Safe Home Remedies for Your Dog’s Bad Breath
Have you ever been in the midst of a nice snuggle session with your dog and have it cut short due to the horrible smell coming from their mouth? If your dog has bad breath, you know just how bad it can get. It’s in a league of its own.
But you don’t just have to deal.
There are actually quite a few dog bad breath home remedies:
- Parsley and other greens
- Coconut Oil
- Apple slices and carrots
- Dental Treats
- Rubber Chew Toys
- Plain yogurt
- Probiotics
- Daily brushing
However, to get rid of their bad breath entirely, you need to address the root cause–but don’t worry—we’re going to cover that too.
Most often, your dog’s bad breath is caused by dental disease. In fact, it’s one of the first signs, so now’s the time to act! Dental disease is easy to manage with preventative care.
Read on to learn safe home remedies for your dog’s bad breath to get rid of the stink once and for all.
9 Dog Bad Breath Home Remedy Tips
1. Chlorophyll
Have you ever noticed that a lot of the dental treats available on the market are green? Well, that’s because the chlorophyll found in plants is great for freshening breath and reduces inflammation in the mouth due to dental disease.
To help your dog weigh in on the benefits, you can:
- Add a sprinkle of parsley to their food
- Blend parsley or mint with water and add it to their water bowl
- Make homemade treats with oats, water, coconut oil and parsley
- Use wheatgrass, fresh mint, and dill too! All of these greens are safe for your dog and can help freshen their breath
2. Coconut oil
Is there anything that coconut oil can’t do? Now you can add it to your list of dog bad breath home remedies! Coconut oil has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties which makes it great for fighting off bad breath. And because of it’s mild sweet taste, dogs love it!
In fact, a lot of owners actually use coconut oil to brush their dog's teeth because it’s effective and makes the process so much easier. If you want to give it orally, start with just one tablespoon added to their food to avoid an upset stomach.
In addition to fighting bad breath, coconut oil is great for your dog’s skin and coat, boosting their immunity, and may help with joint pain.
3. Apple slices and carrots
Chewing is one of the best lines of defense for removing plaque and tartar build up, which is what causes your dog’s bad breath. When it comes to human food, there are a number of healthy human foods that can be used as treats for your dog.
Double down by choosing foods that will help freshen their breath and remove plaque. Apple slices and carrots are especially good for this.
4. Dental Treats
If you’re short on time and don’t want to whip up some homemade dog treats, or your dog isn’t taking to the parsley in the food bowl approach, buying specially made dental treats are a great option. Dogs usually love the taste, and anecdotally lots of owners swear that they make a difference in their dog’s breath.
The idea is that while chewing the treats plaque and tartar are removed, and the ingredients (usually chlorophyll-filled greens, cinnamon and cloves) mask and fight odor.
5. Rubber chew toys
No dog chew toy material fights plaque and bad breath better than rubber! Natural rubber dog chew toys are your best option for bad breath.
Choose a rubber dog toy with a hollow center, like this treat chew stick, and fill the inside with a bad breath fighting mixture such as:
- Plain yogurt with mint and parsley (freeze it for less mess!)
- Oat, parsley, coconut oil and egg mixture (baked or raw and frozen into the middle)
- Thin apple and carrot sticks
- Dental treats
6. Plain Yogurt
Some research suggests that the active, good bacteria in yogurt is effective at killing odor-causing bacteria in the mouth (source). For this reason, lots of owners find that adding a small portion of plain yogurt to their dog’s daily diet keeps bad breath at bay.
Just be sure you are using yogurt that has no added sugar or artificial sweetener and is 100% plain yogurt!
7. Probiotic Supplement
Much like using yogurt to fight bad breath, putting your dog on a daily probiotic supplement can fight the bacteria that causes your dog’s bad breath.
It’s also known to be an overall immune booster and digestive aid! Just be sure to choose a probiotic designed for dogs.
8. Regular Brushing
While all of the tips on this list will help, you can’t skip out on regular brushing. Luckily, that’s not twice a day like it is for us humans.
Aim to brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week for the best results. I like the dog toothbrushes that go over your finger for ease of use.
9. Vet visits
Lastly, I’ll leave you with a tip that’s not actually a home remedy, but is important! If you are noticing bad breath, it’s more than likely there is some dental disease lurking in your dog’s mouth.
By getting professional cleanings once per year, you can keep the disease from progressing and keep costs down!
If your dog’s periodontal disease gets bad, they may need to have teeth extracted due to significant bone loss. You can prevent this by discussing your dog’s oral health at your annual vet visit.
Fight your dog’s bad breath!
Now you’re armed with some great home remedies for your dog’s stinky breath. But don’t stop at masking the problem!
Learn more about canine dental health today by checking out these other articles:
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