Bad Odour from my Canine

Question
For the past three or four days my dog has been emitting a "sick dog" smell.  I bathed her today as she was a bit dirty and I thought the smell was associated with what she had been rolling in.  She smells clean but the smell is only coming from her mouth, now that she's clean I can finally tell.

She is a Labrador x Blue Heeler, she is only 1 1/2 years old.  I feed her Pedigree biscuits and have done for about three months, my partner used to feed her Eukanuba biscuits but it got to expense for the amount she eats. She has had no skin problems so far but I have noticed that her hair on her stomach is sparse and her tummy is really pink, like she's just been scratching it for half an hour.

Could it be something to do with her gums??  I probably should mention we had to throw lime down under the house where she goes as she was always getting fleas however she has hardly been outside to go under the house.

I hope you can help me!!

Thanks,
Sophie

Answer

Hi Sophie,

An abscessed tooth, cracked tooth, plaque buildup or dental decay can be responsible for the smell you've noticing. It can also be associated with her diet, or something she ate.  Having a foreign body stuck in the mouth can also lead to bad breath. Sometimes the bad breath is a symptom of a  problem will be elsewhere in the body,  such as a lung condition or kidney disease. Some internal conditions will cause a foul smell that's released through the dog's mouth. If the odor continues, you should have your dog examined by your vet.

Lime isn't toxic to dogs.  That said, I'm also not sure whether spreading Lime really works to kill fleas or not.  I found mixed suggestions on that point, with some people saying it's a myth, and some swearing it killed fleas in their yard.  If your dog has been scratching,  you should check with fleas, as the lime you've been putting down may doing nothing to kill or repel fleas. Diatomaceous Earth is something that really does work to kill fleas,  if you don't want to spray chemicals on the ground. Diatomaceous Earth is a special kind of soil made from crushed-up algae fossils, this can be dusted around your yard and will kill fleas by dehydrating them with tiny cuts. One thing to keep in mind, though, getting fleas out of your lawn doesn't mean your house is safe. If even a few survive and get on your dog, they can bring them indoors, where they'll start laying eggs and infest your house. It's usually a good idea to use more than one approach, such as to kill them outside with diatomaceous earth, but still apply flea preventative seasonally as needed.  Be sure to treat your dog's bedding areas with a spray containing an insect growth regulator (IGR), and vacuum your home well. Fleas can live in carpet, upholstery, and in the cracks of the floor.

You might not actually see fleas on your dog, you need to check between your dog's fur and skin to see if you find any "flea dirt". Flea dirt is the waste product (mostly dried blood) that fleas leave behind. Look for little black flecks in her fur that look like black pepper. To test this, wet a cotton ball or paper towel and add some of the "black pepper" material. If it dissolves into a reddish-brown material, it is very likely flea dirt, and indication of a flea problem for your dog.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti