Dog Bad Breath: This Stinks! And How to Fix It

Dog bad breath can catch you off-guard and ruin the perfect bonding moment.

Several years back, I brought home a rambunctious terrier named "Pixie" from the shelter. Wide-eyed but confident, within minutes, she'd claimed my lab mix, Bruno's rug (bad idea!) and was settling in like she owned the place. I've definitely learned a thing or two since then about how to introduce a new dog to the pack.

Later that night, as I finally melted into the sofa and put my feet up after a long day, she jumped up beside me, tail wagging, excited for some snuggles.

And it hit me. No, not the thought of it. It actually hit me like a hammer made out of bad dog breath.

I couldn't help it. I instinctively pushed her away. She didn't understand the rejection.

"We're going to have to do something about that breath," I told her. Fortunately for our relationship, I already had something in the dog treat cabinet to start.

Is Bad Breath in Dogs a Sign of Illness?

Most of the time, it is. Something isn't right in the dog's mouth, digestive tract, or body as a whole. But the good news is it's not usually something serious unless you don't fix the bad dog breath early. It will get worse and can threaten their dog health and lifespan.

Top Causes of Bad Breath in Dogs

Bad breath isn’t just about smell—it’s a sign of what’s going on inside your dog’s mouth and gut.

1. Plaque & Tartar Buildup (The #1 Cause)

The most common cause—and thankfully, the easiest to fix—is dirty dog teeth.

As tartar and plaque build-up on teeth, they become luxury apartments for bacteria colonies. So, cozy and safe and rent-controlled too—they'll never leave.

These bacteria eat food particles left on the teeth and produce an acid byproduct. Have you ever made homemade kombucha, saur kraut, or kimchi?

The process is similar but grosser, of course. This acid not only destroys teeth. It creates a very aromatic mouth environment—not in a good way.

Over time, plaque hardens into tartar and becomes more difficult to remove. That tartar works its way up under the gumline, leading to gum infections and rotting teeth.

How to Fix it: Regular chewing on natural dog bones helps scrape away plaque before it turns into tartar. It's cleaning dogs teeth. While tartar is harder, regular chewing on abrasive services can also remove some of that, too.

The gnawing action also massages the gums, increasing blood flow so they can fight the infection.

This isn't just speculation. One study found that within just 12 days of chewing on dog bones, the bacteria count drops by 60-80%, which means substantially better-smelling breath.

Now, if the hardened tartar is really bad and teeth are rotten, they may need a professional cleaning. But in Pixie's case, it hadn't gotten to that point.

Now, some less common causes of dog bad breath.

2. A Stinky Diet

Okay, I have to ask this. Does your dog eat poop? Do they dig in the trash for rotting food? These bad habits introduce incredibly stinky bacteria into the mouth.

My dog's ancestral wild dogs actually do get some of their nourishment from rotting food and probably have stomachs of steel. And poop eating is usually a sign of boredom or nutritional deficiency. So, this is a throwback to the olden days.

But a domesticated dog shouldn't have to eat nasty stuff.

How to Fix it: Give them a better alternative to feed that needs to explore different textures and tastes and alleviate boredom.

Want a safe, nutritious, and delicious way to satisfy this urge? Give them a beef marrow-filled dog bone.

While the bone removes tartar, plaque and bacteria, the bone marrow is buttery, slightly sweet, and packed with protein (collagen), glucosamine, and anti-inflammatory omega 3s. Chewing also relieves boredom.

3. Stomach Upset

Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and digestive tract issues. As these stomach acids and smells waft up the esophagus, they create a dog breath odor.

Dog digestion can get out of whack due to something they're eating. Or it could be what they're not eating. Nutritional imbalances may make it harder for the digestive tract to digest. For example, collagen is vital for a strong digestive tract lining. If it's insufficient, irritation occurs.

This becomes a vicious cycle. Because of impaired digestion, they may not be able to extract nutrients from the healthy foods they eat.

To fix it: Evaluate the food ingredients in their kibble. Some dogs are allergic to eggs, soy, and grains.

Consider any human foods your dog is eating that may be giving them trouble. Here's my list of human foods for dogs.

Avoid potentially harmful additives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, and added sugar. We're learning more and more about what these do to bodies.

Enhance their nutrition with single-ingredient dog treats like beef lung bites. There's nothing weird about these. They're just real beef lung organ meat roasted and dried into a dog treat. They're primarily made of collagen.

Increase their fiber intake. Dogs need fiber, too. It feeds their gut microbiome. After my dog's marrow bones are empty, I refill them with safe human foods like pumpkin puree, plain yogurt with blueberries, or peanut butter and apples. These foods are packed with antioxidants and fiber to help with digestion.

4. Infections or Underlying Health Issues

If the above doesn't fix it quickly, you should definitely ask your veterinarian for a thorough exam. Your dog may have a dog health condition or need dental work to resolve the issues.

• A strong rotten smell could be an abscess in the mouth.
• Sweet-fruity breath could be diabetes.
• Urine-smelling breath could mean the kidneys aren't properly filtering toxins out.

If bad breath comes with excessive water drinking, pawing at their mouth, rubbing their face on furniture constantly, or unexplained weight loss, please don't wait to speak to their dog doctor.

Other Ways to Freshen Dog Breath

• Brush their teeth regularly. I don't actually do this. I prefer to give dogs a natural toothbrush. This clever treat allows them to do it themselves.
• Support gut health with probiotics. Yogurt with live cultures or a supplement made for dogs can help.
• Inspect the mouth. If your dog is comfortable with it, check mouth issues. To learn more about how to get dogs comfortable with this, check out my puppy socialization post.
• Avoid junk. Don't give them low-quality dog treats with added sugar and artificial ingredients. These can wreak havoc on oral health, the digestive tract, and overall dog health.
• Avoid high saturated fat foods that cause digestive upset. Grass-fed beef is lower in saturated fat and higher in health-promoting omega 3 and omega 6.

Cleaning Dogs Teeth: How We Fixed Pixie's Bad Breath

I walked over to the treat cabinet that night. And I pulled out a single ingredient, grass-fed, meaty marrow dog bone for her to chew on.

That night, Pixie learned how cleaning dogs teeth can taste so good. And within about a week, we were able to cuddle on the sofa without me holding my nose.

There are so many more commands and tricks you can teach your dog. While you're here, be sure to Join the 7-Day Dog Training Challenge.

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