How to tackle bad breath or body odor with dog and with their owner?

The smell on older dogs is usually a skin condition. The smell get somehow better but does not go away after bathing! Owners use wipes and other things like that because you don't want to be bathing older dogs unnecessarily. The teeth decay also comes with old age depending on the dogs genes, I have met two sister dogs one with great teeth and the other with no teeth!

Both the skin/coat smell and the bad breath due to the teeth decay would be in my opinion rude to mention to the dog's owner. I understand that the small can be unbearable (I lived with an older dog during the first two trimesters of my pregnancy) just try to look pass that and see the sweet dog instead.

Consider the possibility that this dog may not be a good fit for you to sit.

I watch a couple older dogs and they both have that old dog breath. In your case it seems the odor could be explained by the dental decay, but it can also be indicative of organ failure (usually kidney, though a lot of conditions can change the odor of an animal's breath). The organ failure smell is unique from other bad breath smells, so you may be able to pick up on it. If the dogs are well cared for and getting regular vet check ups, there's probably no point in mentioning it to the owners since they and their vet are probably already on top of it.

There are additives you can put in your water that can help with the bad breath, and of course wipes, powders and sprays for their coats. It's nice to have a variety of options on hand and to discuss what you do with the dogs in your care to keep your home clean and fresh (if you discuss your general methods before the stay to get their permission, you don't have to worry about having an awkward conversation about their particular dog's odor down the road).

Personally, I put a few drops of peppermint oil, and occasionally clove oil, into my dogs' water dish. Some dogs take a little time to adjust to the new smell in the dish, but I haven't had anyone refuse to drink yet. I also have a couple deodorizing sprays that I use after wiping dogs down when we come inside from the rain. As much as you can, keep windows open and fans going to maintain airflow in the areas the dogs hang out. I also keep a wall plug in that helps with any dog smells, and (until it burned out after many years of constant use) a little pet odor air filter which I loved and I may have to replace soon.

Unfortunately you may not be able to implement my advice, but I was just talking with one of my customers who said that her dog had the same problem when she adopted her at age 7 years. She found that switching to a grain-free, raw diet helped immensely, noting that her skin, teeth, and energy level all rapidly improved. She purchases both fresh and freeze-dried commercial raw diet food.

I have a guest that reeks of urine and smoke every time she comes to me. I simply give her a bath and we're good on smell for the stay. I recommend to all my clients a good, grain-free diet and teeth brushing once a week. Many of them are new owners and appreciate the tips.