way of telling you that your dog is unwell without telling you exactly what’s wrong with them.

This raises the question, "How can I tell if my dogs’ bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene or if it’s due to something much more serious?"

Unfortunately there is no simple way to diagnose the cause of dog bad breath. However, there are two (albeit crude) at-home diagnostic tests that can help you determine whether or not the odor warrants further investigation.

The first test involves eliminating the mouth as the source of odor. Simply look inside your dogs’ mouth and look evidence of gum disease (chalky cement-like build up on teeth; red, puffy bleeding gums (as opposed to healthy firm pink gums) or tooth decay. If you see none of these signs and after instigating a stringent oral hygiene regimen (involving daily brushing of teeth for a week) and the odor persists then that raises suspicion that the cause is non-dental.

Next, close your dogs’ mouth and smell the breath they exhale through their nose. If this nasally-exhaled breath carries the same odor as their mouth-breath then that further raises suspicions that you are dealing with a non-dental cause of bad breath.

In both these cases an urgent visit to your vet is warranted to eliminate a non-dental, potentially fatal underlying medical condition.

Angelo Ioanides
Dog Bad Breath Expert
http://dogbadbreath.qarf.com
 

Just because you eat it doesn’t mean your puppy dog can. Too many times people have seriously injured, if now killed their beloved pet due to ignorance as to what a dog can and cannot eat. Knowing what not to feed your dog can save your pet’s life so please read this list carefully.

Photo: bfeedme.com

What not to feed your dog

Chocolate - It’s toxic to dogs and can cause heart and nervous system problems.

Caffeine - Same problems as chocolate.

Alcohol - will cause intoxication which will lead to a coma and death.

Onions - Any form on onion including onion powder will affect your dog’s red blood cells. The same goes for garlic.

Mushrooms - Are also toxic for dogs and can lead to death if consumed

Milk and Dairy - just like humans, some dogs are lactose intolerant. If your dog is one of those, then you will notice diarrhea.

Fruit pips - Fruit pips from peaches and plums can block your dog’s digestive track.

Raw eggs - Can lead to skin and fur problems for some dogs.

Raw Fish - If raw fish is consumed regularly, it can lead to vitamin B deficiency leading to a loss of appetite, possible seizures and death.

Salt & Spices - Can cause electrolyte imbalance

Sweet & Sugary foods - Other than the fact that your dog may start to hate his own food when he eats sweets, sugary foods can cause dental problems, obesity and diabetes

Dough - Can expand the digestive system causing pain and possible ruptures

Table Scraps - Don’t give your dog any scrap bones as dogs can easily choke on them. They can also swallow bone splinters causing serious problems. Fat is also very unhealthy for dogs.

Macadamia Nuts - Although the toxin is unknown, Macadamia nuts will poison your puppy dog.

Liver - Large quantities of liver can affect the muscles and bones of your dog

For more information about what not to feed your dog Peter Madrid invites your to visit Puppy-Portal.com. You can also learn about how to choose a puppy, choosing a breeder, new dog supplies and much more. All information is free so check it out.