Why Does My Dog's Breath Smell? 5 Tips for Better Dog Dental Care

There’s nothing like the love of our doggies...until they stick that loving mug in our faces and we smell that doggy breath.

Why does my dog's breath smell?

While a dog will never have minty-sweet, rose-petaled exhalations, there are ways to take better care of Fido’s dental hygiene, which can also assist with that halitosis.

Here are five tips for better doggy dental care (and breath). 

Rule Out a Genuine Concern

Just like humans, dogs get plaque and that plaque can cause decay and gingivitis. Gingivitis means red or inflamed gums, and it can be quite painful. Gum disease and dental disease are more than just bad breath.

So, if your pup seems to have trouble eating, has visibly red or inflamed gums, or you have another doggy dental concern, it’s best to get an evaluation by a veterinarian.

Vets can do dental cleanings, but they involve putting your furry friend under anesthesia for the procedure. They’re also expensive! When it needs to be done, it can be so good for your doggie. But if you can avoid that anesthesia, you can save some worry, money, and trouble.

Fortunately, there are smaller (easier) things to do to help prevent dental disease in your four-legged family member. 

Think About Water

How fancy is your Fido? Fancy enough to drink filtered water?

Just like humans, dogs like the taste of fresh (not stale or unfiltered) water. What’s more, water can grow bacteria in that bowl sitting out, and that bacteria may be the source of some nasty breath.

So, the next tip for dental care is to take a look at your dog’s water and:

• Use filtered water (bottled is unnecessary and wastes plastic, so a household filter will do).
• Wash and dry the bowl when you refill water. You like a fresh glass, so does your dog.
• Add little bits of mint or parsley (or both) to the water. These herbs act as natural breath fresheners.

It’s important to note, though, when putting a little bit of an herb in your dog’s food or water, to make sure you do not use extracts or concentrates. Peppermint oil, for example, can be toxic to our pups. 

The mint plant itself is not harmful, and it’s cheap and easy to grow in most climates--even in your kitchen window.

Think About Gut Health

As immune research has expanded we are learning that gut health has a great deal to do with the function of the immune system. The good bacteria in the GI tract helps fight off unwanted microbes, like the bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Good bacteria (probiotics) are also good for our dogs!

For humans, we can eat yogurt or kimchi, take a probiotic, or take any other number of routes to improve our gut health.

For doggie gut health, take a 2-fold approach: 

1. Don’t feed your pooch sweet treats, except occasionally. Even sweet fruits and veggies like apples or carrots can imbalance the gut.
2. Consider giving Fido a doggie probiotic for a gut health boost.

These two approaches together can improve dog bad breath, but also boost overall health.

Let Spot Chew

Doggies need to chew...just not our shoes, right!? 

Dog chew toys provide play and stimulation--including stimulating the saliva which can help rinse Spot’s mouth. The tooth-scraping action of a chew toy can also help keep plaque at bay. Just be sure those toys are made for dogs, and not something that can splinter, stain, or otherwise damage your pup’s mouth.

Dog Hygiene Biscuits

Oral hygiene is so important, and an easy step in the right direction is a dental treat. 

Like the chew toys, dog biscuits stimulate saliva and cause some tooth-scraping action. They’re super simple to administer because your dog will love them! The best dental products for dogs, like our CBD Fresh Breath Biscuits, also include bad-breath fighting herbs like peppermint, parsley, and rosemary.

Use them after meals for a quick dog dental boost and you won't find yourself asking anymore, "Why does my dog's breath smell?"