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Dog Bad BreathDoes dog bad breath come between you and your dog? Is closeness a thing of the past? Bad breath in dogs can be normal and easy to control or it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Do you know the difference? Simple steps can make the difference between suffering with dog breath or good dog dental care.
Bad Breath in Dogs—Everyone’s Got It!Let’s face it! All dogs—even puppies—have dog breath at times. It is normal for your pet’s breath to smell rank if he has tasted garbage or found a dead animal. Those aren’t the most pleasant activities, but dogs will be dogs!Serious ProblemsOn the other hand, your dog’s breath should not be so putrid that you can’t get near him. And he shouldn’t have dog bad breath all the time!If you notice that the odor is constant, your pet may have a more serious illness like diabetes, kidney disease, gum disease or tartar on his teeth, or even an object that is trapped in his teeth, mouth or throat. If you are practicing good dog dental care and taking care of your dog's gums and your dog's teeth, you have lessened the chances of gum disease and excess tartar build-up in your dog’s mouth. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is the best thing you can do to prevent dog bad breath. You can also help keep your dogs teeth and gums healthy by providing him with dental dog toys and hard, crisp dog treats. Part of good dog dental care is having his teeth cleaned professionally once a year. I’ve seen dental picks advertised on the internet for dog care, but I don’t advise doing this at home yourself. I cringe when I think of the damage that you could do to your dog if he moved quickly while you were scraping tartar off his teeth. Please don’t try it yourself! Vets often put a dog to sleep (with anesthesia) to do this. Have your veterinarian clean your dog’s teeth. Why Dog Dental Care is ImportantDog dental care is very important for a number of reasons. Most dogs don’t get cavities, but they are prone to tartar buildup on their teeth and gums.If your dog’s teeth are neglected, and your dog develops periodontal disease, his mouth problems can lead to heart or kidney disease. Bacteria from the tartar in his mouth can get into the bloodstream through his swollen and infected gums (also known as gingivitis) and go to his heart or kidneys where they can cause really serious problems! Gum disease is one of the most common problems that vets see in dogs. So please don’t neglect your pet’s dental health! That leaves the other conditions mentioned above. If you suspect that your dog may have a serious health problem because he has dog breath all the time, your veterinarian can help you to confirm or eliminate that possibility. Normal Dog BreathMost dogs won’t have a serious health problem and their dog breath will just be an occasional occurrence.If you are certain that your dog breath issues are not serious, you can easily freshen your pet’s breath by giving him homemade dog treats for breath. Try these Charcoal Dog Biscuits. If you prefer, there are commercial biscuits available that also will clean your dog’s breath. There are also breath sprays and other products that claim to be effective also. One or two of these homemade charcoal dog biscuits (mentioned above) should do the trick in most cases, and they also help to clean your pet’s teeth. To keep dog teeth and dog gums healthy, look for dog biscuits that are hard and crisp. And make sure that they are made from healthy, natural ingredients, of course! Your dog will love the biscuits. In moments, your pet’s breath will be squeaky clean! And, best of all, you will be able to say goodbye to dog bad breath!
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