Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My puppy's breath smells awful. What causes it and when to see a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 2 months and 26 days old

My puppy’s breath smells absolutely awful. I tried the past two days adding a product I bought to cleanse her mouth but it doesn’t work. I read there could be something wrong if her breath is bad

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 1st, 2020

Yes, this can be a sign that something is wrong with Daisy's mouth causing this smell, but it could also be due to something she is eating. Eating poop is common in puppies, and this will cause bad breath. I'd have her seen by a vet for this bad breath.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 3rd, 2018
I am assuming this is normal “puppy breath” that you are smelling. Some people are very adverse to the odor and some people don’t mind it at all and actually like it!

If you do not think it is normal puppy breath then the odor may be from bacteria becoming trapped between her baby teeth and her adult teeth that are coming in. It may help decrease the bad breath if you brush her teeth daily after she eats.

It is also important to make sure there are no foreign objects, like pieces of bone, sticks, or toys, that have become lodged in her teeth.

If Everything looks normal and you have tried brushing to decrease the smell you may want to take her into your vet to have the teeth examined and just be assured that nothing too serious is going on.

I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

Why does my puppy's breath smell bad if her teeth are clean?

It could be just normal puppy breath. Some people feel like it doesn't smell good. If she tends to eat poop, this could also be the cause. With her being so young, I would not expect her to have any dental tartar causing a smell. If it continues or it gets worse, I would have your vet take a look at the mouth to ensure there isn't an infection somewhere.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my dog's breath smell so bad? What are the common causes?

Lily could have dental disease causing foul breath - bacteria form plaque on the teeth and underneath the gumline and cause bad breath. She could have a mass or wound in her mouth if this is a sudden change, or occasionally dogs with gastrointestinal disease will also have bad breath. I'd recommend having your veterinanrian examin Lily's mouth -she may need a dental exam and cleaning under anesthesia.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 6-month-old Dachshund puppy's breath smells awful. What to do?

It would be best to have a veterinarian do an exam on him. It’s possible he may have a wound on the roof of his mouth or back of his throat, or a piece of grass or a small twig stuck on a back tooth, etc, or a wound elsewhere in his mouth. It’s also possible that he’s having some tooth root problems with the recent eruption of adult teeth. If he is eating fine and otherwise acting normally, it’s ok to try brushing his teeth and try a rinse or water additive designed for halitosis (bad breath) in dogs. However if that doesn’t help after a few days, I would strongly recommend that you take him in. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my 6-month-old puppy have bad breath that smells like poop?

I would bring him in for an exam. There are related organ changes that can produce bad breath. Organ changes Ike be best evaluated with blood work and a good physical exam. Your dog is young so it limits my differential list. It makes me think more of something congenital or a basic nutritional deficiency

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

Why does my puppy's breath smell like fish food after eating?

I would guess that this is potentially food related, and if it is transient and he is doing well on his food otherwise there may not be anything to be worried about. If it bothers you, you could try changing his diet to another flavor or another brand altogether (I recommend sticking to foods by Purina, Hill's, Royal Canin, Iams or Eukanuba). You could also consider trying a probiotic supplement. Although Guido is young he could still also have a tooth problem and if the odor seems to be around all the time you may want to have your vet examine his mouth.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My puppy's breath stinks again despite weekly Dentastix. What to do?

At his age, the bad breath could be an abscess or the normal shedding of his puppy teeth. Take a good look inside his mouth to check for any abnormalities. You may also consider having him examined by the veterinarian if you are not sure what you are seeing. Otherwise, I recommend to brush his teeth. This is one of the best ways to maintain dental health: https://www.petcoach.co/article/brushing-teeth-home-dental-care/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my dog sound like she has a dry mouth and awful breath?

I recommend getting her seen by your vet for an oral exam. There may be some hidden oral disease you cannot see, she may have a tumor or polyp somewhere in her mouth or nasal passages, kidney disease can cause bad breath, there are a number of possibilities. You vet will do a thorough exam, possibly bloodwork and based on these results, be better able to tell you what is going on with your dog and how best to treat it.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share