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When your dachshund has bad breath it makes cuddling, kisses, and generally being close to them much less enjoyable. Why on earth does their breath smell so bad? Is there something wrong or is this normal?
Why Do Dachshunds Have Bad Breath:
Dachshunds usually have bad breath because their owner hasn’t maintained their oral hygiene. Without frequent brushing or taking preventative measures to stop a build up of plaque and tartar in their mouth, they will have bad breath. Dental treats, water additives, and tooth brushing greatly help with bad breath.
In this post you’ll discover the top 5 reasons why a dachshund would have bad breath (#3 happens to more dogs than you’d think!) and the top 3 ways to help prevent it from continuing.
Let’s jump right in to help keep your dachshunds’ bad breath at bay.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Reasons Your Dachshund Has Bad Breath
1) They Ate Something They Shouldn’t Have
One of the more gross reasons, but not the worst in terms of your dachshunds’ overall oral health is they ate something smelly.
Such as poop, some old garbage, or something they found on one of your walks.
When it comes to them eating garbage or something on their walk, you can avoid this pretty easily.
But when your dog eats their own poop, this can become a bad habit that makes for consistently smelly breath.
A dog may eat their poop because they’re trying to get your attention, they have anxiety, they aren’t feeling well or they want to avoid being punished.
Whatever the reason may be for your dachshund, it’s important to discourage this behavior.
Not only does it make their breath smell terrible but there’s bad bacteria in it that can make them sick.
If you’re having troubles curbing the behavior, there are dog chews that are designed to discourage this behavior that might be worth a shot.
Related Reading: 27 Fruits Dachshunds Can And Can’t Eat (Ultimate Guide)
2) Poor Oral Hygiene
The most common reason for your dachshund to have bad breath is because of poor oral hygiene.
Many people don’t think twice about brushing their own teeth because they’ve done it since they were a child.
But when it comes to their dog’s dental health, well, many don’t give it much thought.
Forgetting to give your dog’s mouth a good cleaning is likely why their breath stinks.
Have you ever been talking to someone who clearly hasn’t brushed their teeth in a few days? It’s pretty hard to continue the conversation.
So if you haven’t brushed your dog’s teeth in a long time, it’s understandable that their breath would smell bad.
If the thought of brushing your dog’s teeth everyday sounds horrible to you, our first and second tip below will be perfect for you.
3) Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease comes from excess bacteria in a dog’s mouth.
And unfortunately, smaller breeds, like your dachshund, are more susceptible to periodontal disease.
This is because they have the same number of teeth as a larger dog, but with much less room due to their small sized mouth.
This means there’s very little space between their teeth which makes it easy for plaque and tartar to build up to unhealthy levels.
The most common symptom of periodontal disease is bad breath.
If you notice your pup pawing at their mouth, refusing to eat (likely because of pain), loose teeth, or excessive drooling, these are signs of periodontal disease worsening.
Not only does a build up of bacteria cause your pups breath to smell bad.
But it can also lead to worse health problems.
So while it’s important not to neglect your dachshund’s teeth to stop their kisses from making you want to run away, it’s also important for their overall health and wellbeing.
4) Teething
If your dachshund is just a pup, they are likely teething.
And when a dog is teething, they’re losing their baby teeth to soon be replaced with adult teeth.
It’s common to find their mouth bleeding from time to time because of teeth falling out.
Since their mouth is constantly under repair while they’re teething, you might notice their breath smells rather off-putting.
Since this is just a part of growing up it’s not a big deal.
But it’s important to take care of their new adult pearly whites to ensure their breath doesn’t continue to smell bad as they get older.
5) Tooth Infection
A worsening case of periodontal disease would be that your dachshund’s tooth has become infected.
If your dog’s breath smells more off-putting than usual, they might have a tooth infection.
A tooth that’s infected will be distinctly a different color than the rest of their teeth.
You’ll also likely notice your dog is only eating on one side of their mouth, or not eating at all.
It’s important to take them to see the vet if you suspect they have a tooth infection.
3 Tips To Help Keep Your Dachshunds Bad Breath At Bay
1) Dental Treats
Helping keep their mouth clean and healthy while your dachshund simply thinks you’re giving them a treat? The perfect solution!
Dental treats like Dentastix or Greenies can really make a difference on your dog’s oral health.
These kinds of treats help remove plaque and tartar buildup, freshen their breath as well as remove stains from their teeth.
The best solution is to have your pup clean their own teeth without them even knowing they’re doing it.
2) Water Additive
Another easy way to help prevent plaque and tartar buildup in your pup’s mouth is by using a water additive.
Water additives are a popular choice as you simply mix it in their bowl of water each day. And while they’re drinking, it works at keeping their mouth clean.
They help prevent periodontal diseases, gum swelling, bad breath and even help whiten their teeth.
If you don’t have the time to manually brush their teeth or your dachshund is a big baby when it comes to brushing, water additives are a nice alternative.
Chances are water additives are new for your dachshund so it might be a good idea to start off with less than the recommended dose to start.
If your pup has a sensitive stomach, anything new to their diet could be irritating for them.
So it’s best to work your way up to the recommended daily amount.
Based on what we’ve found, this Fresh Dental Water Additive is one of the best you can get.
3) Brush Their Teeth Often
The least favorite, but definitely most effective way to help keep your dachshund from having bad breath is to brush their teeth. And to do it often.
Daily brushing, or at least several times a week can work wonders on preventing any diseases, infections, or stink from happening.
Much like you’ve been told your whole life to brush your teeth in the morning and before bed, your dachshund would benefit from similar treatment.
The same things happen to their mouths throughout the day.
They eat food and some residue gets caught in their teeth.
Without properly cleaning away the food residue they’re exposed to plaque and tartar build up as well as other infections.
If you want a sure fire way to keep their breath smelling fresh and their oral health to stay in tip top shape, brushing often will work wonders.
Final Thoughts
Most of the time, a dachshund will have bad breath because of poor oral hygiene.
Many pet owners don’t think about brushing their dog’s teeth.
After all, they don’t have to go to work and be around people all day like you do so why do they need fresh breath?
Well, while tooth brushing is definitely for keeping breath from smelling terrible, it also helps prevent mouth infections and diseases.
The more you stay on top of keeping your dachshunds mouth clean, the better their breath will smell.
Other posts you might find interesting:
12 Best Dog Beds for Dachshunds
Why Do My Dachshunds Eyes Water? Top 4 Causes + Tips
11 Reasons Why Dachshunds Shake, Shiver & Tremble
Are Dachshunds Aggressive? The Truth + 11 Helpful Tips
Do Dachshunds Like To Cuddle? 11 Things You Should Know