Dog Symptoms Guide

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Sign Of ill health guide >>

Bad Breath
Bad smelling breath (also known as Halitosis) is something that people expect from dogs, but it can be an indication of problems. Their breath will smell of whatever they have eaten recently, which may not be appealing (especially if it was scavenged), but a truly offensive breath all the time is not normal.

Most bad smells come from the mouth, more specifically the teeth. Dogs get bacterial plaque on their teeth just as we do, and if this is allowed to build up, tartar is laid down. This is a hard deposit made from the calcium in saliva which adheres to the plaque and contains the bacteria. It is these bacteria that create the smell. They also produce toxins that inflame the gum and can cause erosion of the tooth roots.

The solution to this is to remove the tartar. You vet will be able to do this, but since this requires a general anaesthetic, prevention is much better than cure. The natural method for a dog to keep its teeth clean is to chew on bones, but there are plenty of safe alternatives available. Provide your dog with chews regularly and this will help the health of their mouth.

It is also possible to brush a dogs teeth with a special pet toothpaste Human toothpaste is not appropriate as it is not intended to be swallowed. It is easier to train them to this if started young. Some pet toothpaste will also get some benefit without brushing. Brushing is particularly important for dogs that do not engage in much chewing, especially small and toy breeds.

Bad breath can be due to other infections in or around the mouth. Dogs with loose, floppy jowls can get infections in skin folds which may smell. Something caught in the teeth will start to smell after a time.

Not all bad breath comes from the mouth. Gas produced in the colon is well known for creating smells of another kind, but what is not commonly known is that most of those same gasses are absorbed into the blood stream and are expelled by the lungs, it is only the excess which becomes flatulence. If this gas is pungent, it can cause bad breath.

Biting - Themselves
All dogs will bite themselves occasionally - it is their way of dealing with an itch as much as scratching, but if this becomes excessive there is probably something wrong, especially if they are causing any damage.

The result of excessive biting may cause a rash, but often will produce quite large, weeping sores. If this occurs over a long period of time there may be hairless swelling at the site known as a ‘lick granuloma’. If there is such damage, you should contact your vet for treatment.

The commonest cause of biting is fleas. It takes a lot of fleas to be present before they are easily noticed.

Another common cause is over full anal glands. This will cause biting somewhere near the rear end, typically the flank, tail base or hind leg.

Any other cause of itchiness will cause biting, especially allergies and irritants.

Boredom will increase the likelihood of excessive biting if there is an itch. In these cases it may be habit forming, as a spot which is bitten will often continue to irritate them.

Bleeding
There is only one instance in which bleeding is considered completely normal, and that is when a bitch is in season. At this time the vulva swells and small drips of watery blood are produced. This occurs for up to 3 weeks normally. Unlike humans this is not menstruation; rather it indicates that the bitch is preparing to receive a mate.

Wounds are a common cause of bleeding. Any wound will bleed when it first occurs, but in most cases it will stop within a few minutes. Pressure on the wound with a clean pad will encourage this, but try to avoid the temptation to keep taking it off to see if the bleeding has stopped too early as this could dislodge the forming clot and even slow the process. Most bleeding will stop with 3-4 minutes of continuous pressure. Veterinary attention should be sought at promptly if the wound is of any significant size.

A jet of blood indicates a significant blood vessel has been cut. This should be stopped as soon as possible. Wrap a bandage (improvise - a handkerchief or T-shirt is good) directly on the site of the bleeding with firm pressure. A broad bandage is best. The seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.

NEVER apply a tourniquet unless all other methods have been tried and the animal’s life is at risk. A tourniquet can cause a limb to be lost if applied incorrectly or for too long. If one must be applied, use something broad and soft (like a sock) to avoid crush injury where it is applied.

Bleeding may also issue from any of the body’s openings in vomit, urine, faeces or discharges. Any abnormal bleeding should be investigated by a vet. See also Faeces - Blood and Discharge.

Breathing - Difficulty
Breathing is vital for life, so anything that affects the ability to breathe can be significant, but breathing difficulties vary greatly in severity. If your dog has difficulty breathing, you should contact your vet about it.

The commonest form of breathing difficulties will cause a noise when breathing and these affect the upper airways. Such problems are common and often considered normal in short nose breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. In these breed there is an excess of tissue at the back of the throat that can get in the way and make them snort and snore. Many are able to live with this, but if they have times where they have difficulty catching their breath they are likely to need surgery to open things up. Such problems get worse with time.

Another problem seen in the upper airway commonly in older dogs of larger breeds, particularly Labradors, is paralysis of the larynx. This often makes a rasping noise when panting and sometimes the dog can get into a panic because they cannot breathe well. In these dogs trying to breathe harder makes the problem worse, so they must calm down to breathe better. Many dogs will live with it, but surgery is possible if it causes them distress.

A growth in the throat can affect breathing. Choking from breathing in an object is uncommon, but can occur. If this has occurred your dog will be appear very unwell and may need to be seen by a vet as an emergency. Many people suspect their dog has breathed something in when they are coughing and retching, but if the dog is appears bright and alert it is far more likely to be kennel cough.

Breathing difficulty that causes heavy breathing without much noise is more often caused by a problem in the lungs. If this is occurring when the dog is at rest, there is a severe problem. Your vet will probably need to x-ray the chest to see what is going on. This can be caused by pneumonia, fluid on the lungs and the spread of cancer.

Burns
Burns can be very nasty injuries which can take a long time to heal. An additional problem with dogs is that there may be no visible indication of damage when the injury first occurs unless the hair is burnt. This is particularly true with burns from hot liquids.

As with people, prompt first aid is the most important factor in how bad an injury a burn will cause. When the skin is burnt, it is heated and the longer it stays hot, the more damage is caused. To reduce the damage, the skin must be cooled immediately with cold water. Since your dog cannot tell you it has been burnt, if you suspect a burn, treat the dog rapidly with cold water. It is best to fall on the side of caution, as cold water can make the difference between minor reddening and loss of skin from the same burn.

Immediately after a burn has occurred, there is often very little visible damage, but over the next few hours there will be reddening of the skin. If this is all, a soothing cream will see the skin back to normal in a few days. If the skin becomes black and hard, then the damage has been deep and severe; the skin is dead and will fall off. If this occurs, seek veterinary attention.

The amount of area burnt is important. A very small burn will probably heal quickly, but large areas of burns can take months to heal and can be life threatening without prompt and appropriate treatment. In severe cases, shock may set in within a few hours. Any large area burns should see a vet as an emergency – after immediate cold water treatment.