Your beloved fur bud walks by you and you reach over to stroke him. Then he comes over to give you a lick on the cheek and you suddenly get hit by a strong whiff of odor. "Yuck, my dog's breath smells SO bad!" you think to yourself. We've all probably had a similar experience at one time or another. Just like humans, our dogs can also suffer from dental hygiene issues that can make their breath smell highly alarming. So what can you do to help minimize your dog's bad breath and should you use mouthwash for your dog?
Bad breath is usually a sign that your dog has dental hygiene problems. Gum disease, tooth decay, and mouth infections can also cause bad breath. The types of food your dog eats can also affect your dog's breath.You can try switch to a different type of food, wet or dry dog food, and see what works best for your dog and doesn't cause bad breath. You should also make sure to schedule regular checkups at the vet to make sure your dog doesn't have any other underlying health problems such as kidney issues or diabetes that could also cause bad breath.
Of course the best way to help keep your dog from having bad breath is to prevent your dog's teeth from developing plaque. When food is stuck in their teeth, it turns into plaque and bacteria can start to grow. If you don't take steps to clean your dog's teeth, the bacteria growing in your dog's mouth will harden and turn into tartar which is even more difficult to remove. At this point, you will have to have your vet to help give your dog professional teeth cleaning to remove the tartar.To prevent any of the plaque from developing in the first place involves brushing your dog's teeth daily so that food doesn't get stuck. You can also give them dental cleaners to chew on.
Dog mouthwash is also another tool you can use to help kill the harmful bacteria that could build up in your dog's mouth. However, don't mix up and use human mouthwash for dogs. The mouthwash for humans are designed to be gargled and then spit out. However, dog's don't know that and would just swallow the mouthwash and all the chemicals in it which is harmful for them. On the other hand, dog formulated mouthwash are specifically designed to be safe for your fur bud to consume in small amounts without it being a safety hazard.
Xylitol mixed with chlorhexidine works as a disinfectant that helps to fight bacteria and reduce plaque and so many dog mouthwash contain this ingredient. However, Xylitol is toxic for dogs if consumed in large quantities. In some worse case scenarios, it can cause liver failure and even seizures. The amount in your dog's mouthwash is very minimal and should not be harmful enough to your dog. However, you can dilute the mouthwash in water to reduce the amount of Xylitol your pet consumes and also make sure to keep the dog mouthwash out of your dog's reach. If you want to stay on the extra-safe side, simply find a doggie mouthwash that is natural and doesn't included Xylitol. Again, you should always consult with your vet to make sure what works best for your dog.
Yes, there are different types of mouthwash that you can look into. The most common is the water mouthwash, but there are also gels, rinses, & sprays. You can decide which would work best for your dog and is easy for you to give to them. In addition, it might take time for your dog to get used to and enjoy taking the mouthwash. So be patient and hopefully soon your dog's breath will start to smell better！
You can also try using natural supplements such as Petaxin's Daily Probiotic to help strengthen your dog's gut health which can help rid your dog's bad breath!
Spring is finally here, and as a dog owner, it's important to make sure your furry friend is ready for the season. With a little bit of effort, you can help your furry friend transition smoothly into the spring season.
Here are seven dog care tips to keep in mind:
