Get Rid Bad Breath

Bad breath in puppies Dogs get bad breath for the same reasons that people do. It may be due to diet, or a build-up of plaque on the teeth. And if you’re not brushing your puppy’s teeth, the bacteria-filled plaque (and the smell accompanying it) doesn’t go away. “Doggy breath” is a common complaint from puppy owners but there’s no reason to put up with your puppy’s bad breath when the following tips can help his breath smell sweeter.

Regular brushing. If your puppy has never had his teeth brushed you will want to get him used to the idea first. Start by stroking your puppy’s mouth for a few minutes every day. After a few days of this you can do a “trial” brush. Put gauze on your finger and place some toothpaste made specifically for dogs on the tip of your finger. With one hand lift your puppy’s lip and then gently brush a few of his teeth in a circular motion. At first the brushing sessions should be kept very brief. Once he is used to having his teeth brushed you can increase the time and do a more thorough cleaning. Brushing your puppy’s teeth should help improve his breath and the health of his teeth. Dog toothbrushes that slip over your finger are available from specialty stores.

Healthy diet. Your puppy’s bad breath may be a reflection of his diet. Don’t feed your puppy “people” food. Food that is good for you may not be good for your puppy or his breath, especially if he is eating “people” food that contains garlic or onions.

Decrease snacking. If your puppy is snacking throughout the day the harmful bacteria in his mouth, which may be causing his bad breath, is always active.

Smart snacking. If you must give your puppy a snack between meals a piece of raw carrot is a good choice. Although a raw carrot is not a substitute for a toothbrush, chewing on a raw carrot can help scrape some of the plaque from your puppy’s teeth.

Hide the smell. There are sprays that are similar to the sprays that people use to mask bad breath and they may help your puppy’s mouth smell sweeter. The spray won’t get rid of the plaque on your puppy’s teeth but it may hide the accompanying odor.

Healthy toys. Rope toys may improve your puppy’s breath. As your puppy chews on the rope it works like floss by loosening any food particles from between his teeth. A rawhide bone may also help loosen plaque because it scrapes across your puppy’s teeth as he chews it. There are also hard rubber toys made specifically to act like a toothbrush for dogs. Although a thorough cleaning with a toothbrush is best the hard rubber toy may help clean his teeth as he chews on it, especially if it is smeared with toothpaste made for dogs.

Generally bad breath in puppies is related to diet and oral care but sometimes it may be the result of another problem. Talk to your veterinarian if you’re concerned about your puppy’s breath. There are also veterinarian dentists that can clean and polish your puppy’s teeth.