My Dog Has Bad Breath - What's Wrong?

Any dog owner at some point will say, "My dog has bad breath - what's wrong?" Dogs have bad breath for the very same reasons humans do. But I'll give you some tips to help you keep your canine's mouth clean and free of stinky breath.

The Importance of Dental Care

True story: I was sitting in the dog park one day, and my dog hopped on my friend Michelle's lap. Michelle made a grotesque face and said, "Jack has bad breath." I thought, "No way. My dog doesn't have bad breath." Then I opened Jack's mouth. I said, "OMG. My dog has bad breath!"

At first, I didn't know why his breath smelled horribly - until I began doing research. I thought dogs' teeth were self-cleaning. That's only partially true. Like humans, dogs have to have their teeth professionally cleaned too.

Regular dental hygiene is important beyond just making sure your dog's teeth are white. Infected gums, broken or loose teeth and other periodontal problems in a dog's mouth can lead to bacteria. The bacteria then travels into your pet's bloodstream.

And if you don't catch these symptoms early, your dog's heart, lungs, kidneys, intestinal tract and liver can become infected.

Now that I'm aware that my dog has bad breath, I know it means that infection has set in and tartar has built up.

But I found a solution.

Tartar Build Up

That stinky smell is the smell of tartar and plaque buildup. Tartar is found just below the gums. Tartar helps the growth of bacteria, which leads to inflammation of the gums.

If your dog has never had his teeth cleaned at the vet and he's at least 3 years old, I highly recommend you take him to the vet for a full cleaning and polishing. This can be costly, but worth it. You want to know where you stand as you're not an expert in this area and you want to make sure your canine's health is not in any danger.

Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Now for the fun part. Never use human toothpaste on a canine. The fluoride will make him sick. Buy a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically made for dogs at your pet store or vet.

The finger brush is very much like the toothbrush used for babies. It has a rubber hood, which you place on your finger.

It has soft rubber bristles on one side, which is the side you should use to clean your dog's teeth and gums. Once your dog gets used to the process, you can buy a regular dog toothbrush.

The Brushing Process

The actual process of brushing your dog's teeth is really simple:

1. Tilt your pooch's head back. It should be done on a 45 degree angle - at a junction where the teeth meet the gums.

2. Initially use circular motions.

3. Now use vertical strokes to dislodge and discourage tartar and plaque formation.

Toys and Food to Maintain Dental Hygiene

To maintain clean teeth and gums alternate between wet and dry food. Also, let your dog have rawhide chews as these help get rid of tartar. There are plenty of chew toys and dog food designed to help remove tartar from your dog's teeth.