Bad breath is a common but highly treatable problem in dogs. The smell, caused by bacteria in your dog’s mouth, stomach, or lungs, most often signals a dental or gastric issue. Sudden or unusually foul breath, however, can indicate serious illness. In all cases, a visit to the vet is important. Don’t assume that unpleasant “dog breath” is normal and something you have to live with. Think of your dog’s oral hygiene as you would your own: An integral part of daily well-being and long-term health. Some prevention tips:
- Feed your dog high-quality food.
- Brush your dog’s teeth regularly. Every day is ideal; twice a week is a minimum.
- Give your dog hard chew toys. Chewing is nature’s teeth-cleaning tool for dogs.
- Use breath-improvement products. Good ones exist, but do your research so you don’t buy something that’s essentially a biscuit and nothing more.