Help Me Clean My Dog’s Bad Breath!

We want you to visualize something. You had a long day at work and now you want nothing but the comfort of your bed. You get back home, all tired and weary, and are greeted by your little pooch. Its wagging tail and cute, but wet, tongue lolling out make the day’s labor seem worth it. The ball of fur leaps onto you and showers you with kisses. But, alas, you’re also showered by bad breath and now your day is just as sour as your dog’s breath.

Well, don’t worry! We’re here to tell you about the potential cause of this breath, take you through the treatment process, and inform you of how you can bid farewell to stinky kisses. So, with that set, let’s jump right in!

Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?

Your dog’s bad breath can be traced back to any of these three reasons:

Oral hygiene

Just like in the case of us humans, dogs also suffer from bad oral hygiene. Infrequent teeth cleaning and brushing leads to a buildup of plaque which can cause bad breath. Trust us when we say that if bad breath is all that this plaque causes, you should be grateful. Besides bad breath, bad oral hygiene can even lead to inflammation of gums, infections, and in severe cases, loss of teeth.

Bad diet

Whether your dog likes to frequent the garbage can to scamper for food or goes on unsupervised snacking rages sometimes, a bad diet can also cause bad breath in your dog. This can be even more severe if your pooch likes to eat poop or animal remains. Yuck.

Other diseases

Talking about poop, sometimes our canine’s breath smells like urine. This can hint at kidney diseases. Sweet or fruity bad breath can be a result of diabetes while bad breath plus vomiting usually indicate liver problems. Regardless, you should get your dog checked up if they are showcasing these symptoms. 

How To Get Rid of Bad Breath in Dogs?

Talking about visits to the vet, that is something that should be a part of your annual routine when it comes to your pooch’s oral health. Other than that, we recommend that you take these two steps to treat your dog’s bad breath:

Take care of their oral hygiene

When it comes to keeping your dog’s teeth clean, the best way to go forward is to brush their teeth daily. Moreover, you should always use doggie toothpaste as human toothpaste that contains ingredients like xylitol can be toxic for them. One of our favorite canine hygiene brands is Pro Pooch. Their Dog Breath Freshener is a foam formula that makes sure all areas of the mouth are covered. It also targets microorganisms that cause plaque and bad breath. 

You can also resort to using dental chews which can even help them deal with anxiety and calm them down. Dog breath fresheners are another great way to get instant relief from bad breath. 

Take care of their diet

Regular vet visits and oral maintenance can only do so much. You must also take care of what your dog puts in its mouth. A good first step is to keep your yard clean of feces and garbage. You can even opt for a good dog leash when going on walks to prevent your pet from sniffing and eating from garbage bins. Brushing their teeth after a hearty meal with meat and bones should also be the way to go.

Now that you know all about the causes and treatments of bad breath in dogs, let’s end things off. In a nutshell, prevention is always better than cure. Regular brushing and keeping an eye on your pooch’s diet should keep their breath all pleasant. 

It might even be that the bad odor isn’t coming from your dog’s mouth but the dog itself. In this case, we recommend opting for a dog deodorizer. 

Regardless, if your dog’s gums have developed a consistent bad odor, you should not panic. Just book a visit to the vet and get your furry friend checked out.