GoVets is a brand new and well-equipped veterinary practice located around 10 minutes away from Manchester City Centre. We are committed to putting your pet first and providing exceptional service and care to our clients.
Contact Info
-
Address
Unit 1, Varley Industrial Estate, James Street, Manchester, M40 8EL
-
Phone
-
Email
© GoVets 2025, All Rights Reserved.
Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?
Your dog leans in for a cuddle and the smell stops you in your tracks. If you have wondered why does my dog have bad breath, you are right to pay attention. More than 80% of dogs show signs of dental disease by age three, according to the American Veterinary Dental College, so an unpleasant whiff is extremely common.
Most bad breath comes from the teeth and gums, but the type of smell is a clue. Persistent or unusual odours can point to kidney, liver or diabetes problems. This guide gives you a simple smell decoder to narrow it down at home, then explains what to do next.
At GoVets, we see worried owners every week, and most of the time the news is far better than they feared.
What the Smell Tells You: An Odour Guide
The smell itself is the biggest clue. Once you know how to read it, you can work out roughly how worried to be.
Rotten or Generally Foul Smell
The most common smell, and usually the most fixable. It points to dental disease or an oral infection. Look for yellow-brown tartar and red gums alongside it.
Fishy Smell
A fishy smell can come from anal gland problems, a dental issue, or your dog licking their rear end. Worth a check but rarely an emergency on its own.
Ammonia or Urine-like Smell
Breath that smells like ammonia or urine can signal kidney disease, where waste builds up in the blood. Watch for increased thirst, weight loss and lethargy. This warrants prompt veterinary attention.
Sweet or Fruity Smell
A sweet, fruity smell like pear drops or nail varnish remover can indicate diabetes. With increased thirst, more urination and weight loss despite a normal appetite, contact your vet quickly. This can become a serious emergency.
Musty, Sweetish or Faecal Smell
A musty or faecal smell can point to liver disease, especially alongside vomiting, weight loss or yellowing of the gums and eyes. It can also simply mean your dog has eaten something unpleasant.
The smell narrows the field but is not a diagnosis. If you spot a non-dental odour, GoVets offers free dental consultations for dog owners across Manchester to help you work out the next step.
Dental Disease: The Number One Cause of Dog Bad Breath
Over 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease by age three, making it one of the most common conditions vets see in adult dogs.
The mechanism is simple. Plaque forms on the teeth within 24 hours, then hardens into tartar. Bacteria multiply below the gumline, and that bacterial activity produces the classic rotten, foul smell.
Other signs to check for include red or bleeding gums, yellow-brown tartar, drooling, reluctance to eat, and pawing at the mouth. Dental disease is progressive and often silent until advanced, which is exactly why an early change in breath matters so much.
Established tartar cannot be brushed away once it has hardened. It needs professional dental scaling under anaesthetic to remove it properly, which we cover in the prevention section.
Normal vs Abnormal: Morning Breath, Puppy Teething and Diet
Not every whiff is an emergency. The test is whether the smell is mild and occasional, or persistent and changing.
Some causes are completely normal and pass on their own. Mild “doggy” breath is one. Puppy teething breath is another. Between roughly three and seven months, as adult teeth push through and the gums become mildly inflamed, puppies often develop a faint metallic or musty smell that clears once teething finishes.
Diet plays a part too. Eating faeces (coprophagia), raw or fish-based foods, and general scavenging all cause temporary bad breath. This is usually harmless, though it can occasionally mask something underneath.
Breath that does not clear, a sudden change in smell, or any of the ammonia, sweet or unusual odours above all deserve attention. The rule: occasional and mild is usually fine; persistent, worsening, or paired with other symptoms is not.
Why Bad Breath Can Signal a Bigger Health Problem
Bad breath is not just a mouth problem. The bacteria behind dental disease can travel through the bloodstream and affect the heart, liver and kidneys, which ties your dog’s dental health to their overall health and lifespan.
The link runs both ways. Sometimes the breath is the first visible clue to a disease elsewhere in the body. Ammonia breath can point to kidney disease, sweet or fruity breath to diabetes, and a musty or foul smell to liver problems, each often accompanied by extra signs.
Those extra signs turn a smell into a picture. Increased thirst and lethargy alongside ammonia breath. Increased thirst, more urination and weight loss with sweet breath. Vomiting, weight loss or jaundice with a musty smell.
This is why persistent bad breath deserves a proper check rather than a breath mint and a shrug. GoVets offers free dental consultations for dog owners across Manchester and Greater Manchester, with no pressure, so you can find out what is going on without worrying about the cost of asking.
How to Get Rid of Dog Bad Breath: An Honest Prevention Hierarchy
The single most effective thing you can do takes about two minutes a day. Not all tactics are equal, so here is an honest ranking of what works.
Gold standard: daily brushing. Brushing your dog’s teeth with an enzymatic dog toothpaste removes plaque before it hardens. Never use human toothpaste, which contains ingredients toxic to dogs. Even a few times a week makes a real difference.
Supportive: chews, additives and dental diets. Vet-approved dental chews, water additives and dental kibble help control plaque between brushing. Useful, but not a substitute for the brush.
Professional: scaling and polishing. Once tartar has formed, only a scale and polish under anaesthetic can remove it, resetting the clock so home care can keep things in check.
Small and toy breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Dachshunds and Pugs have crowded teeth in compact jaws that trap food and bacteria, so they are far more prone to dental disease and need earlier dental care.
Read more about what a professional clean involves on our pet dental care page.
When to See a Vet About Your Dog's Bad Breath
Book an appointment if you spot any of the following.
- A sudden change in your dog’s breath smell
- Ammonia, sweet or fruity, or any unusual odour
- Drooling, difficulty eating, weight loss, increased thirst or lethargy alongside the smell
- Breath that gets worse despite good home care
Any one of these is worth a visit. Acting early on dental and systemic problems protects your dog’s whole-body health, not just their mouth.
GoVets offers free dental consultations for dog owners across Manchester and Greater Manchester. Pop in, give us a call, or book online, and we will take a look with no pressure and no hard sell.
FAQs
Usually anal gland problems or your dog licking their rear, though it can also point to dental disease. Rarely an emergency, but check it if it persists or comes with scooting.
Ammonia or urine-like breath can signal kidney disease. See your vet promptly, especially if your dog is also drinking more, losing weight or unusually tired. A blood test checks kidney function.
Yes. Between three and seven months, your puppy’s gums inflame as adult teeth come through, producing a faint metallic smell that clears once teething finishes. See your vet if it is very strong, persists beyond seven months, or comes with pain.
Daily brushing with an enzymatic dog toothpaste works best as prevention. If tartar has already built up, brushing will not shift it, and your dog needs a professional scale and polish.
Yes. Most is dental, but persistent or unusual odours can signal kidney, liver or diabetes problems, and oral bacteria can affect the heart. A check-up is worthwhile if it does not clear.
Veterinary Advice Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance only and should not be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Every pet is different, and symptoms can vary depending on individual circumstances. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health or wellbeing, please contact your vet for a proper assessment and personalised care.