This refers to the ingestion of feces and if your Pug's breath smells like dog poop, it may indeed be just that. Sometimes, this is a known problem, but in other cases, owners may not be aware that their Pug is doing this. If a Pug is left home alone, he can have a bowel movement and ingest the evidence, leaving owners to have no clue. A dog may be let out into the yard unsupervised or, even if he is being watched, it may appear that he is sniffing the ground but may be eating his own feces or that of another dog.
Animal behaviorists and veterinarians alike have various ideas about why dogs do this. Lacking certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients is one popular theory. This may have some truth to it, since low-quality foods are often packed with fillers, which are empty ingredients that pass right though the body. This can cause a dog to be hungry soon after a meal. And, if there is no other food being offered, a dog may resort to eating feces.
Another reason may be habit; though some theorize that a dog may eat his own poop to cover up the evidence of a housebreaking accident, it is more likely that a bored dog eats poop and in doing so, it becomes a bad habit.
What to do:
1.
Reassess your
Pug's food
to be sure that you are offering a high-quality brand without fillers.
2.
If your Pug is on a good food, you may want to speak to the vet about offering a probiotic. These promote good digestion by balancing the 'good' and 'bad' bacteria in the intestines, allowing for better absorption of nutrients, and in turn is thought to help cut down on coprophagia.
3.
When outside, closely supervise your Pug. Be sure to use a short or retractable leash and a
harness, not a collar, which allows you to control your Pug in a safe manner; you can quickly preposition your puppy or dog away from any feces that they may be attempting to eat, without putting pressure on the neck.
4.
If your believe that your Pug may be eating his own feces while you are not at home,
you may wish to try a deterrent supplement. These do not work for all dogs, but may be worth a shot. The idea behind these is that they taste good going in but during the digestive process these add a terrible taste to the stools on the way out. #7: A foreign object stuck in the mouth or between teeth.
Dogs are incredibly curious by nature and for this reason, it is not uncommon for them to mouth things simply to discover what they are, even if eating it is not an intention. This, unfortunately, can lead to non-food objects being swallowed but also can lead to pieces of an object becoming lodged in the mouth or stuck between teeth.
If this happens, the body will react by increasing saliva, which can lead to drooling and is oftentimes mixed with a small amount of blood due to tissue being pierced. The longer the object is stuck in the mouth, the more of a bad smell it will produce. In some cases, if it has been more than 24 hours, infection can set in which can cause an even stronger case of bad breath.
What to do:
It is easiest to have a look in a dog's mouth using a flashlight and with the assistance of a helper, since most dogs will not 'open up and say Ahhhh'. If you can spot the culprit, you'll have to make a judgement call as to whether it is feasible to remove it.
Objects that are only stuck between teeth may be able to be removed by using a thin, dry washcloth and with two fingers on either side, doing a firm downward or upward sliding motion.
Thick floss may also be used for some issues. In other cases of an object being stuck like a splinter, it is best to have a veterinarian handle this, since removal of the exposed portion may still leave pieces in the oral tissue.
Although this is not a common reason for a Pug to have really bad breath, it is a possibility and must be mentioned. There are certain
health conditions
that have halitosis as a symptom.
Kidney issues can cause a dog's breath to smell like urine or ammonia. Stomach or intestinal blockage can make a dog's breath smell like feces and in some cases, stools can even be vomited out. Canine diabetes may cause chronic bad breath and in some instances it can smell very sweet and fruity. Infection in the lungs or sinus passages often causes bad breath as well.
What to do: Any sort of suspected health issue warrants a veterinary check-up and this should be your first priority. If your Pug is found to be in good health, it will then be time to implement a routine of dental hygiene at home. Look right below to:
How to Keep a Pug's Teeth Clean and Breath Smelling Nice.