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You may have noticed a particularly off-putting smell coming from your schnauzer’s mouth. Which then makes you wonder if they have bad teeth. Are schnauzers more likely to have bad teeth or is this unique to my schnauzer?
Do Schnauzers Have Bad Teeth:
According to PetMD, almost 90% of all dogs will have some form of periodontal (gum) disease by the time they’re 2 years old. And unfortunately your schnauzer is no exception. Without a proper oral hygiene routine, such as brushing their teeth, your schnauzer will have bad teeth.
In this post you’ll discover 6 of the most common indicators your schnauzers mouth is taking a turn for the worse, what health related issues may arise if their mouth is unhealthy as well as 5 helpful tips to prevent your pup from developing periodontal disease.
Tip #1 is the most effective yet only roughly 2% of dog owners do it!
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
6 Indicators Your Schnauzer Has Bad Teeth
1) Noticeably Bad Breath
If you’re not inspecting your schnauzer’s mouth on a regular basis, odds are the first thing you’ll notice is terrible breath.
When your pup has noticeably bad breath it’s a sign of poor oral health and in many cases periodontal disease.
Unfortunately, recent studies have found that almost 90% of all dogs will have some form of periodontal disease by the age of 2.
And bad breath is an indicator of something going on.
It could be too many days without a proper cleaning or if the smell is really bad, it could be an infection.
Bacteria buildup (plaque & tartar) is the reason for the off-putting smell as well as potential infection.
Related Reading: 5 Reasons Why Your Schnauzer Has Bad Breath + 3 Tips
2) Loose Or Broken Teeth
If you notice your schnauzer’s teeth are loose or even broken, this is a sign that their oral health is taking a turn for the worse.
Of course puppy teeth are supposed to become loose and fall out.
But healthy, adult teeth are supposed to be firmly in place and won’t wiggle when touched.
Also, if you notice a broken tooth in their mouth, it could be a sign that their teeth are becoming weak.
Of course, it could also be that they bit down on something hard that caused their tooth to break.
Regardless, if you notice a tooth is broken it’s a good idea to take them to the vet to see if it’s from poor oral health or they bit something that cracked their tooth.
3) Gum & Tooth Discoloration
A schnauzer’s mouth that’s in poor condition will have some discoloration.
It could be discoloration of their teeth, gums and even possibly their tongue.
If you notice a few of, or most of, their teeth are a variety of shades of brown and yellow, their teeth are in bad condition.
The change in color is a result of bacteria building up on their teeth and gums that hasn’t been washed away in a long time.
You may also notice their gums aren’t a pink, salmon color.
If they’re red and inflamed in addition to having brownish, yellowish teeth, their oral hygiene needs improving.
Side note: Some dogs are born with black spots on their gums and tongue which is simply a pigment difference. It’s when the discoloration is new for them that there’s an increased likelihood that their oral health needs to be looked at.
4) Chewing On One Side Of Their Mouth Or Refusing To Eat
When a dog chooses to favor one side of their mouth when eating, it’s typically because the other is too painful to eat on.
And if their situation gets worse, you may notice your schnauzer refuses to eat entirely.
Unfortunately, eating is too painful where they’d rather be hungry than go through the pain of eating.
If you notice any other signs of their oral health becoming an issue, keep an eye on them while they eat.
You may get further confirmation that something is wrong and they need to see a vet.
5) Blood In Their Saliva
If they have a bloody mouth their oral health is in need of improvement.
Whether you notice blood in their saliva, blood in their water bowl after taking a drink, blood on a toy or if you check their mouth and notice their gums are inflamed and bleeding, these are indicators their mouth health needs improving.
However, sometimes it can be a cut in their mouth that causes blood to show up in their saliva.
But, if you notice blood often showing up on places they put their mouth, there’s likely something more going on than simply a cut.
6) Not Wanting You To Touch Their Head
Sometimes teeth that have gone bad affect the nerves around their mouth and head.
This makes them much more sensitive to being touched and may stop wanting you to pet their head.
Obviously this would be a noticeable sign that something is wrong if they suddenly stop wanting you to pet their head.
For many dogs, all they want is some good cuddles and pats on the head so to shy away from these things shows they must be in pain.
Why Do Schnauzers Get Bad Teeth?
For the most part, schnauzers get bad teeth because their owner neglects their oral hygiene.
Many people think it’s silly to brush their dog’s teeth.
They’re animals that used to live in the wild! It would be silly for me to brush their teeth like a baby!
While it’s true their ancestors never would have had their teeth brushed to maintain their oral health, your pups situation is much different.
Just like if you didn’t brush your teeth for weeks or months on end, you would have dental issues show up.
Same goes for your pup.
They eat and drink everyday just like you.
Which means bacteria will build up and eventually become problematic if it’s not cleaned regularly.
Schnauzers aren’t more likely to experience dental issues than other breeds.
Their mouth is likely rarely cleaned which eventually brings on bad teeth.
Other Health Issues That Can Come From Bad Teeth
Fractured Or Even Broken Jaw
If your schnauzer has an infection in their mouth it can weaken their jaw bone.
When a bone becomes infected and weakened, simple movements can cause the bone to fracture or even break.
Whether it’s jumping off the couch, running up the stairs or playing tug of war like they normally would.
Worst of all, unfortunately, this type of injury isn’t easy to heal as the bone isn’t healthy.
Canine Diabetes
It’s tricky for vets to determine whether bad teeth caused diabetes or the diabetes caused their teeth to go bad.
However, what they do know is canine diabetes isn’t easily managed/balanced until their oral health improves.
This is because certain diseases in their mouth affect their blood sugar which makes managing diabetic symptoms difficult.
Compromised Immune System
When too much bacteria builds up in your schnauzer’s mouth it causes their gums to become inflamed.
Inflammation is their body’s natural response to defend itself against the bacteria but also damages their gum tissue in the process.
This makes the tissue weaker and allows bacteria to enter their bloodstream.
Which then brings negative effects to different parts of their body which affects their immune system.
Heart Disease
A veterinarian at PetMD says it’s common for a dog to also have heart disease when they have some form of periodontal disease.
And if their periodontal disease reaches later stages after not being treated, the dog is 6 times more at risk for endocarditis (a particular heart disease).
Ongoing Mouth Pain That You’re Unaware Of
Your schnauzer will do everything they can not to show you they’re in any sort of pain or discomfort.
Which unfortunately means they could be in pain for much longer than you’ve been aware of.
Best Ways To Prevent Your Schnauzer From Getting Bad Teeth (Or Getting Worse)
1) Brush Their Teeth
The least popular way but by far the most effective to ensure your schnauzer’s teeth stay healthy is to brush them.
And brush them often!
The reason you’ve been told since you were little to brush your teeth twice a day is because it’s necessary to maintain good oral health.
If you were to not brush your teeth for months at a time, you’d have all sorts of issues showing up.
Which is the same situation your schnauzer is in.
They eat food everyday just like you and collect all kinds of bacteria.
And when you think about it, it’s no surprise their teeth have gone bad if their mouth isn’t brushed often.
They may make a fuss in the beginning when getting their teeth brushed, but it’s a surefire way to keep their toofers healthy!
Related Reading: Top 17 Teeth Cleaning Products for Dogs | Best Oral Health
2) Dental Treats
Dental treats can be a big help in terms of keeping your schnauzers mouth and teeth healthy in a hands-off way.
Simply give them the treat like you would any other and as they eat it, it goes to work removing plaque and tartar.
They also leave behind a more pleasant smell than morning doggo breath.
However, it’s still a good idea to give their teeth a good brushing every once in a while in addition to dental treats.
That way you can make sure all spots get taken care of and can inspect their mouth to make sure everything looks alright.
The best dental chews are Dentastix or Greenies.
3) Water Additive
Water additives are another low maintenance way to help keep your schnauzers oral health in good standing.
All that’s required is to add it to their water bowl.
They simply drink as they normally would while the water additive works to remove bacteria and leave their breath fresher.
It’s like a doggo mouth wash that’s okay to swallow.
One of the better water additives is this Fresh Dental Water Additive.
4) Regular Vet Check Ins
The best way to use a vet is by being proactive with your visits as opposed to reactive.
By ensuring your schnauzer sees their vet at least twice a year you’re much less likely to have big issues appear out of the blue.
If your vet notices something is taking a turn for the worse, they’ll advise you on how to improve it.
This way problems get solved before they become major issues.
Regular vet check ins can be a great way to ensure your schnauzer’s teeth never get too bad.
5) Chew Toys Designed To Remove Plaque & Tartar
Some toys are designed with groves and edges that massage a dog’s teeth and gums.
Which helps clean their teeth as they playfully chew the toy.
It’s a win-win situation.
Your schnauzer simply thinks they’re playing.
And you know their teeth and gums are at least getting some attention.
One of the better dental chew toys is from M.C.Works that you can check out by clicking here.
Other posts you might find interesting:
Are Schnauzers Protective? The Truth + 6 Reasons & 4 Tips
11 Reasons Why Schnauzers Dig On Your Bed + 4 Tips
Schnauzers & Running: 4 Facts, 4 Dangers & 4 Tips
Citations:
Periodontal (Gum) Disease in Dogs