• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dog's Best Life

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Healthy dogs shouldn’t have bad breath

Posted May 17, 2017

By Karen A. Soukiasian

A healthy dog should not have bad breath.

The reality is, approximately 80 percent of dogs do suffer from gingivitis or a periodontal disease by the time they are 5 years old.

Prevent your dog's bad breath.
Desensitize your dog to having their mouths examined and teeth brushed by starting when they are young.

Now and then a simple dental procedure such as a professional cleaning or perhaps a bad tooth extracted can save your pet from a lot of suffering. It should be noted, the older a dog gets, the more likely their breath will reflect their general health.

The most common causes of bad breath in dogs are countless. Let’s start with what they eat. Some canned dog foods, dry food high in fish oils, food too hard to digest, raw food diets, sneaking a snack or two from the cat’s food bowl, not to mention the litter box, can have a serious effect on your dog’s breath.

In some cases, it may not necessarily be their breath. Bearded dogs, and dogs that lick their butts or anal glands, often smell rather ripe. Keep a washcloth handy.

Other causes may be food or hair stuck between their teeth.

It could be something stuck in their nose. Veterinarians have pulled interesting objects out. They range from plants/weeds such as foxtails, to string, dry food, even toys, out of the noses of smelly dogs. In defense of the dog, on occasion they have found a young human co-conspirator assisted in the venture.

On a slightly more severe level, your dog could be suffering from a broken tooth, tooth decay, gum disease, a sinus infection, a respiratory infection or possibly an abscess in their mouth or throat.

The most critical source of bad breath in dogs can be caused by kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, lung disease, and oral or throat tumors.

The best thing to do is to desensitize your dog, while they are still a puppy, to having their mouth examined and their teeth brushed. Do not use human toothpaste. There are toothpastes made specifically for dogs. You can use a regular toothbrush, washcloth or a finger brush made for brushing your dog’s teeth.

Check with your veterinarian about having your dog’s mouth examined and their teeth professionally cleaned at least once a year.

Here are few home remedies dogs owners claim help to keep their dog’s breath tolerable in between vet visits. They include adding parsley to their diet, hard biscuits, dry food, a tablespoon of plain yogurt (no flavors or sugar/sugar substitutes) added to their food, baby carrots or carrots cut up into bite size pieces, raw bones, Nylabones and charcoal biscuits or tablets.

Bottom line: Don’t wait too long. If the bad breath problem persists, have your dog examined by your veterinarian.

Follow Karen A. Soukiasian on Facebook

Save

Save

Related Posts

  • bad dog breath
    Use home remedies to cure dog bad breath

    A blast of dog bad breath can be repulsive, but…

  • slow-cooker dog food
    Healthy dog: Create your own slow-cooker dog food

    Slow-cooker dog food ensures your dog gets healthy meals. Taking…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Grooming, Dog Health Tagged With: Dog teeth

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • The most common warning signs to watch for in your puppy's behaviors include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominance, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and of course, biting!

    Take action immediately when you spot aggressive puppy warning signs

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

Tags

Independent dog breeds Driving Service dogs Maltese Pandemic Ticks Dog manners Dog toys Easter Crate training Chihuahua Dog sounds Dog teeth Poodle Outdoor activities Petfinder.com Puppy kindergarten Dog food Allergies Paw Pomeranian Dog senses Cavalier King Charles spaniel Dog safety First-time dog owner Biting Dog health benefits High-tech dog gadgets Jumping Dog clothes

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • 5 reasons why maintaining your pet’s dental health is important
    Poor dental health can lead to tooth loss, heart disease, and other health problems. Provide proper dental care for your dog. […]
  • 7 famous dogs that shaped the course of history
    Read more to find out how seven famous dogs helped shape human history. Famous dogs include Peritas, Soter, Old Drum, and Pavlov's dog. […]
  • Discover 10 interesting facts about dog behavior
    Here are ten facts about dog behavior that may help you understand your pet more and wonder less about sometimes slightly peculiar habits. […]
  • 5 common dachshund health problems and how to treat them
    Dachshund health problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, invertebrate disc disease, obesity, allergies and asthma. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2022 Dog's Best Life online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.