Dog Bad Breath? Tartar May Be the Culprit
📝 Summary
A sudden foul odor from your dog's mouth is often a sign of tartar. The buildup irritates the periodontal tissue, causing bad breath and periodontitis. Have the teeth professionally cleaned, switch from soft food to kibble, and brush regularly to stop it from returning.
1 Why Dogs Get Tartar and What to Do
1. Why Dogs Develop Tartar
Tartar is closely linked to long-term soft-food diets without timely cleaning, letting bacteria multiply. Once tartar forms, more plaque adheres to the surface and calcifies onto the existing tartar, making it grow. Constant irritation of the periodontal tissue leads to bad breath and periodontitis.
If your dog already has tartar, here is how to respond:
1) Take the dog to a veterinary hospital for a dental cleaning — scaling, polishing, and smoothing the affected teeth to stop the tartar from worsening.
2) Adjust the diet and break the soft-food habit. Clearing tartar treats the symptom, but you must also address the cause: soft food is easy to digest but sticks to teeth, so if you cannot brush often, feed pet kibble as the main diet.
3) Brush regularly
Even on a kibble diet, dogs still need regular brushing to keep the mouth clean. You can also buy dental chews, which help clean the teeth.
A reminder:
Don’t underestimate tartar: handled promptly it is minor, but ignored it grows from small to serious problems. For your dog’s health, give its oral care the attention it deserves.
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