Few people associate the smell of “dog” with anything exceptionally pleasant. Their wet coats and their breath after a meal aren't the nicest aromas in the world. But there are times when we notice that our dog’s breath has become really unpleasant. This is when you need to take a closer look at their oral health care and diet. Here are some top tips that you can use to improve your dog’s breath in a fun, natural way.
7 ways to improve your dog’s bad breath.
Keep on brushing those teeth!
Make sure that you clean your pet’s teeth regularly. Even the best pet parents are guilty of forgetting to do this from time to time. Sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle to get our pets to sit still for any sort of grooming process. This is especially true if they aren’t comfortable with people putting their fingers near their mouth. But, this is something that you both have to learn to live with because tooth brushing is the best way to get rid of any plaque, tartar or food particles stuck between their teeth.
Invest in a new toothbrush and better toothpaste.
If you do try your best to clean their teeth regularly but still struggle with a good clean, it might be time to change your products. A different toothpaste and toothbrush can make a big difference in the results seen. Some natural dog toothpaste products are better than others and you need to be sure that you have a good formula with safe active ingredients. Try to find one that your dog likes the taste of, too. It is easier to get in around the whole mouth if they aren’t squirming and trying to spit it all out. A new toothbrush could help, too. Traditional designs can be too long and awkward. An alternative option here is to get a brush that fits over your finger. This is a brilliant way to get right into the gaps and around the teeth to get the worst offending particles.
Try a dog-friendly mouthwash.
There is more that you can do for your pet than just brush their teeth if their breath is particularly bad. We always turn to mouthwash products if we feel we need a little helping hand to freshen our breath and improve our oral health. There is no reason why you can’t do something similar by adding some helpful ingredients to your dog’s bowl of water. Obviously, you can’t start putting Listerine in there, no matter how diluted it gets. But, you can put some natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar in there in small concentrations. Again, try and find something that your dog actually likes the taste of so they will be happy to drink it.
Change their water more regularly.
Whether your dog likes the taste of this mouthwash or not, it is still a good idea to change their water bowl frequently. The water in there may look clean to us but you don’t know just how many nasty bugs and contaminants are in there. They could end up contributing to your dog’s bad breath. Treat their water bowl the same way you would a glass of water in your bedroom. Would you drink from it the next morning with those dust particles and unseen bonus ingredients?
Dental chews can make a big difference in your pet’s oral health.
Another thing that we might do to improve our breath is to chew some gum. It is a fast way to dislodge plaque and deal with the odor. There are dog-friendly versions of this with dog dental chews. If your pet loves nothing better than to curl up on a rug with a chew then add some of these options to help improve their oral health. The active ingredients can fight gum disease, plaque and bacteria without exposing them to anything harmful. They are none the wiser that it is good for them either.
In fact, many chew toys can make a difference.
if they don’t appreciate the flavor of dental chews, chew toys and synthetic bones can help too. The act of chewing is often enough to produce saliva and dislodge some of the worst food particles and plaque. Make sure to get something that is hard-wearing but not too tough that it might damage the teeth. Some dog owners like to mix a couple of these tips together and put tasty toothpaste inside a Kong toy. They have fun while cleaning their own teeth so it is a win-win situation.
Look at any problems within their diet
If these options don’t seem to be working, you could look at their diet. The answer may lie in something that they are eating. Check the ingredients in your dog’s diet to see what the problem is. Also, don’t forget that wet dog food is a bigger culprit than dry because it sticks around for so long and produces a pretty bad smell. If you are unsure of the ingredients in your dog’s food and want to opt for something freshen, you could try making your own. This way you can load the meal up with great ingredients that promote oral health and some dog-friendly herbs too. A safe amount of carrots and apples are just as helpful on dog teeth as they are on ours. Also yeast free dog food could be better choice to avoid bad breath.
It is possible to improve your dog’s bad breath but don’t be afraid to ask for help.
These 7 tips on how to improve your dog’s breath are a good starting point. But, if all else fails, you need to take your dog to the vet. This way you can make sure there isn’t another issue going on. Persistent bad breath could be the result of an illness or infection in the mouth. This may come from an ulcer, infected tooth or gum disease. You vet will help you get to the bottom of the problem so you can both move forward. Whatever the cause and the best solution, make sure to always take care of your dog’s oral health and remember that severe bad breath isn’t something we should normalize.
