Chances are that if you have a dog his or her breath smells at least some of the time. However, some dogs develop a condition called canine halitosis where their breath gives off a seemingly uncontrollable odor. This could indicate an underlying health condition, but the good news is that many of these are treatable with a modicum of effort. You can improve your dog’s health along the way.
Perhaps the biggest cause of bad breath is human food. Make sure that your dog is eating an appropriate diet and do your best to eliminate unsafe human foods from it. Raw animal products that haven’t been handled correctly can increase the risk of certain types of bacterial infections, which normally smell quite foul to both people and dogs.
Poor oral hygiene is another big issue. Clean your dog’s mouth on a relative basis. You might want to consider a natural dog breath freshener, since these can help the process along without interfering with your dog’s normal mouth flora. A dog breath freshener is usually quite tasty as well, so you won’t have to worry about getting your dog to cooperate enough to eat one.
Even the best dog breath freshener isn’t going to help if your dog keeps getting into things that he or she wouldn’t. Pay close attention when you’re out on walks so your dog won’t have the opportunity to pick up things that aren’t clean. More than anything, though, always be sure to give your dog plenty of water.
