When Bad Breath Is More Than Just Bad Breath

Bad breath can be an indication of serious health issues, including kidney, dental, or liver diseases.

Author

Thom Hart
December 14, 2023

Daily Longevity Tip: When Bad Breath Is More Than Just Bad Breath

Tip Summary: Bad breath can be an indication of serious health issues, including kidney, dental, or liver diseases.

Hey Dog Longevity friends! Today we’re going to be looking into another health indicator, one that can reveal numerous underlying health issues. We can use these indicators to quickly treat the root cause, and enable our dogs to live longer. Let’s look into the top 5 health issues that may cause bad breath, and how you can go about treating them:

Top 5 Underlying Health Issues:

  1. Dental or Gum Disease: Bacteria buildup forms plaque, leading to tartar and gum inflammation. Regular cleaning can prevent this.

  2. Foreign Objects in Mouth: Chewing on unsuitable items can leave remnants that cause bad breath. Monitoring and safe toys are key.

  3. Kidney Disease: Ineffective kidney function leads to toxin buildup, resulting in an ammonia-like odor. Early detection is crucial.

  4. Liver Disease: Liver issues can cause toxin accumulation, affecting breath. Look out for symptoms like jaundice.

  5. Diabetes: Unregulated diabetes leads to ketone production, causing a sweet breath smell. Regular check-ups are essential for early detection.

Treatment Strategies:

  1. Regular Dental Check-ups: Veterinary exams can catch dental issues early, leading to more effective treatment and prevention of serious conditions.

  2. Routine Brushing: Using dog-specific toothpaste for daily brushing removes plaque and bacteria, maintaining overall oral health.

  3. Dental Treats and Water Additives: These products work to mechanically remove plaque and may contain ingredients that promote a healthier oral environment, improving breath.

  4. Dental Diets: Formulated to reduce plaque and tartar buildup, these diets use larger kibble size and texture to clean teeth as your dog eats.

Source: PetMD

Want specific content? Reply to the email and let me know what you’d like more of, and I’ll make sure to cover it!

Announcement: We’ll be doing a (free) weekly Facebook Live longevity discussion + Q&A with Dr. Helen Stortz, DVM, on Saturday, 16 December at 5PM EST. This will be held in the Dog Longevity Facebook community. The link to join the community is below: