Dachshunds and other dogs are known to have puppy breath, and this is nothing that should be too concerning but when your dog has bad breath that never goes away, it should be known that Dachshunds are often more prone to having bad breath than other breeds of dogs because of tartar buildup and other reasons.
Dachshunds are very popular breeds and as any Dachshund owner knows, this breed has shorter limbs and a longer body and sometimes they face overcrowding teeth due to their small jaws and this overcrowding can cause bad breath.
Why Does My Dachshund’s Breath Smell So Bad?
Why Does Dachshund’s Breath Smell Like Fish?
If your Dachshund’s breath smells like fish it can mean that your dog is developing gingivitis. You can look in the mouth to see if your dog’s gums are swollen or irritated.
Why Does Dachshund’s Breath Smell Like Metal?
Your Dachshund might have breath that smells like metal if it is having kidney failure. This happens because the kidneys are not able to get rid of the toxins out of the body and can cause the breath to smell different.
Why Does Dachshund’s Breath Smell Sweet?
Sweet-smelling breath from your Dachshund can happen if your dog has too much sugar in the bloodstream. This can also be a sign of diabetes and you need to take your dog to the vet if you notice this.
Why Does Dachshund’s Breath Smell Sour?
Your Dachshund might have sour-smelling breath if it has bacteria in its mouth. This is a sign to take your dog to the vet.
Why Does Dachshund’s Breath Smell Musty?
A musty-smelling breath in your Dachshund can happen if it has yeast growing in its mouth. This is very treatable and needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.
Why Does Dachshund’s Breath Smell Like Poop?
You may smell poop on your dog’s breath when there are bacteria that turn into plaque and hardens, causing tooth decay. This smell can mean that one or many of your dog’s teeth are rotten. Get this treated by the vet right away.
Why does your Dachshund have bad breath?
The most normal and common reason that your Dachshund will have bad breath is because of dental problems because at least 80% of dogs have periodontal disease but if there is a consistent odor and you are brushing your Dachshunds teeth regularly and treating the bad breath then it could be a sign of other sicknesses such as:
- Kidney problems.
- Liver problems.
- Diabetes
- Gastrointestinal problems.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is one common periodontal disease that is common in Dachshunds. This is a buildup of bacteria that causes the gums to swell. This can happen because of food or bacteria that is trapped between the teeth or on the teeth.
This is something that can be treated very easily but if you fail to get your dog treated then it can cause your dog’s teeth to fall out.
Diet
The diet of your dog can cause your dog’s breath to stink. If your Dachshund is not eating a healthy diet, then it can lead to bad breath.
It is important to make sure that your dog is getting fiber, vitamins, and nutrients and that it is eating enough good quality food for your dog breed. Not only do the vitamins and minerals help to keep your dog’s teeth healthy but because of the texture of good dog foods, it can help to scrape the plaque off of the teeth when it chews.
Chew Toys
Some chew toys can be hard for your dog’s teeth and can cause the teeth to bleed or even break. This can cause the gums to get infected and lead to bad breath and other infections.
Always make sure that you buy toys that fit the size of your dog and that you pay attention to how your dog is chewing its toys and treats.
Bacteria
Bacteria can get under your dog’s gums, or it can cover the teeth. Bacteria is bad because it can cause the ligaments of the teeth to damage, and this can cause your dog to have tooth loss.
Another major problem with bacteria is that if it goes untreated, it can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body such as the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, and other places that can cause your dog serious health issues.
Coprophagia
Coprophagia happens when your dog eats things from outside and it can cause your dog to have bad breath. This can be poop or other things.
This is often seen as a behavioral issue but it can also mean that your dog has more serious medical issues and so you need to take your dog to the vet if it is having abnormal eating behaviors.
Panting
Since your Dachshund has such as small snout and mouth, chances are that your dog will pant a lot. Excessive panting can cause your dog’s mouth to dry out and can cause the breath to smell worse than normal.
What can I give my dachshund for bad breath?
There are different things that you can do if your Dachshund has bad breath and some of these include:
- Making a dog-friendly mouthwash and adding it to your dog’s water.
- Buy your dog treats that help to clean the teeth.
- Use rawhide treats that will help to scrape the plaque off the teeth.
- Feed your dog parsley.
- Let your dog eat plain yogurt.
- Buy toys that your dog can chew on that are natural.
- Take your dog to the vet for a checkup.
- Make sure that you are keeping your dog’s oral health strong.
The best way to get your dog’s oral health strong is to brush your dog’s teeth each day. You cannot over brush your dog’s teeth and if you start brushing their teeth from puppy age then they will enjoy it and be happy to have their teeth brushed.
Water Additives
Here are some things that you can add to your dog’s water that will help to get rid of bacteria that can cause your dog to have bad breath:
- Lemon
- Mint
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Peppermint oil
- Spearmint oil
Is Bad Breath A Sign Of Teeth Problems In Dachshunds?
Even though bad breath of your Dachshund most likely has to do with your dog’s teeth being dirty, there are other teeth problems that can cause your dog to have bad breath.
Tartar
The number one reason for stinky breath is build-up tartar and by using different treatments, you can make sure to get rid of that bad breath that seems to follow your dog everywhere.
The Dachshund is prone to tartar and other dental diseases more than other dog breeds because of how their mouths are made.
Tooth Abscesses
Another problem that Dachshunds are prone to having is tooth abscesses. Just like their tiny limbs, their mouths are also tiny, and this can cause overcrowding of the teeth that can trap food into the cracks of the teeth and can cause bad breath.
