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Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 28 Oct 2017, 14:09
by Ear-plucker
I'm posting this as it took so long to work out what was wrong and find a practical solution that didn't go down the surgery option. Apologies if this is a bit long - worth a read in case yours gets the problem at some point.

Our Mini (Kipper) started smelling around the mouth a while ago. This was over and above the usual fishy breath!
I looked at lots of online resources and tried several things (rinsing beard in salt solution, finding and cutting out dreadlocks etc) to no avail.

The smell got really bad to the point where we couldn't have him up on the sofa with us, so we took him to the vet.
The vet said that his anal glands needed expressing and the smell was probably him licking his backside and it ending up in his beard. This seemed to help a little (but as it turned out that was more likely to be down to the fact that his mouth was cleaned....), we assumed that the smell would go away over a few days afterwards. It didn't.
So we went back after a few weeks and had the same outcome.

Now during the continued cleaning of his beard I had noticed that there was an accumulation of black hard 'stuff' just under where his upper teeth clear his lower lip, this stuff smelled bad but I could clean it up and the smell went away (or at least got less).
So I took him back to the vet and this time they said his teeth were plaqued up and the black was coming from his mouth in drool so he was put under and his teeth scraped (I wasn't very comfortable with anasthetic but we were desperate), a very pricey procedure also. His teeth were whiter than white, but the smell persisted.

So once again we were left with cleaning every day and reducing the smell as best we could. After several more weeks we went back again and said that nothing had improved during a particularly bad bout of smelliness. This is where we turned a corner.....
The vet we saw that day sniffed him and immediately pulled back his beard, took hold of his lower lip and pulled down and back on his jowl revealing a pussy infection in a flap of skin that you would never know was there! She was a star, she knew straight away, she cut the fur short over that area and cleaned it with some Hibiscrub on both sides and the smell disappeared, there and then!

So he was prescribed antibiotics and I was given some Hibiscrub to dilute and apply, job done!
However... not quite, the infection came back after a couple of months, once again he had antibiotics and I continued with the scrub. We were told that if it persisted that the best option was surgery to remove the flap of skin on both sides.

I'm not keen on surgery so I have searched out an alternative, and it works... so far.
The accumulation of black stuff is still there (I think that this is the stuff that causes the infection, getting under the flap), so to clean that I use sterile saline solution (this is cheap in a pharmacy for cleaning contact lenses) twice a week or so. it's best to keep the fur short with some scissors over that little area by the way. If it looks like the skin under the flap is getting red I use some Leucillin, which is a fantastically effective antiseptic wipe and cleared up a new infection in two days with no need for antibiotics.
So far we are good, his breath still pongs a bit but I brush his teeth every night and that helps a lot.

I'm sharing this with you all in case you see similar symptoms as it took so long to get our little monkey sorted and all that time he must have been very sore.
If the description isn't clear I have some pictures somewhere, just shout and I'll put them up.

Re: Smelly mouth and infection - please read!

Posted: 28 Oct 2017, 16:38
by jacdales
That was interesting, who'd have guessed .

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 29 Oct 2017, 20:46
by Emily Wicks
My little teacup schnauzer has bad breath. I can't picture where the flap your describing would be. Her mouth is so small I wouldn't want to poke around looking for it. She's 2yrs old but we only got her 3 wks ago. post pics :)

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 30 Oct 2017, 06:34
by inkaschnauzer
Thank you very much for sharing your story. My Mini has developed bad breath so I asked the vet to check her teeth. The teeth were ok but he said the skin around her mouth was irritated so he prescribed to wash the area around the mouth with diluted Povodine. He also cut some of her beard. The bad smell has decreased but it is still there. She also seems to be sensitive at the back of her mouth when I brush her teeth. I will try to clean her with Leucellin as you say.

Regards

Inka

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 30 Oct 2017, 13:23
by Ear-plucker
Hi Emily /Inka,

I have posted a pic of where the little flap of skin is on Kip, this is his right hand side. The black stuff is an accumulation of gunk on the short (cut back) fur, when the fur around this area was long it was much harder to see. Once the black stuff was cleaned away then we could see the infection by pulling down the skin below.

I'm not sure if all Schnauzers have this little flap of skin, but worth a check if you seem to have this problem.
Good old bad dog-breath is another issue and the best solution for that is daily teeth cleaning.

!!! Please check with your vet if you are uncertain of the use of Leucillin - I'm not qualified to give you advice in using it!!!!

