Bad breath in dogs: reasons, solution

True, dogs are delightful, but the same cannot be said about the smells they sometimes give off. Bad breath in dogs is not just a matter of unpleasant smell, it can be a symptom of some diseases.  

Bad breath in dogs can be caused by various factors ranging from a  chronic inflammatory state of the gums  to actual diseases. Let’s look at some of these causes:

  • Poor oral hygiene (tartar buildup)
  • Inadequate nutrition
  • Wounds on the face or in the gums
  • Disorders affecting the stomach, liver or kidneys

Most of the time, always if there is no disease in progress, you can resort to some simple remedies that eliminate or prevent halitosis. For example, cleaning the teeth, proper nutrition or giving the dog specific toys that act as a kind of toothbrush … are all effective remedies.

Bad breath is not always the litmus test or the counter-proof of some type of pathology. Here are some tips to combat it:

Oral hygiene

First of all, to combat your dog’s bad breath, you must implement a prevention strategy that protects its oral hygiene . It is a measure that will not only benefit the health of your dog’s mouth, but also his quality of life as he will be able to enjoy healthy teeth for a long time.

Obviously the cleaning of the dog’s teeth is your job, the dog cannot brush his teeth by himself. Taking care of your dog’s oral health first means checking their teeth and gums often to make sure there are no wounds, cavities or abscesses.

Unfortunately, we do not care enough about the oral health of dogs and for this reason many animals, even when very young, suffer from dental problems.  Many dogs begin to lose dental elements as early as the age of three, and this, as we have said, negatively affects their quality of life.

Dog Food and Bad Breath

The type of feeding, and also the doses of food, affects the dog’s oral hygiene. In general, it can be said that dogs that ingest sweets or sugars develop both dental diseases, such as caries, and diseases affecting the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular system .

Similarly, a meat-based diet also favors the accumulation of tartar . The meat leaves a lot of residues on the teeth which cause an increase in the bacterial flora . Thus begins a bacterial decomposition process which is responsible for the development of volatile sulfur compounds, which cause halitosis.

Care must be taken to give the dog a balanced and nutritious diet. And, if your dog does not have food allergies, it is best to feed only kibble, as they help to clean the teeth .

Bacteria lodged in the crevices or crevices of your dog’s bowl can pass to his mouth . It is therefore recommended to use metal bowls  . It is a small trick to prevent bad breath and to safeguard your dog’s health at the same time.

Dry food is an excellent ally to combat bad breath, it is designed to protect the dog’s oral health.

Croquettes and toys to eliminate bad breath in Dogs

There are excellent quality kibble on the market that help clean the dog’s teeth. These croquettes, breaking, have an abrasive effect that eliminates the tartar that is deposited on the teeth . There are also toys that have the same function and that, moreover, massage the gums.

Now you have no excuses. If you want your friend to be a happy and healthy dog, you need to study what food to feed him and check his oral health often. Remember to take your dog to the vet at least once a year to have him do a complete dental cleaning and to buy him some chewable toys.

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