Bad breath in your dog may be caused by food residue or by a medical condition. Halitosis or bad breath may be cured by detecting the possible health problem that causes it; however, as you may know, the dog’s breath is never too pleasant, so there are a few additional remedies that can freshen up your pet’s breath.
Treating the Cause of Bad Breath
The bad breath in your dog may be caused by a number of medical conditions including diabetes, gastrointestinal disease or periodontal disease. If you think that your dog’s breath is worse than usual, you should visit the vet and find out if he has a medical problem. Addressing the medical problem will cure the bad breath; during the treatment you can find some alternative remedies to keep your dog’s breath fresh.
Teeth Brushing
If you brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis, you will remove the plaque and the food residues that may gather bacteria and cause the bad breath. The regular brushing will also help to prevent gum disease and periodontal disease and reduce the risks of dental abscesses that can cause bad breath.
It also helps if your dog has a dry food diet, as the food will also remove the plaque deposits and reduce the bad breath.
Chew Toys and Treats
Chew toys are also important to keep your dog’s teeth clean and plaque free. The chew toys can scrape off the plaque from the dog’s teeth and so there will be no more bacteria to cause bad breath.
There are a lot of delicious chew treats in pet shops that can eliminate the bad breath and freshen up the dog’s breath. These chew treats have a rough surface that will act as an abrasive and prevent the buildup of tartar by removing the plaque. Consequently, the dog will be less likely to develop dental and gum problems, which are a main source of bad breath.
Talk to your vet to recommend you some chew treats that have flavors your dog likes and that are also rich in nutrients for your pet.
Dietary Considerations
A dog with an inappropriate diet may have bad breath. This may be caused by undigested food that has stayed in the stomach for too long. For this reason, the dog needs to have a healthy amount of proteins and also a few fibers that will facilitate the digestion.
If your dog has a wet diet, you should introduce a few dry chews, to prevent gum and periodontal disease and to keep bad breath at bay.
Herbal Remedies for Canine Bad Breath
The dog’s breath may be freshened up using a few herbal remedies. You can use a mouthwash with a few drops of Echinacea extract.
You may also give your dog a few herbs to chew; try parsley leaves, myrrh, plantain leaves, peppermint, sage or dill. These may also kill fungi and bacteria that may be causing the bad breath in your dog.
Lemon juice may also eliminate bad breath; you may use a few drops of lemon juice in your dog’s drinking water. However, make sure that the juice doesn’t contain sugar.