Home Remedies for Bad Dog Breath: 10 Vet-Reviewed Natural Tips
By Hanh Duong
Updated on
Dogs are certainly lovable, but generally, they aren’t good at respecting our personal space! They often love to give kisses to anyone willing to accept them, sometimes even those who are not so open to them. Being licked by a dog with bad breath is certainly one of the most unpleasant experiences of owning a dog!
The easiest way to stop bad breath brought on by bacterial accumulation in your pet’s mouth is to brush their teeth once a day at home. However, some canines don’t enjoy having their teeth brushed regularly. If this is your dog, there are still additional natural ways you can do to help keep their teeth clean and their breath fresh!
The 10 Home Remedies for Bad Dog Breath
1. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can help you keep your dog’s breath fresh, improve their metabolism, and encourage regular digestion when used in small, controlled doses.
Some dog owners use it to brush their dogs’ teeth, while others give their animals a small teaspoon with each meal. Both approaches are proven to support digestion, improve the immune system, and combat bad breath.
2. Proper Hydration
You may have noticed that your breath feels heavier when you are thirsty and dehydrated. The same is true for your four-legged friend! Foul breath and dehydration are related, so ensure they drink enough fresh, clean water.
3. Carrots
Do you know carrots can increase saliva production in the mouth? The rough texture of carrots encourages a cleansing action on the teeth and gums and also aids in removing unwanted bacteria that may produce bad breath.
Cut carrots into small pieces and add them to your dog’s food bowl so they can eat them as a natural breath freshener.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are abundant in apple cider vinegar, are great for enhancing oral health. More significantly, this vinegar includes malic and acetic acids, which can fight bacteria that cause bad breath. Your dog will have better breath by adding half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to their water bowl. Most canines enjoy the flavor, too.
5. Celery
Celery can assist the salivary glands’ overall function due to its high moisture content. The more saliva a dog produces, the easier it will be for them to rinse off the nasty bacteria that can cause bad breath. You may either give celery to your beloved pet as a nutritious snack or include it in their regular meals to help treat bad breath.
6. Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains a significant amount of cinnamic aldehyde, which has been shown to support the proper generation and release of saliva. Sufficient saliva prevents breath-causing bacteria from adhering to the gums and the back of the tongue.
Add a few pinches of cinnamon to your dog’s dinner to effectively treat foul breath. Bear in mind that cinnamon can irritate their eyes and nose, so avoid getting any close to those areas.
7. Curly Parsley
Dogs can benefit from parsley in the same way that humans can. In fact, leaves such as those of parsley and green tea, contain chlorophyll, which helps eliminate odors. Parsley is easy to find in most grocery stores at a reasonable price. You can chop some parsley leaves and mix them with your pet’s meals.
However, it’s important to note that curly parsley is the only type that should be used for this purpose because its spring cousins can be toxic to your furry friend.
8. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a healthy and refreshing addition to your dog’s diet. Aside from assisting your furry friend in cleaning their teeth naturally, chewing on wheatgrass can be a terrific breath refresher. It also offers some antibacterial properties that may help their oral hygiene.
9. Safe Chew Toys
Your dog’s teeth can get a natural cleaning by chewing safe toys, and a Kong toy is a great option. Kongs are toys made of hard rubber that are available almost everywhere. You can put your dog’s favorite treat inside the toy to encourage chewing. The hardness of the Kong will help remove plaque from your dog’s teeth as they chew on it.
10. Commit to Brushing Every Day
Using a pet-safe toothbrush and toothpaste, then committing to a daily brushing routine, is the best way to prevent bad breath in dogs. This is the most effective technique to avoid plaque development and tooth decay, both of which create smelly breath.
Final Thoughts
You’ll quickly continue cuddling with your cherished dog with the help of these 10 ways above for stopping bad breath. However, keeping your pet’s mouth healthy goes beyond keeping their stinky breath at bay with home remedies. Keeping their mouth fresh, clean, and free from bacteria by brushing regularly at home and getting twice-yearly deep cleanings is the best way to ensure your pooch’s mouth stays healthy and clean.
See Also:
- Dog’s Teeth Chattering: 10 Common Reasons & What to Do
- Why Does My Dachshund Have Bad Breath? 7 Typical Reasons
Featured Image Credit: Neal Bryant, Shutterstock
