Dealing with Bad Dog Breath

Bernese Mountain Dog on black background

It’s nothing to be ashamed of—dogs often have bad breath. It’s perfectly understandable that while you’re attempting to have some sweet cuddle time with your guy, his breath is just too much to take. Dealing with bad dog breath is a common issue, and there are numerous simple techniques you can use to help out when ‘breath gone bad’ strikes.

Some breeds have worse breath than others. Dogs with particularly bad breath can actually stain things temporarily with their oral odor. Sheets, blankets, fabric on the couch, or the chair your dog loves to sleep on can all have a lingering aroma long after your furry friend finishes his afternoon nap. This is highly unattractive to owners, and the human world has just as little tolerance for bad breath coming from their dogs as they do from other humans.

How long has it been since your dog has had his teeth cleaned by the vet? A good cleaning can really help get in there and eliminate the bacteria that can fester in a dog’s mouth. Most vets recommend an annual cleaning for all dogs to prevent tooth decay and tooth loss. It can also help when dealing with bad dog breath.

In between cleanings, using a mild dog-approved mouthwash and brushing your dog’s teeth can help keep the bacteria down and eliminate odors. For some dogs, this will be enough to keep offensive breath under control, while others may not respond as well to brushing and mouthwash.

Check your pup’s diet. A diet of all canned food usually results in worse breath compared to a diet that’s half dry food and half canned or all dry food. Dogs need to crunch in order to clear away particles that can get stuck on their teeth and to satisfy their chewing urges. The more natural the dog food, the fewer bad breath problems your dog is likely to experience.

Reducing Bad Dog Breath

There are products on the market aimed at dealing with bad dog breath. Some work better than others, and some are downright gimmicky. Doggie breath mint treats do provide temporary relief from your pup’s odiferous kisses. However, the relief only lasts for about an hour before the usual scent you are trying to rid him of returns. There are other products that claim to cleanse teeth and eliminate bad breath odors. A more accurate claim would be that they help cleanse the teeth and assist in eliminating bad breath. These products don’t do the whole job but are certainly a step in the right direction.

Pay attention to the items your pup likes to chew. Rawhides, while not recommended for dogs for other health reasons, can contribute to bad breath. So does digging through the trash. Dogs that help themselves to the smorgasbord of options in the trash tend to have worse breath than those that wait for us to decide what is an acceptable treat. For the dog who regularly eats stale trash, this would be a primary target for controlling his odor problem.

Some dogs will be stubborn about their breath. It may take experimentation with the right combination of diet, cleansing products, and special chew items or treats before you can make your dog’s breath tolerable. Other dogs will respond very well to minor changes.

With the right combination for your dog, you’ll find him more tolerable to cuddle and snuggle, and you may even reach a point where it’s okay to breathe while he slathers you with affectionate puppy kisses. The good news is that dealing with bad dog breath is such a common issue that inventors are constantly coming out with new products aimed at improving your pooch’s mouth. As these products come out, read the ingredients and try them. If something works better than another product, chances are you can eliminate the bad breath through the ingredients found in the more effective product. Often, these ingredients are nothing more than herbs you can add to your dog’s food to help maintain better breath. Parsley often helps eliminate bad breath odors, but this only works for dogs that have clean mouths and don’t eat a lot of processed foods or sticky treats.

In the meantime, your puppy loves you despite your morning breath. So hopefully, the two of you can continue your cuddle time together while you work on dealing with bad dog breath.

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