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Bad breath in dogs is common, but persistent or unusually strong odor should not automatically be dismissed as normal dog breath. The most common cause is dental disease, especially plaque and tartar buildup that leads to inflammation and infection around the gums and teeth. Other possible causes include a damaged or infected tooth, something stuck in the mouth, oral inflammation, or an oral mass. Less commonly, certain diseases elsewhere in the body can also affect breath odor. ( Vca ) If your dog's breath suddenly becomes much worse, persists despite appropriate dental care, or occurs with bleeding gums, facial swelling, excessive drooling, difficulty eating, weight loss, or other signs of illness, schedule a veterinary examination. Is Bad Breath Normal in Dogs? A dog's breath does not need to smell minty fresh, but consistently foul breath should not simply be considered normal. Dogs naturally have bacteria in their mouths. After eating, a sticky bacterial film called plaque...

Why Does My Dog Eat Grass? When It’s Normal and When It’s Not Quick Answer If your dog occasionally eats a few mouthfuls of grass and otherwise seems healthy, active, and comfortable, the behavior is usually not a reason to panic. Dogs may eat grass because they enjoy its taste or texture, because grazing is a natural behavior, because they are bored, or possibly because they are seeking additional roughage in their diet. Some dogs also eat grass when they have digestive discomfort. The important question is not simply whether your dog eats grass. Pay attention to how often it happens, whether the behavior has suddenly changed, and whether symptoms such as repeated vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weakness, or weight loss appear at the same time. Grass itself also is not always the biggest risk. Lawns may contain pesticides, herbicides, parasites, toxic plants, or other substances that your dog should not ingest. Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Grass? Yes. Occasional...

 Why Is My Dog Shaking? Common Causes and When to Worry Quick Answer If your dog is shaking, the cause may be as simple as cold, fear, stress, or excitement. However, trembling can also occur with pain, nausea, low blood sugar, toxin exposure, or certain neurologic problems. Pay attention to when the shaking started, how long it lasts, what happened immediately beforehand, and whether your dog has other symptoms. Seek prompt veterinary care if the shaking occurs with weakness, collapse, repeated vomiting, difficulty walking, breathing problems, severe pain, unusual awareness, suspected poisoning, or seizure-like activity. What Does Shaking in Dogs Actually Mean? The word shaking can describe several different movements. A dog may shiver with small, rapid movements. Another may have involuntary tremors affecting the legs, head, or entire body. Some dogs repeatedly shake their heads because their ears are uncomfortable. A wet dog may simply perform one vigorous whole-body shake...

Persistent paw licking in dogs can be caused by allergies, irritation, infection, pain, or a foreign object in the paw. Seeing your dog lick a paw once in a while is usually nothing unusual. Dogs groom themselves, clean dirt from their feet, and may briefly lick after a walk. The situation changes when the licking becomes frequent, intense, focused on the same paw, or persistent enough to make the skin red and sore. A dog that keeps licking his paws may be responding to an injury, an allergy, a parasite, skin inflammation, a bacterial or yeast infection, pain, or — after medical causes have been addressed — a behavioral problem such as anxiety or compulsive licking. The pattern of licking can offer useful clues, but it cannot reliably tell you the diagnosis on its own. This guide will help you work through the problem logically: what to check first, how to tell when licking is more than normal grooming, which causes are most common, what you can safely do at home, what t...