Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?

Friday, November 8, 2019 12:36:00 PM America/Los_Angeles

It's a beautiful Sunday morning: The birds are chirping, the suns rays are peaking through the blinds, and I'm comfy and cozy under the blankets. Everything about my morning is going great--even Maybel is approaching me to say good morning! Until... the kiss is planted. Her breath is so horrendous, I'm forced to leave my Sunday morning sanctuary to wash the lingering stench off my cheek. We've all been there.

Bad dog breath, which is also known as halitosis, is caused by a buildup of bacteria in the mouth, lungs, and gut. Gross! There are a lot of different reasons as to why this build up occurs. Most commonly, bad breath can be due to:

  • Teething. This is the most common reason for bad breath in puppies since the bacteria are deposited in the gum line.
  • Hair or food particles getting stuck in your dog’s teeth.
  • Your dog's diet. Food that contains high amounts of fish oils, canned dog food, any food that is difficult to digest, or sneaking food from other dog's food bowl can all cause bad breath.

If your dog’s breath has an unusual smell, you should consult your veterinarian. In some cases, it can be a warning sign of a medical problem.

Need to fight the bad breath?! Give these remedies a try!

1.Coconut Oil : Mix 1 tsp or so into your dog's food or brush their teeth with it.      

2. Lemon: Add a few drops of lemon juice to your dog's water bowl            

3. Carrots: Let you pup snack on carrots!          

4. Brown Rice: Adding brown rice to your dogs diet can help to prevent bad breath.          

5. Dog Toothpaste: Give your pooch a nice healthy brushing!          

6. Clean bowls: Be sure your dog's water and food bowl are cleaned regularly!    

7. Probiotics: Adding a helpful probiotic to your dog's daily diet can help greatly with bad breath. This is because the "good" bacteria help to break down food, making it easier to digest!

Speaking of "good" bacteria... Did you know that Bark Potty contains natural bacteria in its bark?! This "good" bacteria, along with other natural, organic ingredients, work to do a good job at breaking down the urine odors. Plastic and other non-organic dog potty solutions, such as fake grass, literally trap odors, whereas Bark Potty’s ingredients tend to break them down!