A lot of dogs like to give kisses, but dog kisses can be anything but enjoyable if your dog has bad breath. Many 
people just expect that after a dog gets older, their dog’s breath is going to be bad. But that isn’t true. You can cure bad dog breath completely, and keep your dog healthier in the process. Then those dog kisses that wake you up in the morning won’t be nearly as painful without the odor.
Your dog having bad breath can be an indication of other potential health problems such as dental and kidney disease or it can be a bad diet.
I am going to discuss why dogs get bad breath, things that will help eliminate bad breath, and how you can completely get rid of bad dog breath with natural ingredients.
Table of Contents
Why Your Dog Has Bad Breath
There are a few reasons why your dog could have bad breath. It is usually caused by dental or gum disease which is caused by tarter on their teeth or bacteria in their months. It can also be an indicator of respiratory system problems, gastrointestinal tract problems or internal organs.
If you smell an unusual sweet or fruity breath, it could be a sign of diabetes.
If your dog’s breath smells of urine, it could be a sign of a kidney disease.
If your dog has an unusually foul odor accompanied by vomiting, a lack of appetite and yellow tinged corneas, it is a sign of liver problems.
How To Cure Bad Dog Breath
There are many natural ways that you can solve your dog’s bad breath problem. The best way, is to brush your dog’s teeth. This is going to remove the tartar from their teeth and also rid your dog of the bacteria in their mouth. I recommend that you brush your dog’s teeth at least 3 times a week. If you need tips to brush your dog’s teeth, you can get them here.
Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly, is going to help prevent tooth decay. It will also help lower your vet bills by not needing to have your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned. I would do everything possible to keep your dog’s teeth clean, so they aren’t required to be put under general anesthetic for a teeth cleaning. Every year thousands of dogs never wake up from the simple procedure of getting their teeth cleaned.
If brushing doesn’t work for your dog, there are still several other ways to cure bad breath naturally.
Carrots and apples are a great way to help remove tarter from hard to reach areas with a tooth brush, like the back teeth. This will work especially well along the gum line, and it is a healthy snack at the same time.
Health treats for your dog and helps remove tarter
Mint and parsley work great. Sprinkle some on your dog’s food. Both of these herbs are natural breath deodorants. They fight smelly bacteria in the mouth and in the digestive system.
Probiotics. If your dog doesn’t have a healthy gut, it can cause bad breath. Probiotics supports the good bacteria in their stomach. Yogurt is a great example of a probiotic that you can give your dog. Make sure it is plain with no sugar added.
Apple Cider Vinegar. You can add 1/2 teaspoon in your dog’s water bowl. It is a natural disinfectant and gives your dog better breath. Most dogs will like the flavor.
Coconut Oil. It is a sweet treat that aids in digestion and helps your dog’s immune system. It also helps with allergies. Having a healthy digestive system will help eliminate bad breath.
Cinnamon. Make sure to only use Ceylon Cinnamon, per the editor of Pet Guide. Cinnamon is a great way for slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria. It is also great for dogs with allergies. Just sprinkle a small amount on your dog’s food.
Great Herbs, Oils And Extracts For Curing Bad Breath
In order for your dog to have fresh breath, they not only need a clean mouth, but they also need a healthy gut. Many of the following suggestions help your dog have a healthy gut along with providing other health benefits for your dog.
Sage can be used to treat gastrointestinal tract infections. Only use Salvia Officinalis species of sage as it contains
Many herbs help with bad dog breath
medical value for your dog. Use the leaves and not oils. Fresh or dried will both work. Sprinkle a small amount on your dog’s food. You can check with your vet for exact quantities that are best for the size of dog that you have.
Rosemary Oil is a natural antibiotic that can help control bacteria in your dog’s mouth. It can also improve digestion, which is another potential cause of bad breath. Helps with memory boosting and joint strengthening. Add 1/8 teaspoon per 20 pounds of dog up to 3 times per day. Can be added directly to their food.
Thyme Oil is the most powerful antioxidants ever. It kills bacteria, and lower bacteria levels means better breath odor. It can improve circulation and helps clear toxins throughout the body, giving your dog improved overall health.
