Does the mouth or breath of your pooch smell bad? If yes, don’t worry as bad breath in dogs is quite common and you are not alone. All over the world, most of the dog owners are suffering from the effects of foul smell of their four-legged friends. A condition of bad breath in dogs is also known as halitosis, is a common complaint of many pet owners. This condition is unnatural and addresses a serious health concern that’s gone undetected.
Causes Of Bad Breath In Dogs
There are a number of reasons why the breath of your canine friend might smell bad. The main cause of bad breath is an increase of the bacteria that is responsible for bad odour in your dog’s mouth and stomach. There are several factors that can cause bad breath by increasing the bacteria. One of the most common causes of bad breath is poor dental health in dogs. Nearly, 80% of dogs are showing the signs of dental issues when they reach 3 years of age. Tartar buildup, plaque, and gum disease in dogs will all enhance bad breath as well as can lead to fatal health conditions if not treated on time. Typically, if you will take a little extra dental care of your dog or puppy, this can alleviate your pet’s offensive orders.
The consequences of dental problems in dogs can lead to several health issues. Similarly, diet and food allergies can also cause stinky breath in your pet, especially if your pup is feeding canned or table food. A habit of eating trash, dead animals’ remains, other pets’ poop or food, etc, all these may also contribute to your pet’s breath issues. Some serious health issues like diabetes, liver or kidney disease may also concern with bad breath. It is very important for pet-owners to know the real cause of smelly breath in their dogs. If you see the symptoms of bad breath persists in your pet after adjusting diet and oral health regimes, take your pet to veterinarian for a thorough physical examination. Your vet will only determine the underlying cause of bad breath in your pet.
How To Treat Bad Breath
Whatever the reason, it is important for you to treat the bad breath of your pet. Below, are some of the solutions you can follow to freshen up your dogs’ breath if tooth, gum or diet issues are the main factors of their bad breath.
– Brush Your Dog’s Teeth Regularly: Having a good oral hygiene is important for pets because the bad oral condition can reach much farther than their teeth. Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis will not only keep your dog’s breath fresher but also reduce the building-up of plaque and tartar and this can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Most pet stores offer you the best dental cleaning products like special finger brushes, canine toothpastes, mouthwashes etc. Use the best toothpaste formulated for dogs, doggie toothbrush and mouthwash that work best for the dental cleaning of your pet. Don’t use a toothpaste or brush developed for humans to brush your dog’s teeth.
– Take Your Pet To Vet For Annual Cleanings or General Checkup: In older dogs, bad breath is more common because tartar builds up over the years even though you have brushed your pet’s teeth regularly. If you want to maintain the oral health of your pet, regular oral checkups and professional annual dental cleaning is necessary. Take your pet to your veterinarian as they will examine your pet thoroughly to check for any dental issue and to find out the real cause of its bad breath. Your vet will not only clean and polish the teeth of your pet but will also give you the professional recommendations to improve your pet’s stinky smell. Your veterinarian may also recommend dental cleaning under anesthetic condition to remove heavy tartar on your pet’s teeth as this can lead to a serious and life-threatening illness in future.
– Try Some Dental Chews: A number of delicious oral care treats, dental chews and chew toys are available in the market for dogs that can help to stave off bad breath at some extent. For dogs, chewing is a natural way to clean their teeth, and improves their breath. You can consult your vet about choosing the appropriate dental chews, treats or toys for your pet.
– Give Your Pet Neem or Coconut Oil: Giving your dogs the coconut oil or neem is the best home remedies to get rid of their bad breath. Coconut oil not only boost digestive, immune system and metabolic functions but it also helps to cover up the bad dog breath. Likewise, neem also has many positive effects on the overall health of dogs.
-Keep An Eye On What Your Dog Eats & Drinks: It is also important for pet-owners to keep an eye on their pets. Give your pets the healthy food and clean water daily under your supervision and don’t let them eat inappropriate things such as faeces of other animals, trash, etc.
– Use Parsley: Parsley is a natural breath freshener, so you can give chopped parsley to your pets as food to freshen up their breath.
