Pee-eww! What is that smell? Uh-oh—is it your dog’s bad breath? Let's face it—even at the best of times, doggy breath isn’t exactly a bouquet of roses. But it shouldn't make you want to pull away in dread any time your dog wants to lick your face either.
Thankfully, there are some ways you can tackle bad doggy breath. Following are some tips to help you freshen things up for your furry pal.
1. See if you can figure out why your dog’s breath smells bad.
A good starting point for troubleshooting bad dog breath is to see if you can pinpoint the underlying cause.
Sometimes, for example, your dog might need a trip to the dentist (more on that later). Other times, your dog might be eating something he shouldn't be. And in some cases, even if your dog’s food is just fine, it might not be the ideal choice for his breath (see below).
2. Adjust your dog’s diet.
In terms of diet, those which are high in carbohydrates tend to promote the formation of unwanted bacteria in your pet’s mouth. So, consider reducing carbohydrates and sugars in your dog's diet.
If your dog eats mostly wet or mostly dry food, think about introducing a combination of textures which is more balanced. Each contributes to cleaning the mouth in a different way.
There are even treats you can buy which are specifically formulated to improve your dog’s breath. They won’t solve the problem by themselves, but rather like breath mints, they can at least mask it for a little while.
3. Improve your dog’s dental hygiene.
Did you know that 78% of dogs over age 3 have dental disease? Banfield writes, “Early prevention measures, such as at-home care and annual professional teeth cleanings will help to reduce the frequency and severity of dental disease later in life.”
If it has been a while since you took your doggy to the dentist, it might be time to make an appointment.
Make sure that at home, you are brushing your dog’s teeth daily. Use toothpaste formulated for canines only, not the same toothpaste you put in your own mouth. There are also dental rinses which you can purchase and use either like mouthwash or actually apply as an additive to your pet’s water.
4. Encourage chewing.
You don’t want your dog chewing on your furniture, pillows, plush toys, and so on, but you do want your dog to do plenty of chewing.
One of the reasons dogs chew is for their dental health. The American Kennel Club explains, “Providing your dog with plenty of chew toys helps them take care of their teeth naturally. Chewing prevents plaque and tartar build-up and relieves boredom, keeping your dog healthy and happy.”
5. Stop your dog from getting into the toilet, the garbage, his own excrement, etc.
As we mentioned before, dogs sometimes eat things that you never intended them to eat. And by "sometimes," in some cases, we mean "way too often."
If your dog has a tendency to get into the trash (or you suspect that this is happening), consider either moving your trash or replacing your bin with one which is in is easy to get into. You could also try attaching a child lock or weighing down the top of the bin with a heavy object.
Some dogs also like to get their snouts into toilet bowls. If that describes your pet, the same solutions which you can use to keep your garbage bin closed also can be used to keep your dog out of the toilet. Always close the toilet lid, and think about adding a lock or putting something on top of it.
Finally, your dog might have a tendency to eat his own fecal matter or that of other dogs or animals. You can prevent this by keeping a close watch on your dog when he is outdoors, cleaning up after him quickly, or feeding him coprophagia prevention tablets.
6. Try probiotics.
Another way you can fight against bad doggy breath is by giving your pet probiotic supplements.
Probiotics help to replenish good oral bacteria, which in turn, helps to reduce bad oral bacteria. When the bacterial flora in your dog's mouth is in balance again, that can reduce bad breath.
As an added plus, probiotics also can improve your dog's digestive functioning while increasing immunity.
7. Try home remedies for bad doggy breath.
There are a variety of natural substances which some people swear by for fighting canine halitosis.
To start with, one idea is to try wheatgrass. The chlorophyll can be beneficial.
You could also try coconut oil, which some people use to fight unwanted bacteria in their own mouths as well.
Another home remedy is to add a bit of cinnamon to meals before serving them to your dog.
If you do some research, you might come across some other recommended home remedies for bad doggy breath as well.
Whatever you decide to try, make sure that you always check before giving your dog a new substance to make sure that it is safe and non-toxic for canines.
And don't forget that dogs can have unexpected allergies. So, start with a small test to make sure that your dog isn’t allergic to a new remedy before making it a part of his new routine.
Conclusion
Most of the time, bad doggy breath is either an annoyance you can resolve with some simple diet and lifestyle changes or it results from dental disease, in which case appropriate dental care is the answer.
In some cases though, it can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. So, if none of the suggestions in this list work out, it might be worth a trip to the vet.
Hopefully, your dog is just fine. But if there is an underlying issue, the sooner you discover it, the sooner you can begin a treatment plan. Either way, both you and your dog will be grateful you took action when you did.