Natural Remedies to get rid of bad dog breath

We’ve all experienced it. When your dog goes in for a kiss and lets out a huff of terrible puppy breath. You love those kisses, but hate the smell. Bad dog breath is caused by bacteria in your dog’s mouth that builds and causes a smell. This bacteria is unhealthy for your pup and can cause oral health issues if left untreated. In fact, bad breath could be a sign that your dog has gum disease. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of the best natural ways to get rid that bad bacteria for better dog breath at home.

1. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

You’ve heard all of the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for humans and you probably even mix some with water yourself for an amazing detox. ACV also helps cure bad breath in humans and dogs. It’s a natural disinfectant that will help manage bacteria. Just add a half teaspoon to your dog’s water bowl and with each sip, their breath will get better and better.

2. PARSLEY

Fresh parsley is not only delicious in soup, but is antiseptic and will help control bacteria in your pups mouth. If you look on the back of the breath-freshening products you normally buy for your dog, they’ll probably list parsley as a main ingredient. That’s because, mixed with other ingredients, it’s almost tasteless and sweet when boiled; it immediately freshens breath.

3. WATER

Dogs can drink their bad breath away, but the water matters. If you use well water or water that’s not as clean as you’d like, this can affect your dog’s breath and mouth negatively. It can even help bad-breath-causing bacteria to flourish in their mouth. If you don’t drink water straight out of the tap, your dog shouldn’t either. We’re not suggesting that you spend tons of money on premium bottled water, but investing in a water filter will help keep your dog’s bad breath at bay.

4. COCONUT OIL

Just like ACV, humans are learning about the health benefits of coconut oil. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which means it will help battle bad bacteria in your dog’s mouth. While humans do something called “oil pulling” which is swishing coconut oil in your mouth, dogs can’t do that, so the best way to get your dog to use coconut oil is to pour a teaspoon over your dog’s food. If your dog loves the taste and smell of the oil, you can feed it to them straight. Be careful though, oils like this may cause stomach irregularities in your dog. If this is the case, stop use immediately and try a different remedy.

5. CINNAMON

Just like Parsley, you’ll notice cinnamon on the packaging of many of your favorite breath-freshening dog treats. Cinnamon helps freshen breath and because it’s gritty, will help scrape off plaque and tartar that can cause bad breath. Sprinkling a little bit of cinnamon on your dog’s regular kibble will help keep breath fresh from their first meal of the day.

6. CHEWING BAD BREATH AWAY

This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of bad dog breath. If your dog loves to chew, all you have to do is sit back and relax. Chewing helps chip away plaque, tartar, and bacteria that are on the teeth, helping cure that bad puppy breath. With each chew, your dog is actually taking care of their own oral hygiene. The only issue with this is some dogs tend to chew on one side of their mouth and they can’t reach certain places of their teeth, such as the front and the very back.

7. BRUSHING TEETH

The best way to get rid of bad dog breath is to brush your dogs teeth daily. Just like for you, brushing their teeth is the only way to get rid of bad dog breath forever. By getting rid of plaque and tartar, you’re fighting the bad bacteria and allowing good bacteria to grow in their mouth. With plaque and tartar gone, your dog’s breath will smell fresh all day long.

BONUS: CHEWING+BRUSHING= ADIOS BAD DOG BREATH

Wouldn’t it be great if all dogs let their pet parents brush their teeth? Unfortunately, that’s one of the hardest things to do as a pet parent, so many of them quit before they try. Bristly puts the power of brushing in the dogs paws. Unlike with bones, the Bristly brushing stick helps brush away plaque and tartar without missing a spot. Pet parents can sit back and relax as their dogs brush and play the bad breath away.