Today I had Amber to the vet after four weeks of constant bad breath. It's not acidosis and not dental related. It's not the type of thing that knocks you off your feet from across the room but it's definatgely not pleasant and it's particuarly bothersome due to the fact that it came on suddenly. I brush her teeth 3-4 times per week and have even uses two drops of listerine on her tongue to help but it's definately not from her mouth. The vet looked her over and figured that it came from bacteria in her tummy. She thought that she had more then likely ingested some sort of giardia type of bug and it's causing colitis or inflamation of her stomach..etc which is causing the odor. She asked if she had been belching more then normal and I couldn't recall her burping more then her normal burp after dinner then of course she proves me a liar by burping two minutes after she asked the question lol. She prescribed Metronidazole for 7 days, twice per day to clear out any cysts or parasites that may be causing this. I was abit concerned since I've heard that bad breath not caused by dental issues that comes on suddenly can be a sign of some very bad things, particuarly kidney issues. The vet assured me that if it was that sort of thingt he breath would be VERY bad to the point of smelling it constantly and possibly even across the room, not just in your face panting type of thing.
Anyone else ever encounter this sort of issue? Its definately not from Amber licking or cleaning herself. I've been watching this for four weeks now figuring that if it did not clear itself up within a month I would have the vet check her out. Just curious if anyone else has run into similar issues with this sort of thing. Thanks!

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Phil & Amber, CGC
You'd smile too if you were a Golden!

I have, but not until my dog was much older. My Toby at about age 8 started having bad breath, almost exactly like you describe. The vet also thought it was coming from his gastrointestinal tract, and put him on amoxicillin for 10 days. It cleared up by the end of the second day. But it does come back once in a while. Might be due to a bacterial overgrowth in his digestive tract, because he does have autoimmune inflammatory bowel syndrome, without any digestive symptoms.
The bad breath from kidney problems is very distinct. It smells like ammonia. Vets can pick that one out right away, I'm sure your vet would have known that was what it was if that were the case.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

This sounds digestive, to be sure.
I would put her on Nature's Farmacy Digestive Enhancer probiotics asap. It virtually eliminated our old Pointer's toxic waste site breath. None of my current dogs have bad breath, and I don't brush teeth.

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Good lord, I hope you are referring to the dogs

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

HAHAHA. You betcha - I'm one of those who always has a toothbrush in my purse!

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Selka had developed bad breath (and smelly gas) last summer. Since using the Digestive Enhancer, both have gone away!

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Thanks VERY much for the advise guys, I truly appreciate it. This sort of thing seems to be so subjective based on what "could" be the problem but may not be. I too thought it was probably something in her digestive tract and since her BFF who is a black lab her age(they have play date four days per week, hiking and swimming together) LOVES to eat deer poop Amber had tried eating once and it seems to fit the probable time line for when this appeared(two weeks prior to this starting). The black lab had a case of bugs her in belly too and was on meds for it for a week from eating the deer poop as well so I figured while she does not throw up or have the runs, it was probably not giardia but something like it.
PG, where would I find this additive? Would it be comparable to the probiotic found in certain yogurts? I ask b/c I thought that starting her on yogurt in her food again, something we have not done since she was about 9 months old, might be a good idea to help keep her digestive tract healthy as well. Is this in pill form or...? Thanks agin so much for the assistance!
You guys don't think it could come from swimming in a clean resevior do you?? We swim in a large community resevior three times per week and while she rarely drinks much of it she does constsntly get it in her mouth..etc. The water is clear, clean, with no fungus growth on top or bottom and her hair comes out extremely SOFT when she dries after being in it(Guessing due to the mineral content). I would hate to think that I would have to stop taking her to one of her favorite places to spend the entire day swimming and hiking.

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Phil & Amber, CGC
You'd smile too if you were a Golden!

The amount of beneficialbacterias in yogurts is not enough - you'd have to feed gallons of it.

Go to:

http://www.naturesfarmacy.com/store/...97&category=45

My dogs get it in every meal, and have for a few years now. I think it makes a big diffence.

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"Bad dog. Want a cookie?" - Grandma
"You aren't a bad doggie, you just make bad choices." Amy's friend

Bentley has suddenly developed horrible bad breath. You can smell it when he enters the room, I've never smelled anything like it..ever.
I have tried brushing his teeth, no difference. Last night I gave him peanut butter hoping it would help no difference. I can't stand to have him even sit next to me.
Reading this thread I'm thinking about trying this Digestive Enhancer...thoughts?

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My only experience with bad breath was Bear. In her case, it smelled like compost! It turns out she had some grass wound around one of her back molars. You couldn't see it by just opening her mouth and brushing didn't help.
My vet found it when she had a dental. She also ended up losing the tooth, most likely because the grass had been there for a while~!

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Bear 6/2000-5/27/2012