Border Collies are a particularly energetic breed of dog and they love to play fetch, so they spend a lot of time with their heads down, mouth open and bringing the ball back to you. This puts them in a prime position for dental and mouth health issues including bad dog breath. Add to that dietary factors and their love of chewing on things (including your slippers) and you can see how their breath might not always smell as fresh as you’d like it to.
Do Border Collies get bad breath? Yes – and with a few simple changes to their lifestyle and good dental hygiene, your Border Collie’s bad breath can be managed and improved. Here are five ways to improve Border Collie halitosis: i) a healthy diet higher in fiber and lower in protein; ii) keeping their toys clean; iii) cleaning their teeth 2-3 times a week; iv) regular veterinary check-ups and v) a healthy exercise routine.
In this article we look into issues regarding Border Collie breath, including how to improve their canine halitosis, causes of bad breath and dental issues.
[If a foul odor persists, you may want to take him to the veterinarian for an oral health check-up as this could be an outward sign of underlying health conditions that you are not aware of.]
How Can I Cure My Dogs Bad Breath? 5 Effective Ways!
Bad breath is a common condition and normally no cause for concern. Luckily there are a few things you can do to help manage and even eliminate bad breath in your collie.
5 ways to reduce bad breath in Border Collies:
1. Feed them a diet that is low in protein and high in fiber as this will also help reduce bacteria levels. Avoid cheap dog food and introduce more cooked vegetables.
2. Keep their toys and chew bones clean – wash them regularly in hot water to reduce the build-up of pathogenic bacteria.
3. Keep your collie’s teeth clean by brushing their teeth at least 2-3 times a week either using toothpaste or dental treats.
4. Take them for regular check-ups with the vet, especially if bad breath worsens suddenly.
5. A good exercise routine with their human companions can help your Border Collie to stay fit and healthy and improve their halitosis by keeping their body active, increasing blood flow as well as improving mental health too.
In more severe cases, bad breath may be a result of medical conditions or dental disease taking hold inside the mouth – for example, oral cancer – or serious medical conditions that have spread into other areas of the body such as kidney disease, liver disease, or lung cancer. See below for more on this!
To protect them from these life-threatening causes of halitosis, it’s important to take your Border Collie for regular check-ups with your veterinarian.
What Causes Bad Breath In Border Collies?
Approximately 80% of all Border Collies suffer from canine halitosis at some stage which means a lot of dog parents have a hard time finding different ways to deal with it. The foul odor is mostly caused by bacteria. In most cases, bad breath is caused by sulfur compounds left behind on the tongue and in the mouth as bacteria break down protein from the foods we eat. These bacteria live comfortably in a wet environment.
What causes bad breath in Border Collies? There are a multitude of factors which can increase the chances of canine halitosis. This may include: a poor diet high in protein and low in fiber, poor dental hygiene, lack of a good exercise regime as well as medical conditions such as abscesses, lose teeth, dry mouth, digestive disorders and respiratory tract infections.
The prevalence and severity of many of these conditions can be reduced by giving your collie a high-quality diet and plenty of exercise including mental stimulation, on a regular basis can help to reduce foul breath by improving overall oral health, eliminate boredom vices and lead to overall healthy lives.
The potential ‘worst case’ scenarios of more serious medical issues are explored below; certainly time to chat to a vet if any of these are suspected!
9 Health Issues That Cause Bad Breath In Border Collies
- Dental disease, which is the most common cause of bad breath in Border Collies. Dental problems such as tartar build up can lead to periodontal disease. This can contribute to halitosis by softening or loosening teeth, which allows for bacteria growth and tooth decay. Tooth abscess, pus pockets, form if the mouth becomes infected around a softened or loose tooth, leading to putrid-smelling breath.
- Loose teeth that may wobble around when Border Collie chews food leaving pieces behind that fall into the back of the mouth leading to halitosis.
- Dry mouth condition where dogs do not produce much saliva. Saliva helps to cleanse the mouth from bacteria and other substances and helps to keep fresh breath.
- Digestive disorders such as Megaesophagus a gastrointestinal disease. This disorder affects the dog’s esophagus and prevents it from functioning properly, which can lead to regurgitation and bad breath which can not be solved by frequent brushing.
