Dogs can develop halitosis (commonly known as bad breath) for a variety of reasons, just like humans. Occasional bad breath likely isn’t anything to worry about. But if your dog tends to have bad breath daily, there may be an underlying health condition that is causing it. If daily halitosis is a concern, the first thing that you should do is take your pooch to the veterinarian and find out if they need treatment of some kind.
After veterinarian treatment, there are several natural home remedies that you can utilize to get rid of your dog’s stinky breath so they’re more enjoyable to snuggle with. The following are five natural home remedies that you should know about.
Top 5 Home Remedies for Bad Dog Breath:
1. Commit to Daily Brushing
If you’re like most dog parents, you don’t even think about brushing your dog’s teeth. But one of the easiest and most effective ways to get rid of your dog’s bad breath is to simply brush their teeth every day. Brushing your dog’s teeth should help get rid of any unwanted odor on the breath.
If your dog isn’t already used to having their teeth brushed, you may have to train them before they sit still while you do the brushing. The idea of training is to get your dog used to their gums and teeth being manipulated by you.
2. Make Use of Treat Toys
You can hide dental treats inside treat toys like Kongs so your dog can improve the smell of their breath while having a good time. You can buy dental treats at the store, but you should make sure that only natural ingredients are included. A better option is to make your own homemade dental treats, so you know exactly what is in them. Liquid chlorophyll, activated charcoal, and a few other ingredients like coconut oil are all you’ll need to make your own “Greenies” treats.
3. Offer Human Food
Many foods that we typically reserve for us humans can also help get rid of your dog’s bad breath. For example, letting your dog chew on a piece of mint or parsley can do wonders for their breath. Giving your dog a little yogurt at mealtime can eliminate the not-so-lovely smells that are coming out of their mouth. But only plain natural yogurt will do the trick. Stay away from flavored varieties, especially those that include artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, as it can be poisonous to your pooch.
4. Grow Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is healthy for dogs in several ways. It provides antioxidants, cleanses the organs, and aids in digestion among other things, like freshening the breath. To keep your dog’s breath fresh, place a pot of growing wheatgrass next to their water bowl so they can chew on some whenever they feel like it. You can also mix pieces of wheatgrass into their food bowl at mealtime. You can even juice the wheatgrass and offer the juice up in place of water once a day.
5. Keep Coconut Oil Handy
Coconut oil is antibacterial and can effectively reduce your dog’s bad breath episodes, if not eliminate the bad breath together. Most dogs happen to love the taste of coconut oil too. You can put coconut oil in your dog’s food or water or rub it on your dog’s teeth and gums regularly. You can also just give them a teaspoon of it to enjoy as a snack. In addition to freshening your dog’s breath, coconut oil can also clear yeast infections, improve digestion, and promote the healing of insect bites and injuries on the body.
- Related read: Dog’s Teeth Chattering: Here’s What It Means and What to Do
Natural Bad Breath Remedies: Our Final Thoughts
Any of these natural home remedies for dogs with bad breath should provide results that you’ll be happy with. Keep in mind that you’ll likely have to use these remedy options for a few days before your dog’s breath starts smelling better. But if these remedies don’t work for your pooch after a while, a return trip to the veterinarian may be necessary. Do you have any natural tips for getting rid of stinky dog breath? We want to know what works for you in the comments section below!
Featured Image: SnapwireSnaps, Pixabay
