My puppy has horrendous breath!!?

Question

My boxer puppy has the most awful breath!! It's almost nauseating, no joke. Is this normal? I noticed she has some new adult teeth, can that at all be related? My husband thinks maybe it's because she doesn't get enough water. She isn't dehydrated or anything, she drinks several times during the day but we keep food and water in the laundry room because she will just drink and drink and drink until her belly bloats to twice the size!! And then she has more accidents because she drinks so much. We bought some treats at the pet store that are supposed to help with bad breath, and it helps a little but It still smells really bad. We also tried the mouth wash that you put in the water bowl, and that actually worked really well. Except the bottle was empty within only a couple days and that gets kind of expensive. Should we take her to the vet?? Please help!

Answer 1

The fact that new teeth are growing in has a lot to do with it.  Bacteria build up from teething!

Poor diet also has a lot to do with it.

Give her something tasty to chew on and up her diet to something better.  I boiled carrots in beef broth and gave them to my pups when they were teething, helped a lot with the bad breath!

EDIT:  Oh!  And don't forget, brushing your puppy's teeth from here on out helps prevent this later in life when it's from rotting teeth instead of just puppy breath.  ;)

Answer 2

My puppy had horrible breath too until we got him a dental chew by nylabone.  It is a blue bone with nubs on it, helps them with teething and cleaning their teeth

Answer 3

Every puppy I have had has really bad breath. But it it's that bad it may be caused by something. Take your dog to the vet and see what the real problem is.

Answer 4

Its called puppy breath and yes it is terrible!  It wont last for ever I swear but it is bad as long as it lasts! :)   I dont know why its so bad but my little dog tried to give me kisses and I wanted to die :)  I wish you luck! I promise it will go away!!!

Answer 5

Most times Bad breath is caused by bacteria on the teeth, I would suggest brushing her teeth several times a week.  Do not use People tooth paste though, this is dangerous for a dog.  Pet stores and Vets sell Tooth paste and tooth brushes especially for dogs, The tooth paste actually tastess like meat to your dog.

Keeping a dogs teeth cleaned will keep them healthier and also stop or cut down on the doggie breath.  

A dog whose teeth are taken care of starting at a young age will have less problems with them as they get older.

If the problem still persists even after brushing, I would suggest a vet visit, Chances are there may be something else wrong.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

Check your dog food....Try switchin to other brands.  My Mal used to have bad breath when I fed him with a certain brand, I switched and his breath is now ok.

Answer 7

I would definitely take her to the Vet, there could be some underlying problem, ie. an abscessed tooth, a rotten or broken tooth and may not be seen visually if under the gumline.

Also could your puppy be getting into something that she is chewing and perhaps swallowing and therefore giving the bad breath.

But if you go to the Vet and if all is well then try the following.

You could try your puppy on a slice of raw sweet potato (yam the orange one) and see if they will chew it.

It is full of Vitamin B17 and is known as a bad breath remedy.

Answer 8

brush her teeth and ask your vet. boxers are no more prone to dental disease than other breeds but icky build up can happen when teeth are being exchanged. the food you feed her might also be the issue.

it might also be GI issues which would be more serious. your vet will be able to answer the question.

Answer 9

Don't worry, your dog is normal! All carnivorous animals will have pretty bad breath; it's something about the protein digestive process in the stomach. Since your puppy is most likely teething though, it is worse than normal but will fade as she grows.

If dental chews or dental treats aren't doing it 100% for your dog, you should consider a doggy toothbrush and toothpaste, also found at your local pet store. There are reusable disposable long-handled toothbrushes  and finger brushes, as well as many toothpastes available.

Dental Kongs and mint-flavored rope toys are also great at removing teeth buildup, though you would have to clean them often.

Hope that helped; best of luck!

P.S. Get a free Greenies sample:

Answer 10

Greenies are the real deal.  They have a new formula that makes it easier for dogs to digest.  Our dachsy has horrible breath too and after a few weeks of giving the greenies (every other day) it has faded.  I also agree with other response, it has to do with diet and you need to buy a dog toothbrush that you can put on your finger to clean her teeth properly.  If none of this works see a vet.