- Respiratory tract infections such as Kennel Cough Border Collie, Bronchitis Border Collie, and even pneumonia Border Collies.
- Genetic predispositions can lead to health concerns including bad breath if they have an overbite where their bottom jaw extends further than the top jaw and this makes it difficult for them to keep the back of their mouths clean.
- Anal gland issues can lead to your canine companion licking its bottom more. When fluid build-up within its glands licking can lead to poop breath.
- Cancer/tumors of the nasal cavities or throat can also lead to Border Collies chronic halitosis.
- A yeast infection can cause musty-smelling breath and lead to ear problems. An ear infection can lead to increasing body temperatures and some abnormal behavior in your Border Collie.
Regular visits to your trusted veterinarian should pick up on these health issues; contact them if you suspect any of these may be present. See also: panting and drooling issues.
Why Is My Dog’s Breath Suddenly So Bad? (More On Dental Diseases)
As discussed above, the first thing you should do is take your dog to the veterinarian for a check-up. Dental problems are one of the most common causes of bad breath in dogs, and can often be treated with a simple cleaning. Infections can also be treated with antibiotics, and tumors can sometimes be removed surgically. Pet health insurance can help with the costs.
Periodontal disease is a common ailment in dogs, and it can be particularly devastating in Border Collies. This type of disease arises when bacteria accumulate on the gums and teeth, leading to inflammation and tooth decay. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause tooth loss and even systemic health problems. Fortunately, there are steps pet owners can take to help protect their dogs from this condition. By brushing their dog’s teeth regularly and providing them with appropriate dental care, pet owners can help keep their Border Collie’s smile healthy and bright.
In many cases, however, dogs do not need an outside influence making them suffer from this condition, but rather just a different diet with added supplements in it to help remove calcium from the teeth and add enough fatty acids in them so that they would coat the dog’s teeth with a thin film that prevents plaque and bacteria to adhere to the teeth.
If your border collie already has periodontal disease, there are treatments available that can help. Veterinarians may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection, or they may suggest a dental cleaning under anesthesia. In severe cases, tooth extraction or even surgery may be necessary.
By taking steps to prevent periodontal disease and providing appropriate care when it is diagnosed, dog owners can help keep their border collie’s smile healthy and bright.
Do Border Collies Have Bad Teeth?
By six months old your Border Collie will have lost its decidual, baby teeth and replaced them with its permanent adult teeth. They will have on average 42 adult teeth. It is important to think about oral hygiene as part of your Border Collie’s overall health care routine.
For a Border Collie, a regular brushing routine is one of the best ways to prevent bad odor and dental disease. Dog owners should invest in a high-quality toothbrush and paste that is specifically designed for canines.
A soft or rubberized brush will be more effective on canine teeth than a traditional bristle brush would be. In addition to regular brushing with dog toothpaste, dog owners should inspect their Border Collies’ mouths regularly for signs of health issues such as broken teeth, red gums, or accumulated plaque that can lead to gum disease.
Does Diabetic Dog Breath Smell?
Surprisingly diabetic dog breath can have sweet-smelling breath but often it smells about the same as for non-diabetic dog breath, but there are some warning signs.
A diabetic dog will typically have yellowish or brownish saliva because of high blood sugar levels in their blood. Other symptoms include excessive thirstiness and urination, fatigue or lethargy, weight loss, change in appetite (not wanting food), vomiting fecal incontinence (or accidents), blurred vision, tingling sensation around the mouth or feet that could lead to nerve damage or an infected sore on their paw pads due to poor circulation.
The combination of symptoms for diabetes is often hard to tell apart from other illnesses so observe your pup closely for any changes over time. The vet will take a blood sample to help diagnose this condition. There are many effective treatment options available to allow your dog a good quality of life.
Conclusion
In most cases, bad breath in pets is nothing to worry about and can be easily treated. However, it’s important to get your dog checked out by a veterinarian if the bad breath persists for an extended period of time or is accompanied by other symptoms as it can be a sign of another health concern that may require professional treatment.
