If you
cringe at the thought of receiving a kiss from your dog, your pet probably has
a problem with bad dog breath. Instead of avoiding that case of dog bad breath,
work to cure the problem so you can enjoy your dog's company once again.
Bad breath
in dogs is often caused by plaque. You can work on this problem at home by
buying a dog toothpaste and toothbrush. Frequent brushing will help remove
plaque and cut down on odors. If you still have problems with plaque, you may
need to ask your veterinarian about getting a teeth cleaning for your dog.
Rotten food
that is stuck in your dog's teeth is another reason why a dog can have bad
breath. While brushing can really help eliminate odors from rotten food, you
can also buy dog bones that help keep teeth clean. Feeding dry food is another
simple way that you can help alleviate this problem.
One reason
for bad breath that always requires veterinary intervention is rotten teeth. If
your dog did not lose some of his first set of teeth when the second set came
in, the older teeth may be rotten. The veterinarian can pull the bad teeth and
your dog will have fresh breath again in no time. Even if the teeth are not
rotten, they can still be the cause of bad breath in your dog because they are
to close to the new teeth. This frequently causes food to catch in the space
between the teeth and rot.
If you can't
find a reason for your dog's bad breath, make sure you ask your veterinarian to
check for health problems that could be causing the odor. For instance, your
dog could have a stomach problem that is creating the smell in his mouth. Your
veterinarian can help you rule out any serious health concerns.
However,
sometimes there is no discernable reason for why dogs have bad breath. Dog
halitosis can be treated or masked with several new products for dog breath.
Dog treats for breath usually come in small tins that look similar to the mint
tins for humans. These treats provide a quick fix for stinky breath.
Another
simple product that can help reduce bad breath in dogs is a special wipe that
was formulated to freshen a dog's teeth and gums. Breath sprays are also used
to disguise bad breath.
If you do
not want to use these products to cure bad breath in your dog, try giving him a
carrot a day. Besides helping freshen his breath, the carrot has the added
benefit of helping your dog's vision.