The smelliest animal in the world is the striped polecat, followed by the lesser anteater and the stinkbird. These animals’ secretions, sweat glands, and digestive systems are the cause of their foul smells.
Yet, you may think that none of them are a match for your dog’s breath.
If your dog has ever opened their mouth and their breath almost blinded you, it’s time to look for dog bad breath treatment.
Yet, one remedy will not work for all. Keep reading to learn all you need to know.
Dog Bad Breath Treatment:Understand the Causes
Before you can effectively treat bad dog breath, you must first understand what can cause it.
While many people think that dogs inevitably have bad breath, there is often a simple reason behind it. Or, it may be something more serious that needs to be addressed quickly.
Unsupervised Snacking
Dogs love to get into the trash, and when they do, their stinky dog breath will reflect it. Other forms of unsupervised snacking, such as cat poop and decomposing animals, can also cause this horrendous breath that no owner wants to deal with.
Unfortunately, it is in a dog’s nature to get into smelly things that will cause this.
Bad Oral Hygiene
Just like humans, poor oral hygiene can cause plaque build-up and lead to periodontal disease. This is one of the most common causes of bad breath in dogs.
If you don’t regularly brush your dog’s teeth, and if your dog isn’t much of a chewer, plaque build-up is most likely the cause of their bad breath. Plaque and tartar build-up can cause inflammation in the gums, which can lead to infection, cavities, tooth loss, and tissue destruction.
Diabetes
Diabetes is more common in dogs than you may think, and their breath may give you a hint as to whether or not they have it.
A dog’s breath that has a sweet and fruity smell to it may indicate diabetes. Of course, make sure to check if they had anything sweet or fruity to eat first.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you can. Diabetes is a serious condition, but it can be treated. This will also allow you to look for other indicators, such as frequent urination and drinking.
Liver Disease
Unfortunately, your dog’s bad breath may also point to liver disease.
However, there would also be other symptoms that would go along with the foul odor, such as a yellow tint to their gums, lack of appetite, and frequent vomiting.
Because liver disease can be a severe condition, it’s crucial that you get your dog to your veterinarian as soon as you notice these symptoms.
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Kidney Disease
While many dogs eat poop, and therefore their breath smells like poop, not many drink urine, even during potty training. However, if your dog’s breath smells like urine, this may be a sign that they have kidney disease.
It’s best to make a visit to the veterinarian to be sure, as kidney disease can indicate a more significant medical problem.
Getting Rid of Dog Bad Breath
Now it’s time to explore your options regarding dog bad breath treatments.
It’s best to try a few different treatments to see what works for your dog. Sometimes, a mix of them all is the way to go.
Address the Underlying Issue
Now that you know what is causing your dog’s bad breath, you can address it and, hopefully, fix it. If a certain disease is behind your dog’s bad breath, a visit to the veterinarian is the only way to solve it.
If your dog is undergoing unsupervised snacking, try to remove anything they could get into while you’re not looking. If you’re done leash training, you won’t have eyes on your dog at all times, so removing any temptations is your best bet.
Your dog may need to go to the vet for a dental cleaning if periodontal disease is the cause of their bad breath.
Not all dogs are candidates for dental cleaning. To find out if yours is, your vet will do some blood work to ensure they can handle the anesthesia. Then, during the cleaning, the vet can remove any decayed or loose teeth.
While you’ve now addressed these underlying issues, if your dog is prone to bad breath or they keep getting into the garbage, there are even more ways you can treat it.
Try Hide-and-Seek Toys
Hide-and-seek toys are excellent options if your dog has especially terrible breath. These are chew toys that have an opening in the middle, allowing you to put dog toothpaste inside.
While your dog chews on the toy, their teeth will automatically get cleaner, and the toothpaste will help to counteract their stinky breath.
Add Yogurt to Their Diet
Yogurt is an excellent way to combat dogs bad breath, and most dogs can handle having it in their diet. However, you must be careful with how much you give and the type you choose.
Always use plain yogurt, never any kind with fruits or sugar substitutes. You can give your dog a teaspoon or two each day, monitoring how their stomach reacts.
Dogs can be lactose intolerant, so if the yogurt upsets their stomach, this may not be the remedy for them.
Use Dog Breath Treats
Does using treating helps with dogs bad breath treament?The use of dog breath treats is a popular remedy for bad breath, but it doesn’t always work.
Chewing on these treats will help clean your dog’s teeth and provide fresh breath.
Yet, some dogs won’t take to the taste of the treats, so they won’t be interested in chewing on them. To counteract this, cut up some dental treats and regular treats and put them in the hide-and-seek toy so your dog will be more willing to get the fresh breath benefits.
Buy Rawhide
Chewing on rawhide bones is an excellent way to eliminate plaque and prevent tartar build-up. This is because the bones are hard, and most dogs will chew on them for long periods of time.
Make sure to keep an extra eye on your dog whenever you give them rawhide bones, as little pieces can break off and become a choking hazard.
Sprinkle the Dill
If you are looking for natural ways to improve your dog’s breath, consider sprinkling dill or parsley on their food. While it will make their food look more fun, it will also naturally get rid of bad breath.
Both dill and parsley are antibacterial and are natural breath fresheners.
Make Ginger Tea
Did you know your dog can drink tea too?
In fact, sometimes it is the best thing for them. If your dog’s stomach is upset or they have indigestion, their breath may reflect that.
Make ginger tea and add a few orange slices to it. Remove the orange slices and give your dog a few tablespoons to help soothe their stomach and their breath.
Preventative Treatments
The best way to prevent bad breath in dogs is by regularly brushing their teeth and providing them with age-appropriate chew toys.
Regularly brushing their teeth is the best way to know that there will not be plaque or tartar build-up.
Make sure to use a dog toothbrush and toothpaste specifically made for dogs. Toothpaste made for humans may contain the ingredient xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
By chewing on their chew toys, dogs keep their teeth clean and their minds busy, which is essential for their health and happiness.
It is more important to do preventive treatments for smaller breeds, as they are more prone to developing periodontal disease than larger breeds. This is due to the fact that their teeth are closer together, which leads to the growth of more bacteria.
Along with this, to prevent your dog from developing diabetes, kidney, and liver diseases, it’s essential to feed them a balanced diet and give them enough exercise. You should also be seeing your veterinarian for annual check-ups.
Find a Cure for Dog Bad Breath Treatment
If your dog has severely bad breath, it can be highly unpleasant whenever they open their mouth. But, of course, you don’t want to have to stay away from them. This is why finding the best dog bad breath treatment is so important.
Use this guide to discover what may be causing your dog’s bad breath and various treatments that could work for them. It may be easier than you think, so give it a try today!
For your next learning adventure, check out these fourteen tips for training your dog.
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