Dog with fish breath

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 5 August 2021
Update Date: 1 November 2024
Anonim
Why Does your dog Breath Smells like Fish? How to Stop his bad breathe?
Video: Why Does your dog Breath Smells like Fish? How to Stop his bad breathe?

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THE halitosis or bad breath it is a relatively common problem in dogs and can have different causes. It is important to know that this symptom is not normal, so your furry friend will need veterinary treatment. In this article by Animal Expert, we will explain why does your dog's mouth smell like fish, ammonia or any other unpleasant odor. Causes can range from dental problems to systemic illnesses or poisoning. We will also see how we can prevent this bad smell from occurring.

Causes of punctual halitosis in dogs

First, we must distinguish a halitosis that occurs punctually that persists for a prolonged time, especially if accompanied by other symptoms. It is common to notice the presence of halitosis. If the dog ingests excrement, behavior known as coprophagy, or, if you are experiencing an episode of vomiting, regurgitation, rhinitis, or sinusitis. In these cases, the dog's mouth smells like fish or garbage, due to the bad smell that excrement, vomit or regurgitated material leaves in the oral cavity.


In the episodes of rhinitis or sinusitis, the bad smell is due to the secretion generated and that the dog swallows. In these cases, it is likely that our dog has symptoms such as sneezing or malaise and we should take him to the veterinarian. In the case of coprophagia, the causes that stimulate it are not clear, so we must focus on preventing it from occurring, since ingesting the feces of other animals can also cause the parasitosis. For this, we can consult an ethologist or specialist in canine behavior and also review our article "Why does my dog ​​eat feces?". In general, this behavior occurs more in puppies than in adult dogs, so if you notice that your puppy's mouth smells like fish, check to see if he has coprophagia.

Dog with bad breath: poisoning

ingestion of some compounds such as phosphorus or zinc phosphate may explain why a dog's breath smells like rotten fish or garlic. In these cases, we can observe other symptoms, such as convulsions, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, weakness, pain or vomiting. If we suspect that our dog has been poisoned, we should immediately seek out a trusted veterinarian. The opinion will depend on the product ingested, the quantity and size of the dog. If possible, we should take a sample of the toxin to help the veterinarian make a diagnosis.


As always, prevention is our best ally, therefore, we should not leave any toxic within reach of our dog. Nor food for human consumption, as some of our daily foods can be toxic to dogs. Check the list of "Prohibited Dog Foods" according to scientific studies.

Dog with breath from carrion or fish - most common diseases:

When we think about why our dog's mouth smells like fish or gives off any other unpleasant smell, the periodontal disease will be, among others, a very common cause. Among the oral disorders that stand out, we find the following:

Gingivitis

Is gum inflammation and it can be very painful. O sarcasm accumulates where the gingiva ends up separating from the teeth. In these places, food debris and bacteria accumulate, which ends up causing the gums to become infected. In addition to noticing a bad smell in the dog's mouth, we can see the gums reddening and bleeding and/or frequent absesses. Precisely because of this bleeding, it is also common to notice that the dog's mouth smells of blood. It requires veterinary attention so that it does not progress to periodontitis, which we will see below.


Periodontitis

When gingivitis progresses, it infects the roots of the teeth that can eventually stand out. This disease causes pain so that in addition to noticing that the dog's mouth smells bad, other symptoms are difficulties in eating, when it eats, food falls out of the corners of the mouth or hypersalivation. The dog will need veterinary treatment with complete dental cleaning or even removing teeth and administering antibiotics.

Stomatitis

Is mouth inflammation which includes the gums and tongue and which can have different causes, such as periodontal disease or foreign bodies. This will require veterinary treatment as it is a painful condition that, in addition to the odor, brings salivation, difficulty in swallowing and rejection of handling the mouth which is red and may even bleed. Stomatitis also appears in systemic diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure or hypothyroidism, hence the importance of a correct diagnosis.

foreign bodies

Although it is not a disease, sometimes sharp objects such as bone fragments, hooks or spikes can get stuck in the dog's mouth and develop some of the pathologies mentioned above. If you notice that the animal scratches itself with its paws or rubs itself, has hypersalivation, nausea, keeps its mouth open or a bad odor arises from it, usually when the foreign body takes a day or more inside its mouth, it is common to think about this problem. When opening your mouth and examining it, we often see the object hooked behind the tongue, especially in the case of strings or the like that can wrap around its base. Unless we see it very clearly, who should extract it is the veterinarian, in addition to prescribing antibiotic treatment.

Tips to prevent dog bad breath

We've seen some of the problems that might explain why our dog's mouth smells like fish. Let's now look at some teeth care recommendations that can prevent the onset of gingivitis or periodontitis, two very common disorders in dogs, and thus prevent bad oral odor. Check out the following tips:

  • Adequate food: the ration or food recommended is the one that promotes the bite and makes the animal gnaw, as it helps to keep the teeth clean due to its shape and consistency. Leftover food for human consumption or wet food allows more debris to be deposited on teeth, increasing the risk of infection.
  • Periodic oral cleaning: on the market there are toothbrushes and dog-specific pastes. It is good practice to get our dog used to brushing frequently, which will also help us detect any oral problems in the early stages. For this, we recommend consulting the article on "Different ways to clean a dog's teeth".
  • Use of teethers: following the recommendations of our veterinarian, we can make suitable toys for the maintenance of our dog's oral health. The professional will also recommend what to avoid, objects such as tennis balls, so as not to damage your teeth, due to its abrasive effect on them. For more information on this last point, don't miss the following article: "Are tennis balls good for dogs?".
  • snacks: they also follow the guidance of a veterinarian, they can be offered to our dog periodically. The products that promote dental hygiene they are provided as prizes, so we must be careful not to increase the daily ration excessively, as it could easily reach obesity.
  • professional dental hygiene: if our dog's mouth is in bad condition, we can use a dental cleaning performed by the veterinarian. This procedure will require anesthesia, so it is recommended that we always monitor our dog's mouth so that it is done when necessary, since with advanced age anesthesia can represent a considerable risk.

All these recommendations become more important in the case of small dogs, as they seem to be more prone to oral problems.

Dog with bad breath - other causes:

Finally, sometimes, we can explain why we smell fish or ammonia in our dog's mouth due to suffering from some systemic disease, such as diabetes or kidney disease. In these cases, it will be possible to observe other symptoms, such as increased water intake and urine production, known as polydipsia and polyuria.

In the case of diabetes, in the early stages an increase in food intake is also observed, although the animal does not gain weight and still loses weight. This is when the disease can present vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, dehydration, weakness and cataract progresses. A strange odor can be produced on the breath in cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when lipids are metabolized into energy, in the absence of glucose. This results from the process of ketones building up in the blood leading to other symptoms such as weakness, vomiting or breathing problems. It is a vital emergency that requires immediate veterinary assistance.

In the case of kidney failure, the dog may also suffer from vomiting, dehydration, apathy, anorexia, weight loss, or mouth sores. This disease can occur acutely or chronically and in both cases halitosis is noted. Faced with any of these symptoms, our veterinarian will, through a blood test, determine if your dog suffers from any of these diseases and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.