When an odour-producing bacteria manifests in your dog’s mouth, lungs or gut, it results in your dog’s bad breath. As such, you should always lend a hand to your pet to combat bad breath. The cure is not in your canine’s paws but in your hands.
Tommy, a rescue dog greyhound was overlooked by more than 300 new owners because of persisting bad breath due to a health problem. “When he came into us he had gingivitis, a gum problem, which was caused by issues with his immune system,” said Elaine Sheppard, Tommy’s carer. Checked by vets, he was given a prescription of a very strong medicated mouthwash that cured his bad breath.
This post will enumerate home remedies for dog’s bad breath.
Causes of a dog’s bad breath
In general, dogs do not have the freshest mouth smell. Some cases only require a simple tooth brushing but other times, bad breath is an indication of an underlying serious health problem. The following are the most common causes of a dog’s bad breath:
- Have ingested a toxic or foreign substance
- If any food gets stuck in the teeth
- Periodontal disease
- Kidney disease
- Teething
- Diabetes
- Oral tumours
- Rhinitis
- Gastrointestinal issues (in the oesophagus, intestine, stomach or liver)
- Bad diet that includes canned dog foods and food high in fish oils
What can I give my dog for bad breath? For most cases that do not signify serious conditions, there are easy remedies that can be easily acquired from your kitchen. The following are home remedies that will show you how to get rid of a dog’s bad breath.
Parsley
Parsley contains chlorophyll that helps neutralise the bad smell. As such, this should be included in the canine’s diet. Chop the fresh parsley into pieces and add it to his food. However, some dogs are too picky to eat it. In that case, you may apply a homemade mouth spray made of parsley.
How to do it:
- Chop the parsley into bits and add it to the 500 mL of boiling water.
- Allow it to boil for about 10-15 minutes before removing.
- Finally, leave it cool for some time before putting it in a spray bottle.
How to give it:
- You may add an amount of homemade parsley water to its water bowl.
- Use it as a mouthwash.
- Otherwise, fill the spray bottle with parsley water and spray it into his mouth.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties that reduce the stinky smell from your dog’s mouth. In fact, it is beneficial for your dog’s health in other ways such as a boost in metabolism and immunity and improves digestion processes.
How to give it:
- Mix a teaspoon of coconut oil in your dog’s food.
- Use coconut oil in cooking your dog’s food.
- Use the oil in brushing his teeth.
- Dogs usually come to like the sweet taste of the oil. For such case, you may give a teaspoon a day to your dog.
Lemon
Lemon will not only refresh your dog’s breath with its nice smell but will also kill the bacteria growing inside your canine’s mouth. It has high levels of acid that can break down plaque or tartar build-up.
How to give it:
- Squeeze a few drops of lemon to his drinking water.
- Make sure that there are no seeds included in the bowl.
Bones, more bones
This serves not only as a remedy but a treat as well. Giving chew treats to your pooch is the natural way of brushing your dog’s mouth. The most common cause of your dog’s bad breath is the plaque build-up on his mouth. Upon chewing the bone, it enables him to remove food pieces from its teeth similar to brushing its teeth. However, avoid giving small bones that can cause your dog to choke and chicken bones that can cause lacerations in his throat or stomach.
How to give it:
- Provide your canine a raw pork bone to chew on.
- Monitor its chewing time as it could most likely choke especially when it chews it too fast. If this happens, you should immediately throw the bone.
- Allow it to chew one to two times a day to keep its mouth fresh and clean.
Carrots
Fresh carrots will help remove any plaque and tartar build-up in a dog’s mouth. Aside from the dental benefits, it provides high amounts of vitamin C and A that will boost its immune system. When chewing the carrot, it will stimulate the saliva and cleanse food particles from the mouth and in between the teeth.
How to give it:
- Cut the carrot into pieces appropriate to your dog’s size.
- Provide 2 slices a day.
Yogurt
Yogurt is another remedy for a dog’s bad breath. It is probiotic which helps to combat bad bacteria in your dog’s intestinal system which makes him healthier. Fortunately, most dogs actually love the taste of any yogurt or curd therefore, it is easy to feed.
How to give it:
- Add a spoonful of yogurt to your dog’s food. This can be done twice a day.
- If you have a larger breed, you may add more than a spoonful.
- Plain yogurt may also be given during the morning or at night.
Brown Rice
Another common cause of bad breath is having a digestive problem. Adding brown rice to your dog’s diet is beneficial to his digestive system. Brown rice is easily digested which makes it ideal for keeping your pup healthy and happy.
How to give it:
- Instead of white rice, provide a bowl of brown rice to your pooch.
Did you find this article helpful? Read more tips for your pet’s diet and health.
