One of the cutest dogs I ever met was Buffy, a scruffy little blonde terrier mix. She was adorable and the moment I met her, I wanted to hug her. That is, until she got close enough to breathe on me. Buffy had horrible breath, and I do mean horrible! Her owner thought she was providing only the best for Buffy when she gave her a diet of wet, moist dog food. We sent her to the veterinarian who diagnosed gum disease and instructed her owner to start feeding dry kibble. The gum disease cleared up like magic, and so did the bad breath.
Many people automatically think dogs have bad breath, but that is not the case! A build up of odor-producing bacteria in your dog’s mouth, lungs, or gut is what causes the foul smell. If your dog persistently has bad breath, known as halitosis, it could mean that he needs better dental care or he has a problem in his gastrointestinal tract, liver, or kidneys. Here are some tips for treating and preventing canine halitosis.
Treatment
- If your dog’s breath has a strange smell, consult your veterinarian so the cause of the bad breath can be determined.
- If your veterinarian finds that plaque is casuing the unusual odor coming from your dog’s mouth, a professional cleaning might be in order.
- If diet is the issue, changing your dog’s regular food can do the trick.
- If the underlying cause is a gastrointestinal, liver, or kidney problem, your vet will determine the proper course of action.
Prevention
- Regular checkups with the veterinarian will rule out medical issues that could cause bad breath.
- Brush your dog’s teeth regularly. Use canine toothpaste because human toothpaste can upset his stomach.
- Feed a high-quality, easily digestible food.
- Provide your dog with hard, safe chew toys. The teeth are cleaned by the natural process of chewing.
Have you had an experience with canine halitosis? How do you ensure your dog’s breath is fresh? Do you brush his teeth regularly? Share your tips in the comments.
AKC's Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Director, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Bad dog breath is no joke! A few years ago, my friend had a Pomeranian with the WORST breath! I didn’t even want to go near the poor dog because it was overwhelming. My friend chalked it up to the fact that her husband gave the dog table food. Besides the breath, the dog was well-taken care of. I kept telling her she might want to take care of that. Sadly, the dog keeled over one day, and she rushed him to the vet. The gum disease had gone to the bloodstream and they barely saved him. He had all his teeth extracted and from there his health was poor and he only lived for a few more months. Unfortunately, his death was mainly due to the lack of dental care. Since then, I make sure that my cat and dog do not have bad breath. My dog even goes to a Cavalier Spa, where a woman comes in from LA twice a year to do a dental cleaning that doesn’t require anesthesia. It costs me about one hundred fifty dollars, twice a year, but is well worth it and you can see the difference. I also love the fact that my dog doesn’t have bad breath
A duck, chicken or turkey neck goes a long way to getting gunk off teeth. Feeding kibble as a means to keep teeth clean really doesn’t do much – though it’s marginally better than canned food. Feed a high quality biologically appropriate diet (raw bones, meat, tripe, veggies) and brush your dogs teeth.
I started my Basenji’s as puppies. Brushing their teeth is a nightly ritual. They wait at the sink, and love to try and chew the brush. They are very picky on toothpaste. The only one I can find that they like is from Daves soda and Pet Food City – beef flavor. Open to any suggestions.