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Why does my puppy have bad breath while losing teeth? Is it normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Male | neutered | 5 months and 14 days old | 7.8 lbs

Puppy losing teeth...could this contribute to the new onset bad breath? I read that the “fishy” odor could be related to the losing of teeth and that it resolves within 4 weeks once majority of adult teeth are grown in ... is this true? He is using a mouth wash given to him by the vet but it only masks the odor for a short period of time. Recommendations?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 30th, 2018

It could also be something Guido is eating. Could he be eating his poop? That’s a common behavior in dogs, and it would lead to awful breath. Watch him outside, and if you notice he tries to eat his poop, you have your answer. Should he do this, pick up his poop right after he goes to prevent him from eating it. It can also be related to teething, and yes the smell will resolve when teething is complete and his adult teeth are in. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Anna M., DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 11th, 2019

    Hi, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is common for puppies Simba's age to have some bad breath when they're at the teething stage. All you can really do is wait it out - it should improve once he's done losing his puppy teeth. Of course, if you feel the smell is worse than it should be, that could indicate an infection - in which case, I recommend having your vet take a look to make sure he looks ok! Hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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