May 11, 2012
Posted in How to, Pet Health, Pet Supplies

Having bad breath can put a real damper on your day, and having a dog with stinky breath can be even worse – it's not like you can offer Fido a piece of gum. Although you may think the dog only has bad breath from eating too much Sweet Potato Rawhide, in most cases, the issue is actually more serious. Chronic bad breath is typically a symptom of dental problems. As bad bacteria grows, it can lead to the development of dental disease, as well as gum inflammation, infection or even tooth decay. In other instances, the issue of bad breath can stem from digestive tract inflammation or allergies it has developed to its pet food. Luckily there are some ways in which pet parents can help their dogs avoid these serious issues.

Visit the vet

The best way to ensure your dog is healthy from head to toe is to bring it to the vet at least once a year. If your pooch has been having very smelly breath for more than a few days, it may be time to go in for a checkup. Here the vet can take a look inside the dog's mouth and may perform ultrasonic tooth scaling to check for bacterial growth. The vet may also check for any skin rashes to see if the bad breath is caused by a digestive problem. Different treatment plans will be discussed based on what the vet finds.

Starting an oral hygiene regimen

If the vet finds your dog's bad breath stems from overgrowth of bad bacteria, he or she will likely talk to you about taking a more hands-on approach to keeping its mouth clean, similar to using pet shampoo and a brush to keep its skin and coat in good shape. The vet may suggest picking up pet products like the C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit for Dogs and Cats that comes with a finger brush, a real toothbrush and pet-friendly toothpaste. If your pooch isn't a fan of having your fingers in its mouth, you can still keep its mouth clean with a rinse like Be Fresh Dental Care Solution that can be added to its water to kill plaque and tartar-producing bacteria. Giving it snacks like Greenies Dental Treats for Dogs can also help
prevent bad breath and bacteria.

Switching its pet food

If a digestive or food allergy is to blame for the bad breath, the vet may suggest starting the dog on a kibble with minimal ingredients like Wellness Ninety-Five Percent Chicken Canned Dog Food. The vet may also recommend starting the pooch on a dietary supplement with good probiotics like Fast Balance-G.I. to ease G.I. irritation.

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