If you feel that your dog’s breath is worse than normal, take your dog to the vet to make sure that it is not something serious.
Overcrowding
One major reason for Dachshunds to have bad breath is due to overcrowding of the teeth. Due to the size of your dog’s jaw, which is smaller than other breeds, the teeth are large in comparison.
It can be hard for your dog’s teeth to all fit in your Dachshunds mouth and this can cause dental problems.
One common problem for overcrowding of the teeth in the Dachshund breed is because of genetics and because the baby teeth do not always fall out on their own when the adult teeth come in and this can cause the teeth to grow against each other.
If you see that the second set of teeth is coming in or you see a second tooth coming in, then you need to take your dog to the vet right away so that they can remove the first set of baby teeth before it causes other problems.
Remedies to Clean Your Dachshund’s Teeth Naturally
How Many Teeth Do Dachshunds Have? Your Dachshund will have 42 adult teeth.
There are different ways that you can clean your dog’s teeth and here are a few ways that can be easy and healthy for your Dachshund:
1. Brush your dog’s teeth with a canine toothbrush and toothpaste. You can find this at most stores or at any pet store.
2. You can buy finger brushes that can be used instead of toothbrushes that can help you to reach back to the back of the mouth.
3. You can use different products that can help to soften up the tartar of your dog and this allows the plaque to just slide off when your dog eats its hard food or chews on a chew toy or treat.
4. Dental chews are made that are perfect for brushing your dog’s teeth and you can even add canine toothpaste to the end of the treatment so that it can help to battle the smelly breath.
5. Purchase a dental water additive at the pet store that will help to take away tartar and plaque and will keep the gums healthy and clean.
6. Use natural or homemade dog dental water by adding natural ingredients.
7. Dental wipes can be purchased and can be used instead of brushing, but it will not be as helpful to get in between the teeth as brushing will be.
8. Feeding your Dachshund raw foods can help to get rid of plaque buildup. This happens because the dog spends much of its time chewing on the raw food bone. Always see your vet before you choose to do a raw food diet.
9. You can feed your dog seaweed as a natural food additive to help reduce plaque and gum disease. The best kind to use is alga Ascophyllum nodosum which is a brown seaweed that is found in Canada, Europe, and the United States.
Brushing your dog’s teeth each day is very helpful and is recommended by most vets but if you find that your dog fights to get its teeth brushed or if it doesn’t want to be bothered with its teeth being brushed, try some of the other techniques to keep their teeth clean and healthy.
When you find the perfect technique for keeping your Dachshunds teeth clean and healthy, stick with this technique to keep your dog happy and healthy.
It is way better to prevent any kind of dental problems before they come along for both expenses-wise and to keep your dog from having unnecessary pain and suffering.
How to Brush Your Dachshunds Teeth
Step 1: You need to start by using a very small amount of canine toothpaste. You can put this on a toothbrush, a finger brush, or even on the tip of your finger.
Step 2: Lift up your dog’s lips and do this often so that your Dachshund can get used to you messing with its teeth and mouth.
The great thing is that this should taste delicious to your dog, and it will love to lick the toothpaste off of your finger.
Step 3: Rub the toothpaste over your dog’s gums in an easy and slow motion. Pay attention to how your dog is reacting to this. If you are causing pain, you are pushing too hard.
Step 4: After your dog gets used to your finger, move on to a toothbrush and let your dog lick some of the toothpaste off of the toothbrush.
Step 5: Rub your dog’s gums again, gently, with the toothbrush, and then ever once in a while, brush one of your dog’s teeth. Always hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the teeth and move it in a circular or downward motion when brushing.
Step 6: Even though this can be something that your dog learns to love, go slow so that your dog can get used to the toothbrush in its mouth. Keep the brushing short until your dog gets used to it.
Brush the teeth as much as you can for the first time and then build up the time until you can get all of the teeth brushed thoroughly. Do not forget to brush the inside of the teeth and the spots that are hard to reach.
If your dog’s teeth bleed, this is normal for a small amount of blood but if there is a lot of blood, call your vet.
Never use regular or human toothpaste which can cause your dog’s digestive system to have problems because the chemicals can be harmful to your dog’s health.
When to See a Vet Over Bad Breath in Your Dachshund Breed
If you notice that your dog is having worse breath than normal, it is a good idea to take your dog in to see the vet because there could be a serious issue that you can take care of immediately.
Even if your dog does not seem to have awful doggy breath, you should take your dog to the vet each year after the age of 7 for the vet to look at the teeth.
This should be a regular visit that you do with your vet and your vet can normally clean your dog’s teeth without using any kind of anesthesia. This can be perfect for people that are nervous about putting their dogs to sleep or for dogs that have other health issues or are senior dogs that might not handle the anesthesia well.
Remember, if your dog’s breath seems to be stronger than normal or if you notice anything abnormal, take your dog to the vet right away.
Cost of Getting Your Dogs Teeth Cleaned at the Vet
It can be pricy to get your dog’s teeth brushed by the vet and can be around $300 to $600 dollars and this doesn’t include any problems that your vet might find along the way. This can cost a little more if your dog is a senior dog or needs to have bloodwork before the procedure.
Some people that have pet insurance can get a yearly cleaning for free. Check your insurance before you go to the vet.
Final Words
Dachshunds can have stinky breath, and this is normally caused because of a build-up of plaque or tartar. Dachshunds are more prone to dental issues than other breeds and so if you find that your dog has more bad breath than normal, take your dog in so that its breath can start smelling clean and sweet again for all of those doggy kisses.
