STINKY BREATH REMEDIES
Love to smooch your pooch, but hate it when he or she has seriously stinky breath?
Most of the time, bad breath in cats and dogs is caused by a build up of bacteria in your pet’s mouth, lungs, or gut. Many small pups are especially prone to plaque and tartar build up because of the sheer smaller size of their mouths. Clearing the bacteria is just a little bit tougher for them.
There are a number of ways to combat the stinky smell, but a small bit of investigation is encouraged to make sure you treat the root cause and don’t just mask the issue.
We believe that prevention is key – as always! Even if you haven’t been thinking about your pet’s oral health since they were a puppy or kitten, today is a great day to start. Here are a few preventative measures you can take to help keep those pearly whites oh-so-sparkly.
- Brush your pet’s teeth! Sounds a little daunting, and maybe a little scary, but we offer a number of different options to help you through this with confidence. Come in to check out Kissable Toothpaste, a vanilla-flavored paste that you can apply with a pet toothbrush! We also love Ark Naturals Gray Muzzle Brushless Toothpaste which you can give like a treat.
- Mix in hard, safe, chew toys to help his/her teeth be cleaned by the natural process of chewing. Don’t expect soft plush toys to help your pet’s teeth stay clean. They need to have something they can really get a grip on! The Game Changer is one of the absolute best toys for this, because it gets your pet thinking and drops treats from time to time. Many dogs can play with it for hours! A KONG or West Paw toy can do the trick too!
- Try pet treats specifically formulated to improve breath odor from the inside out. We recommend Whimzee’s Dental Chews, PlaqueOff Dental Bites, or Zuke’s Z-Bones! These are all natural products and super safe to give to your pets daily for ongoing preventation.
It’s important to know that persistent bad breath may indicate larger medical problems – your pet may need a tooth extraction, or he/she may have a respiratory, gastrointestinal, or internal organ issue. So if the smell don’t seem to improve, it may be time to check in with your vet.
Another thing to note is that if you see heavy plaque build up in your pet’s mouth, a professional teeth-cleaning may be a good move. You can consult your vet directly for an appointment or referral. Many Kriser’s Natural Pet stores offer anesthesia-free professional dental cleaning events as well. Check in with your nearest store to see if and when the partner groups are coming in next! Happy cleaning!