Teething is a necessary process that gives your puppy the teeth they need. Puppies must go through that process twice in order to get their adult teeth.
During teething, you may notice that your young pet’s breath has a funky odor to it. Is that bad breath related to teething or is there something else behind it? Discover the answer to that question and develop a greater understanding of puppy bad breath in general by continuing with the rest of this article.
Do Puppies Get Bad Breath While Teething?
The teething process for puppies can go on for quite some time. In many cases, the teething process may begin as soon as the puppy hits two weeks of age. That teething process may be completed around three to four weeks later.
Of course, that is not the end of teething altogether for your puppy. At that point, they just have their milk teeth. They will need their adult teeth since they will make the switch to adult food soon.
The second teething process will begin right around the time your puppy hits three months old, but it can also be delayed by about a month or two. This is the time when their adult teeth will start to come in.
By your puppy’s sixth month, they should have their complete set of adult teeth. The process can also be delayed by a month.
Throughout those two teething periods, you may notice that your puppy has some pretty bad breath. Is that a weird occurrence or is your puppy experiencing something unusual?
Rest assured that your puppy having bad while teething is completely normal. The odor can be attributed to inflammation and bleeding around your pet’s gums. If your pup’s bad breath has a slightly metallic odor to it, then that’s probably because they are experiencing some bleeding.
There is no need to be alarmed if your pet has bad breath, swollen gums, or bleeding gums. Those are normal symptoms of the teething process and they should pass soon enough.
Why Does My Puppy Have Bad Breath?
We have determined that teething does indeed play a role in your puppy developing bad breath. Still, you cannot just assume that your puppy’s bad breath is related to that.
There are other reasons why your young pet may have stinky breath and it’s important to know more about them. That way, you can check for potentially more serious issues that could be affecting your pet.
Your Puppy Ate Some Foreign Objects
Puppies are not cautious as they need to be. If they spot something unusual on the ground, their first reaction may be to take a bite out of it. As you can imagine, that kind of reaction tends to backfire.
Your puppy may develop bad breath from ingesting a foreign object in one of three ways.
First off, it’s possible for the object to get stuck in their mouth. A small splinter or pebble could open a wound that could be the source of the odor. The object itself may start to stink as it gets covered by bacteria.
The foreign object can also cause problems if it gets stuck somewhere inside your puppy’s gastrointestinal tract. It can cause vomiting while it’s stuck in there and that could be the cause of bad breath.
The questionable item your puppy ate could also be something that has a foul odor to begin with. They may have eaten something out of the garbage or cat poop if you have another furry friend around the house. It should come as no surprise that eating those items can cause your pet’s breath to stink.
Your Puppy Has a Mouth Injury
Earlier, we noted that the bad breath your pet gets from teething is related to inflammation and bleeding. Well, teething is not the only reason why your puppy may experience those things.
Your dog may also damage a tooth or their gums because they ate something pointy or it could have had jagged edges. As your puppy chews on that object, they may end up wounding their mouth considerably.
The inflammation and bleeding stemming from those mouth injuries can also cause bad breath.
Your Puppy Has Indigestion
It’s important to remember that not all commercial dog food is meant for puppies. That’s why you have options that are specially formulated for them.
Feeding your puppy adult dog food can lead to problems. More specifically, your puppy may get indigestion from that.
Your puppy’s upset stomach may produce a foul odor that reaches all the way up through their mouth. That bad breath you’re sniffing could actually be the foul odor produced by their upset stomach. The origin of that bad breath can also explain why it is not quite as strong.
Your Puppy Has a Disease
Bad breath in puppies can also be a symptom of a significant problem. The reason why they have bad breath could be because they are sick.
Diseases related to the gums and kidneys can cause bad breath. If you notice that your puppy has symptoms other than bad breath, you should consider taking them to the veterinarian.
How Do You Get Rid of Puppy Teething Breath?
The bad breath your puppy gets from teething can be unpleasant. You may be wondering if you can do something about it other than waiting for it to pass.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to manage your puppy’s teething-related bad breath. We’ve detailed those things below.
Regularly Replace Your Puppy’s Water
The easiest way to mitigate your puppy’s bad breath is by simply giving them fresh water regularly. You should also take the time to clean the bowl regularly so the water quality is maintained.
Give Your Puppy Some Toys That Are Safe for Their Teeth
The toys your puppy is chewing on may be damaging their teeth. It’s time to swap them out for safe chew toys.
You can ask the veterinarian for recommendations regarding which chew toys to give to your puppy.
Brush Your Puppy’s Teeth
Sometimes, the best way to fix a problem is to just attack it directly. To get rid of your puppy’s bad breath, you should try brushing their teeth.
Consult with a veterinarian regarding which toothbrush and toothpaste to use. When the time comes for brushing, be gentle with your pet. Avoid being rough because you could end up injuring their gums or teeth.
Of course, brushing your puppy’s teeth will not be easy at first. Getting a puppy to settle down is hard enough. That task becomes even harder if you’re trying to brush their teeth.
Exercise patience and don’t shy away from using treats if they can help you with this task.