Dog Bad Breath: Everything You Need To Know

Many dog owners can back that sometimes a dogs bad breath can smell worse than a lot of other bad smells. This is a common problem and is often seen with poor dental care or oral health but it can also be a sign of a medical problem. There is plenty we as owners can do to help our dog's mouths stay fresh and clean so this problem doesn't arise.

In this article, I will cover some of the reasoning for dog bad breath as well as some of the ways you can help through teeth brushing and other methods. No matter what there are signs that you should look for when you notice your dog has bad breath that should be cued as to the causes. Oftentimes a veterinarian checkup should be had if you notice anything off as to make sure your pet is getting the best help they can.

First off there are some signs that one should look for including

• Inflamed Bleeding Gums
• Change In Chewing Behavior
• Scratching at nose and mouth
• Excessive Licking

These can all be indicators that your dog is having oral problems and you should schedule a vet checkup for things like gum disease, cavities, or plaque and tartar buildup. These are all problems associated with poor dental hygiene and can lead to smelly breath caused by Periodontal Disease. This is a disease brought on by a buildup of plaque and tartar that pushes the gums back allowing bacteria in the mouth the get into places it should not be. This can all be prevented with regular cleaning techniques that can help your dogs mouth.

There are some other cases that can cause dog bad breath as well that can be more serious to the health of a canine. These health issues include:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• gastro-intestinal problem
• Liver disease
• Metabolic disease
• And a poor diet

These can be serious issues if not taken care of and bad breath is only one of the side effects that could occur. It is important to keep your vet involved in these issues as they will be able to help Fido stay healthy with fresh breath.

There are many ways to assist a dog who is dealing with dental problems and some of them are super simple.

First, let's cover some of the things you can give your dog as a treat or additive that can help with their breath. Things like coconut oil, yogurt, and a few drops of lemon all have things that keep their mouths clean from bad bacteria that causes bad dog breath. These are all great ways to help the breath but will not address some of the dental diseases. For this, there are a couple options but one is far more recommended than the other.

Teeth Brushing is by far the best option to keep dogs teeth and mouth healthy. This is not as simple as it sounds however as there are many dogs who either don't enjoy the toothpaste of the feeling of a brushing. Along with this, there are certain products to avoid such as any human toothpaste. When deciding what to brush a dog's teeth with it is smart to look for a dog safe brand or use something like coconut oil to brush your dog's teeth. Once you get a product you are happy with simply follow these steps.

By brushing your dog's teeth regularly you should see a huge increase in their dental health as well as the breath in dogs.

Another option for bad smelling breath and oral health is a dental chew of some kind. Many dog owners are using some sort of dental hygiene chew that is made to reduce the amount of plaque and freshen breath. These are great options to help oral health but are far less effective than a cleaning. Many chews can help remove plaque and dogs who chew these tend to have better teeth than others when paired with a brushing.

Check out our guide to brushing your dog's teeth with coconut oil for more info

By following these tips you should see an improvement in your dog's dental hygiene and especially in your dog's bad breath. All owners know the annoyance of dog bad breath and this is something we can control. If you believe it is an underlying health issue make sure to visit the veterinarian soon. Otherwise, make sure to help your dog so that you don't have to deal with their stinky dog breath ever again. If you found this useful feel free to share it with others so we can rid this world of bad dog breath, and if you have anything else to add feel free to leave a comment below with your own experiences.

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