Dogs often seem to have terrible breath. So much so, that telling someone they have dog breath is considered an insult! However, dogs should not automatically have a bad breath problem and there are some things you can do about it.
What Causes It?
Bad breath (or halitosis) in dogs is not that different to bad breath in humans. It is mostly caused by gum disease or decaying teeth.
Have a look around your dog’s mouth for any obvious bad signs such as off-colour gums or browning teeth.
Less often, bad breath in dogs can be a sign of a more serious problem such as infection, kidney problems or even cancer. If your dog’s bad breath shows no signs of going away after basic treatment (see below) then you should take him to the vet.
How To Treat It And Prevent It
If the bad breath is not too bad then starting regular brushing can get rid of it. Dogs don’t generally enjoy the experience of getting their teeth brushed so some regular brushing every few days is better than none at all.
Remember not to use a regular brush or toothpaste because dogs will instinctively swallow the paste. This is unlikely to do any immediate harm to your dog but if he regularly swallows human toothpaste then damage will be done.
Your dog will also have much cleaner teeth if you frequently give it harder food to eat. A really good tip is to buy some cheap bones from your local butcher. These bones would otherwise go into the bin and they make a great treat for dogs (watch them eat the marrow!) while at the same time cleaning their teeth and otherwise enhancing their dental hygiene.
There are also a number of products on the market that are aimed at improving a dog’s dental hygiene such as special mouth washes, treats and even breath drops!
Sugar
You really should avoid giving anything that contains sugar to your dog. Even though they may love these treats, candies and other sugar containing foods do a great deal of damage to your dog’s teeth.
Of course, they are bad enough for humans and are responsible for a lot of dental work even if you do brush your teeth daily. Given that most dogs do not have their teeth cleaned daily then you can imagine how much damage and pain that sugar in a dog’s diet can cause. Do your best to restrict or eliminate refined sugar from your dog’s diet.
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