Fight doggie breath

Halitosis or bad breath is more than just regular “doggie breath” – it is an unpleasant, offensive odour and usually a symptom of dental disease.

Dental disease is one of the most common problems affecting dogs and cats today. As is the case with humans, tartar also builds up on animals’ teeth. If it is not removed by chewing on raw bones, gnawing toys or brushing the tartar will develop into calculus: a visible, hard, yellowy build up. Calculus sets a chain reaction in motion – a process called periodontal disease. With very few exceptions such as a tumour of the mouth or severe kidney diseases, it is usually dental disease that gives your dog their bad breath. Periodontal disease can also affect the general health when bacteria from an inflamed tooth or from the gums are released into the bloodstream. Therefore, mouth health is important for your dog’s overall health and longevity and must not be neglected.

So what to do? The answer: don’t let calculus build up!

Encourage bone-chewing behaviour from an early age on. Avoid cooked bones as they tend to splinter and can puncture the gut. Raw chicken wings are suitable for small dogs, whereas larger dogs need shin and shank bones.
If your dog cannot tolerate bones, feed them rawhide bones, pig’s ears or chew toys. There are also treats available that contain an enzyme claimed to reduce calculus and bacteria.
Dry food is better than tinned food for tooth health and make sure that your dog has easy access to plenty of water.
You can even brush your dog’s teeth. Refrain from using regular (human) toothpaste, as it will irritate the gums and stomach if ingested. Your vet should have a product available for brushing your dog’s teeth. If your dog objects strenuously to having their teeth brushed or if you’re a bit nervous going near all those teeth make sure you take your dog to at least one dental check up a year.

And for emergencies you can buy doggy mouth drops. Just remember this isn’t going to be a long term solution!

If you find your pooch already has calculus build up the best thing to do would be to book them in with your vet for a thorough cleaning.