How to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Bad Breath

Yesterday I posted What Causes Your Dog’s Bad Breath? Now, you’re probably wondering what you can do about it, right? I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, here’s what you need to know about how to get rid of your dog’s bad breath.

8 Steps to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Bad Breath

If your dog has persistent bad breath, you should first see your vet to determine the cause. Your vet can tell you if your dog’s halitosis is due to poor dental health or another condition and they can advise you if a professional cleaning is required. Watch the video below by the American Veterinary Medical Association to learn more about protecting your dog from periodontal disease and be sure your vet inspects your dog’s teeth and gums each time you go in for a visit.

Dental or gum disease is the most common disease in adult dogs and there’s a strong link between gum disease and heart disease. Daily teeth brushing can not only prevent gum disease but it can improve the overall health and possibly extend the life of your dog. To make the job easier, there are finger toothbrushes, doggie toothbrushes and even electric toothbrushes but you can also use plain gauze or dental wipes if they work better for your dog. Be sure to only use toothpaste made for dogs; try some yummy flavors like chicken or beef to make brushing more appealing. Daily brushing also gives you the opportunity to inspect your dog’s mouth for sores or abnormalities and to make sure their gums are a healthy pink color. If you’re new to the idea of brushing your dog’s teeth, the video below by the American Veterinary Medical Association has some great tips to help you get started.

The chewing action on hard but safe toys and bones will help scrap and clean the surface of your dog’s teeth. Some types of bones are controversial because they can cause cracked teeth. As a matter of fact, Haley cracked one of her molars while chewing on a hard Nylabone a few years ago. Check with your vet to see what they recommend. Mine suggests antlers or raw bones but hard rubber toys designed with surfaces that clean teeth are normally a safe bet too.
There are many products on the market that can help improve your dog’s oral hygiene particularly if you’re unable to brush their teeth every day. Most contain ingredients like chlorhexidine gluconate or zinc which help prevent the formation of plaque and tartar. Not all products are effective though, so consult with your vet or check out this list of recommended products from the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
If your dog’s breath or dental issues are related to diet, talk to your vet about an appropriate and healthy alternative diet. Some raw-feeding dog owners swear by the benefits of a raw food diet and raw bones to help clean the teeth, but making the switch to a raw diet requires a certain level of commitment and a lot of research beforehand to make sure your pup receives a balanced, nutritious diet. If you’re interested in learning more about raw feeding, jump over to Kimberly’s Keep The Tail Wagging blog for lots of helpful information. There are also dental-formulated foods that can help control the formation of tartar. If your dog’s bad breath is related to gastrointestinal issues, talk to your vet about the benefits of adding plain yogurt to their meals.
Dental chews can be an effective way to help keep your dog’s mouth and teeth clean. Most are slightly abrasive and contain ingredients such as chlorhexidine gluconate or sodium hexametaphosphate to help fight the buildup of tartar. Just remember that these are called dental chews, meaning in order for them to be effective they need to be chewed. If your dog tends to swallow these in big pieces, they’re probably not going to be very effective.
Some natural remedies include adding some fresh, chopped parsley to your dog’s meal, feeding carrots (or hard treats) to help clean the teeth as they are chewed, adding organic, virgin coconut oil to your dog’s meal and adding a little lemon juice to their water. I’ve only tried the carrots and coconut oil, but I always recommend people check with their vet first before trying any natural remedies. I’ve also seen breath mints that are marketed for dogs, just make sure you don’t give your dog any mints made for humans that contain Xylitol which is very dangerous for dogs. It’s important to keep in mind that although breath fresheners can cover up your dog’s stinky breath, they don’t treat the underlying cause.
I’ve saved the easiest one for last! Food and water bowls can harbor bacteria and fungus when they’re not cleaned on a regular basis. That slimy residue on the side of your dog’s water bowl contains some pretty yucky stuff that will end up in your dog’s mouth. Also, consider ditching any plastic or ceramic bowls for less porous stainless steel or porcelain varieties which have fewer crevices for bacteria and fungus to grow.

There you have it! Start off with a visit to your vet to determine the cause of your dog’s bad breath and follow up with a commitment to practice good oral hygiene. I admit, I could do a better job of taking care of Haley’s teeth. I don’t brush her teeth as often as I should but I use a gel product that helps prevent the formation of tartar. She’s had a couple of professional cleanings while she was anesthetized for other surgeries and her vet is pretty happy with the condition of her teeth and gums.

With 80% of dogs over the age of three already having gum disease, it’s pretty clear most of us need to do a better job with our dog’s oral health. Daily brushing is the best way to achieve that goal and improve the overall health of our dogs. And there’s another bonus, we would likely avoid the risk of anesthesia and the cost of those professional cleanings!

Do you brush your dog’s teeth? Share your brushing tips and suggestions for how you get rid of your dog’s bad breath.

The post How to Get Rid of Your Dog’s Bad Breath appeared first on Chasing Dog Tales.