Does your dog have bad breath?

Now it doesn’t matter how much you love your dog, unfortunately that isn’t enough at times to prevent your dog from having bad breath. Your dog may love kissing you but if he or she suffers badly with bad breath, it may not be the best experience for you. This certainly isn’t bothersome to all dog owners however we have put together a short post on how to help your dog's breath smell nice and fresh.

Why do dogs get bad breath?

A number of different things can lead to bad breath in a dog. Normally, this is just due to poor oral hygiene, although in some cases it can be a sign of other issues. Before we begin, most of the bad breath cases you come across will simply be a poor oral hygiene issue however we have listed a few other things before in the interest of being thorough. Oral Hygiene The most common case is just poor oral hygiene. This is the same with us humans - a buildup of plaque and tartar lead to bacteria in the mouth which causes the smell. Diet Habits You have heard the saying you are what you eat? Check what your dog is poking around in when you are not looking. If they have a fetish for snooping around the bins or food which may not be right for eating then the bad breath could be from unsupervised snacking. Diabetes If you can detect a sweet or fruity smell in your dog's breath then you should consult your vet. This can be a symptom of diabetes. Don’t panic though, this can be treated. Kidney Disease If your dog's breath smells like urine (and they haven’t been eating or drinking urine), then this can be a warning sign for kidney disease - in this case you should also consult your vet. Liver Disease Foul smelling breath, vomiting, lack of appetite and a yellow tint to the gums can be indicative of liver disease in your dog. Again, you should book an appointment with your vet.

How to stop bad breath in your dog?

Assuming that your dog does not suffer from any of the more serious above and oral hygiene is the cause, below are a few steps which you can follow. Brush your dog's teeth Although it sounds crazy, this will reduce plaque and tartar in your dog's mouth which will lower the level of bacteria which gives your dog bad breath. Always ensure you are using canine toothpaste, which can be purchased in a range of flavours to make it more appealing to your dog. Annual cleaning from your vet If you have an older dog, they may benefit from a visit to the vets in order for them to remove heavy tartar build ups. The vet will clean and polish the teeth and check for any other problems. Your vet may recommend a cleaning under anaesthetic if they find the buildup to be particularly heavy. Give your dog a chew Many chews have been developed which will help to clean your dog's teeth and slow down the buildup of tartar. Watch what they eat and drink Just check that your dog is not snacking on anything they shouldn’t when they are being left to their own devices. You will be surprised what a dog will put in its mouth when you are not looking. Chopped parsley Parsley is a natural breath freshener and will help with your dogs bad breath. If you have any questions then you should contact your vet who will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.