It prevents gingivitis and can be applied directly to your dog’s gums with a cotton swab. Use 1/4 teaspoon per 30 pounds of dog up to 2 times per day. Can be added directly to your dog’s food.
Grape Seed Extract (not to be confused with grapes themselves, as they are toxic for dogs) contains high levels of proanthocyandidins, which are antioxidant compounds serving as a natural antibacterial agent. It can kill harmful levels of bacteria, which causes your dog’s bad breath. You can purchase this product directly from GNC or from Amazon.
Grapefruit Seed Extract has powerful antibacterial properties and it also is a strong antiviral and anti fungal agent. It will help prevent the growth of many foreign organisms in your dog’s mouth. It will help eliminate the cause of bad breath and periodontal disease. Grapefruit seed extract also helps support a robust immune system. Can be purchased at GNC or from Amazon.
Others Ways To Help Keep Your Dogs Breath Fresh
Cutting Carbs from your dog’s diet is a great way to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and breath smelling better. Fewer carbs and fewer sugars allows less food sticking to your dog’s teeth. That in turn becomes bacteria to live on. Sticky, sweet and gummy foods and grains give places in your dog’s month where bacteria can cling to.
Stick to a diet free of grains and fillers and you might want to consider feeding your dog a raw food diet. It is one of the best ways to keep your dog’s mouth clean and healthy and their breath fresh.
Use Lickies with Orapup. It is a dental care gel. A natural gel with enzymes that fight bad breath and helps reduce plaque. It will remove harmful bacteria and softens and removes plaque. It cleans odor from your dog’s tongue and entices your dog to clean their tongue.
Provide a hard chew toy for your dog. Examples would be a Nylabone or bully stick. Both would help rid your
Nylabone is great option for cleaning dog’s teeth
dog’s mouth of food particles and bacteria.
Dog breath spray is another option to try, especially if you have a hard time brushing your dog’s teeth. It fights plaque, tarter and gum disease. You can either spray it directly into your dog’s mouth or add to your dog’s water bowl.
Keep your dog’s water and food bowl clean. They should both be washed out daily with warm soapy water. The water bowl can develop an invisible lining of bacteria and the oils from dog food can also create bacteria on your dog’s bowls.
Keep the toilet lid down. Don’t allow your dog to drink out of your toilet. It is loaded with bacteria.
Summary
The best way to cure bad dog breath is by brushing your dog’s teeth and keeping your dog healthy internally also. If you have problems brushing your dog’s teeth, you can see that their are many options that will help keep your dog’s teeth clean and bacteria free.
Most times when a dog has bad breath, it is from bacteria in their mouth, but not always. You need to be aware of other factors that could be attributing to their bad breath. There are many natural ways to help keep your dog’s teeth and mouth clean and help with internal issues also for a healthy dog all around.
Won’t all those doggy kisses be much more enjoyable once your dog has fresh breath again. Just because your dog
is older, doesn’t mean everyone needs to experience your dog’s bad breath. Get working on correcting it now.
Please let me know if you have any questions or leave any comments below. Also, if you have any other great ideas that work for you, it would be great if you would share for all of us to see.
Some of the links within this post are affiliate links, of which I might receive a small compensation from sales of certain items.
Wow, this is certainly a wealth of information and you have done an excellent job identifying the common causes of what is often a very big problem with dogs’ breath…I have heard people say that a dog’s saliva is in fact antiseptic. I wonder is that true? And if that’s true, can that still be the case even and despite a dog’s bad breath? Or is the protection afforded by a dog’s “antiseptic” saliva removed by a dog’s bad breath and/or other health issues?
Thank you for your suggestions and ideas to help our pets keep and maintain good oral hygiene. Your recommended products is a big plus…instead of trial and error, we can now choose the right product to help and improve our pets oral health.
Christie, thanks for reading and for commenting. I’m glad you found the article to have some benefits for you.
I used to believe that a dogs licks could clean and fix wounds for us, but that actually isn’t the case. They have too much bacteria in their mouth to help us heal.