What Does It Mean When An Old Dog Smells Bad. Pay attention to changes in your dog’s breath. Your dog has breath that could potentially kill a man at ten paces.
Foul smelling urine can indicate a bacterial urinary tract infection (not just “stinkle,” as often experienced after eating asparagus), while lack of smell (or color), as seen with dilute urine, is seen with metabolic diseases (kidney failure, etc.). One of the main culprits for a funky smell is bad breath, especially in older dogs. Your dog’s discomfort will lead to excessive scratching and licking which can cause a secondary bacterial infection.