Oral microbiome
What lives in your dog's mouth
A dog's mouth is home to hundreds of kinds of bacteria, most of them different from the ones in ours. The mix shifts with age, diet and dental care, which is why an oral microbiome result describes one sample on one day. These guides explain what lives there, what bad breath usually means, and what a snapshot of the bacteria can and can't tell you.
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What research has found
- 353 groups of bacteria were identified in dogs' mouths, and about 80% had no formal name yet. (Dewhirst et al. 2012)
- Only about 16% of those groups are also found in human mouths. (Dewhirst et al. 2012)
- In 96 companion dogs, 19 bacterial species rose or fell with age. (Kislik et al. 2024)
- In a year, 12.5% of 22,333 UK dogs were diagnosed with periodontal disease, with higher odds in small breeds. (O'Neill et al. 2021)
What an oral microbiome snapshot can and can't show
- It can show which groups of bacteria were in the saliva sample, how varied the community was, and how the sample compares with other dogs.
- It can't show plaque, tartar or what's happening below the gum line. Finding a bacterium in the sample does not by itself indicate disease.
- It isn't a diagnosis. The PuppyGenes oral microbiome section describes the bacteria in the submitted sample; it does not diagnose or rule out dental disease. You can see it in our example report for Juno.
See your vet if your dog has new or worsening bad breath, red or bleeding gums, a loose tooth, or trouble eating, whatever a test says.
All guides
What Causes Bad Breath in Dogs? Causes and When to Worry
Most bad breath in dogs starts with bacteria in plaque and tartar along the gum line. Here's what causes it, why small dogs are more prone, when bad breath means a vet visit, and the daily habits that help.
Read
Is a Dog's Mouth Cleaner Than a Human's? What Science Says
A dog's mouth isn't cleaner than yours; it's home to a different set of bacteria. Here's what research found about the bacteria in dogs' mouths, how they compare with ours, and what that means for dog licks.
Read
Dog Oral Microbiome Test: What It Can and Can't Tell You
A dog oral microbiome test reads the DNA of the bacteria in a saliva sample. Here's what it measures, how results are reported, what can shift them, and why it's a snapshot rather than a diagnosis.
Read
How to Clean Your Dog's Teeth Without Brushing
A realistic oral-care guide for dogs who will not tolerate a toothbrush, covering VOHC-accepted products, chew safety, gentle handling, and simple mouth checks.
Read
Want to see what your dog's DNA suggests?
A PuppyGenes report covers six sections for your dog: breed ancestry, coat colour, physical appearance, temperament and size predictions, genetic diversity and oral microbiome. The report does not include genetic disease or health screening.
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