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Why does my dog's breath smell like sewer after teeth cleaning?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Female | spayed | 8 lbs

My 11 year old female Maltese has sewer breath. She just had her teeth cleaned & polished, & 1 tooth extraction by her Vet, & within a week, her breath started smelling like sewer. She eats science diet hard food. Good appetite still. Less active over past few months. Gums are bright pink. Has lost 2-3 lbs in last year. Could her bad breath be a sign of lung cancer?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Sara Farmer, DVM

Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 2nd, 2018

You may want to have Rudy Sue examined by your vet - sometimes food or debris can accumulate near an extraction site or the sutures can break down. It’s also possible hat the bad breath is not a dental problem - dogs with chronic gastrointestinal issues can have halitosis. I have never heard reports of lung cancer causing halitosis and I think this would be much less likely.
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