Maltipoo Bad Breath
There is nothing like calling your Maltipoo that is well groomed and cleaned over to you, just to have them jump in your lap and give you a good whiff of overpowering bad breath. If this has happened to you, you are not alone.
Some dogs have acute bad breath while others have stubborn chronic issues that don’t seem to ever go away. Bad breath is not uncommon with canines.
In this article we will go over why your maltipoo may have bad breath and tips on keeping it smelling great.
Is Bad Breath Normal?
It is not normal for your Maltipoo’s breath to smell like feces, urine, sour or any other odor that is foul and powerful enough to notice when he breathes near you.
You may associate good smelling breath with minty scents. But since it is hard for our dogs to have breath that smells like mint, we can expect the normal smell should be neutral.
While this is possible, it is typical for a Maltipoo's breath to smell like the food that he just ate. Especially if you dog is eating dry dog food. This can be caused by tiny particles of the food remaining in the grooved ridges on the tongue, or in the inside of the cheeks and between teeth. For dogs that smell like dog food regularly, there is help.
Reasons for Bad Breath:
1) Teeth & Dental Issues -
This may seem obvious to some owners yet this is still overlooked because Maltipoos do not usually show signs of discomfort when their teeth are hurting. There are several dental reasons that cause very stinky breath.
Tooth Infection is not uncommon with dogs in general and with the Maltipoo having a poodle parent, it is even more common. Poodles are prone to tooth problems which means many Maltipoos will be as well.
Plaque, tartar and dental infection are the main causes of both bad breath and un-diagnosed dental issues. Owners use to think that pet dogs cleaned their own teeth by chewing on toys and treats. This has long been proven false yet is still believed by some people. Without routine teeth cleaning at home, there will be a gradual buildup of debris.
Eventually, tooth infection can lead to discomfort which often causes your Maltipoo to refuse to eat.
With any canine, dental infections can travel through the bloodstream and to vital organs which can lead to many unnecessary health issues if not addressed.
What to do:
If you think that bad breath may be coming from unclean or infected teeth the dog should be brought to the veterinarian for a full dental exam. They will look for infection and then clean the teeth by scraping both under the gum line and on all teeth and then follow with a rinse.
If an abscess is found, treatment is necessary to prevent the infection from spreading and causing further health issues. This will give your Maltipoo a 'clean slate' to then begin taking care of this at home.
Whether you have a brand new Maltipoo puppy or a senior dog, now is the time to start brushing your Maltipoo's teeth regularly. It only takes a few minutes per day and will have a huge impact on your dog's dental health and overall health. Not only is this the best remedy for bad breath, it will help your dog hold onto his pearly whites for his lifetime.
If you already brush your dog's teeth, you will want to reassess what type of products you are using.
Look for good products:
Toothbrush -
Make sure it is the appropriate size for your dog . Three-sided brushes work well as they can clean all 3 visible sides at once, which cuts down on the amount of time that your Maltipoo needs to stay still.
Get a quality brush that has the right textured bristles to do a very thorough job.
You'll want to throw away the old one and use a new one approximately every 4 to 6 months.
Canine toothpaste-
Look for some that does not contain fluoride (which is poison to dogs)
Use a paste that is safe to swallow and has the right abrasive qualities to be safe for teeth yet strong enough to scrub away bacteria, plaque and sticky food particle debris.
Many will come in chicken flavor or other flavors that dogs like, so this can make this grooming task easier.
You can also opt for a quality mint flavor, which will give your Maltipoo super clean smelling breath for up to 3 hours afterward.
2) Teething
In regard to Maltipoo puppies that have bad breath, this can often be attributed to teething issues. It isn’t uncommon for the breath to have a sort of sweet-sour smell. Some owners describe this as a sour milk smell. This sort of bad breath can be caused due to mild bleeding that occurs in the mouth that mixes with saliva and bacteria that is normally present.