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 30 Oct 2017, 13:26
by Ear-plucker
Here's a picture of the area I'm talking about, the accumulation black stuff is much easier to see with the fur cut short, as in the picture, than when it was longer.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d8ix3l6abn8yq ... h.JPG?dl=0

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 31 Oct 2017, 05:46
by inkaschnauzer
My mini has that kind of mouth flap too. Thank you


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Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 15 Apr 2018, 20:36
by macsm
Hi, I’ve joined this forum in the hope that I can find help and advice for our very smelly mini schnauzer. We’re desperate! Her mouth and beard smell so bad and I’ve been to he vets with her several times. She’s been put on a new food, had her anal glands cleared and has some mouthwash, but nothing at all helps. We cannot have her on our knee any more as our clothes smell terrible after. It’s so sad! I keep her beard short and clean it most days.
Could you give me a little more help as to how to find the flaps of skin you talk about please? I’ve checked her mouth and the vet has, but we can’t see anything untoward.
Many thanks

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 15 Apr 2018, 20:45
by macsm
Oh I’ve seen your photo now! Really helpful, thank you

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 16 Apr 2018, 13:23
by Robin black mini
HI ant..what a good picture...it shows exactly your issue...
If you are handy with the clippers I'd be shaving this small area weekly with. 1 mm blade..my st poodle has a weekly face shave and in this breed the area is a aa classic" at risk zone" Ie pocket of skin,prone to pinking up if I don't shave..it is a pocket of skin that in unshaven dogs will collect any food,or even moisture and can put the dog at risk for skin infections esp bacterial..
In our bearded breed,the schnauzer ,we don't usually see this area so clearly and the pocket can become an issue before the owner realizes it...you smelt the problem.. But didn't see it due to the beard.
Some dogs have deeper skin pockets and I think in your dogs case I would definitely keep this half inch area shaved...you don't need to lose the whole beard...the top lip hair will cover the small shave on this lower jaw ...it is something that will become her lifetime regime..taking a few seconds to shave to prevent a recurrence..Keep skin taut when you shave so you don't nick the dog...the shave is only over the pocket area..not dipping down into the beard..
I would keep this dogs beard shorter,maybe two inches long and definitely shampoo weekly with an antibacterial shampoo...( chlorexyderm)

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 22 May 2020, 03:21
by Butler123
I’m having same persistent issue with my 8 yr old year mini. Bella has had several teethe extractions over last few months and just recently her breathe is terrible again. We have tried brushing teethe and it seems to hurt her and she growls, mouthwash, sprays, bones, teethe wipes anything to help with this smelly issue. She doesn’t seem to want me near her mouth. We think it could be infected tooth but I’m wondering about this flap issue as well. They are too cute to be this smelly and I want to help her so bad. Off to the vet we go again tomorrow, suggestions welcomed

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 22 May 2020, 10:08
by zeta1454
Hi Lisa and welcome to the Forum :)

It is probably best to get a diagnosis from the vet before trying out any 'remedies' for the bad breath as, if it is an infected tooth or similar, the problem may be solved simply by having it removed.

It is difficult with many dogs to examine areas that they know have a problem - even matted fur on their leg can get them agitated if you try to touch it! Bad breath in dogs is often from teeth issues or poor digestion. You could try a probiotic such as Yudigest if there is any likelihood this smell is originating from her gut rather than her mouth but, if she is very sensitive to touch near her teeth, it may be the problem is there.

https://www.lintbells.com/products/yudigest-for-dogs

If she has had recent extractions however, the stress of the vet visit / surgery may also have had an impact on Bella's sensitivity to anyone going near her mouth. Some dogs can be quite badly affected by significant treatments at the vet especially if they were frightened there by anything or if the surgery caused pain afterwards.

Let us know the outcome after the vet visit and there may be more specific help and advice once you have a diagnosis.

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 23 May 2020, 12:42
by jacdales
I have a 14yr old airedale and in Jan this year we took her to the vet because her breath was so bad we thought she either had a bad tooth or some infection from a continuous ear problem was leaching into her mouth. She was about to have aneasthetic to flush the ear out before surgery to partially remove the ear canal. so they would check her mouth while she was under. The vet was surprised he said they searched everywhere for the smell then noticed that he had some little pustules on the side of her lip. The shave all the hair away and a dog has some oil glands on the side of its lips to keep them moisturised ( who knew they have built in lip salve) anyway one had become blocked and infected They cleaned it gave me a wash that looks like iodine and some cream 5 months and the smell has never come back

Re: Smelly mouth and hidden infection

Posted: 04 Sep 2020, 02:22
by Schnauzerluv
I also noticed how important it is to check the teeth and gums thoroughly. I had no idea what thorough meant until I was caring for a older MS myself. I have been though the mysterious odors and it always boiled down to something in the beard, something caught in her teeth, or even that little flap that was pictured earlier. I didn't realize I had to pull (gently) the gums down and take a good look. I've also found a piece of food stuck in her teeth and even hair wound around her bottom k9s because she liked to comb her front legs with her teeth. Live and learn.

She had to get some teeth out at 11YO. That was my inexperience and didn't know how to properly clean the mouth. Since then, it was a real challenge to keep bacteria and plaque down. Definitely a daily thing.

I would wipe each tooth with a cotton wipe soaked in a baking soda/water solution each evening. She was such a good girl, she let me wipe out her cheeks and that pocket. I was very gentle and she never made a fuss. Perhaps she knew I helping her. I'm sure by then she knew that would be my only intention.

I also had an oral antiseptic gel from the vet and I used that on her gums, especially where that pocket is and her lower k9s.

I also washed her beard with the solution and it helped to keep the ginger out. I used a paper towel to rub off the stain.