What to do: While this will resolve itself once the teething phase is over, brushing the teeth now will help in several ways:
1. It will help prevent future infection since infection in the gums now will affect the adult teeth that will emerge later.
2. It will help keep gums strong and healthy which is the foundation needed for a good bite set.
3. It will help temporarily relieve the itch; most Maltipoo puppies love to have a nice scrubbing since the bristles feel great on those itchy gums.
4. It establishes good habits for a lifetime; puppies that become used to this now will grow up and be use to sitting nice for the grooming.
3) Dog Food Breath
We discussed this earlier. With the dry kibble the small food particles become lodged into the crevices in the tongue, teeth and inner cheeks of the dog. Every time the dog takes a breath it will emit the odor of the dry kibble stuck in these crevices.
What to do: Most high quality kibbles with wholesome ingredients will not cause these problems, so checking and researching the quality of the food you are feeding your puppy may be in order. Stale dog food may cause these foul smells, so if you tend to buy large bags of food that take too long for your dog to eat, you may want to downsize to smaller bags that are used quicker.
It can also help to encourage your Maltipoo to drink right after eating. Water fountains are a great choice for boosting water consumption since dogs are attracted to the flowing water. Even offering an ice cube after a meal could do the trick.
4) Bad Breath from Eating Poop
If your Maltipoo's breath smells like feces, he very well could have eaten feces, either his own or that of another dog. This is known as Coprophagia. While many owners will notice their dog doing this, some may not for a variety of reasons.
What to do - You'll want to keep an eye on your Maltipoo and stop him if he even attempts to ingest feces. Often a loud clap, followed by a distraction such as offering a chew toy and then praising the action of mouthing the toy will work.
In regard to a very overpowering feces smell coming from the mouth, you'll want to make sure that this is not due to bowel obstruction. While the vomit can smell like poop, if a Maltipoo is throwing up just a little bit and then swallowing it, this can make the breath smell like feces. Other signs include lack of appetite, straining to go to the bathroom, weakness, panicked behavior and/or dark stools. When in doubt, contact your vet.
4) Foreign Object
There are many different types of things that a Maltipoo can mouth that will get stuck between the teeth or even pierce the inside of the cheek or tongue. If this happens, there will be inflammation and possibly infection that can cause bad mouth odor. The types of things that can get stuck in the mouth are only limited to what a Maltipoo has had access to. A chunk of food may be wedged between the teeth, but small strings and wooden splinters are two of the most common culprits.
What to do - In some cases, you can remove a piece of food with your dog's toothbrush. Also, if your dog stays still and with the help of an assistant, you can use a string of floss to remove the food particle, particularly if something is wedged between the teeth. You won't want to try to use a toothpick or other sharp object as it could cause injury.
If there is a splinter in the mouth, this is something that the vet should take care of to make sure that the entire object has been removed and to prescribe antibiotic medication if necessary.
5) Health Issues
There are many health conditions that have bad breath among the symptoms:
Diabetes can cause a dog's breath to smell very fruity and sweet. While this is more common with senior dogs, juvenile diabetes can happen in younger dogs. Other signs include changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, weakness, changes in urination and/or increased UTI's.
Kidney issues - Bad breath that smells like urine can be a sign of kidney disease. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, increased thirst and/or lethargy. If you notice any of the above, it would be wise to have your Maltipoo checked by your Vet.
Liver or lung disease - With both liver and lung disease, there can be strong chronic bad breath.
Digestive issues - If a dog has excess gas in the stomach, this can cause a dog to burp quite a bit, which will cause bad breath as the smell of stomach acid and digesting food are expelled from the mouth. It should be noted that burping may also be caused by eating too quickly and can often be remedied by offering meals in a slow-feeder bowl which displaces the food to encourage slower ingestion.
If your Maltipoo has very sweet breath, a scent of urine coming from the mouth or bad breath that does not respond to any at-home remedies, it is time for a full checkup with the veterinarian to rule out possible health conditions.