Doggie Dragon Breath - Keep Your Dog From Breathing Fire And Make It Smell Great Articles | Dogs

By: Kelvin Ho

Have you smelled your much-loved pet's breath lately?  It feels great when your dog licks your face, lavishing love and loyalty!  By slathering you on your face your dog tells you how much he loves you, and part of owning a dog is to enjoy that attention from your pet. 

But can you handle the wonderful smell that goes along with it, or are you practically passing out from the deadly dog breath?  Dog breath is just like that of humans - it will be good or bad depending on hygiene habits and dental care.  If you don't give your dog's teeth the attention they need, you'll find his breath can become pretty intolerable, no matter what kind of breath freshener biscuits you feed him.

Dog mouths have huge amounts of bacteria that lead to bad breath. In addition to all the bacteria, dog food and diet can make it even worse.  If you are determined to correct your dog's bad breath problem, a good place to start is with their food or other treats they have found to eat.  As long as your dog hasn't been eating animal droppings, mud or other similar junk, you can then pay a visit to your veterinarian to see if teeth problems or gum disease are the cause.

Unlike with humans, gum disease (periodontitis) in pets can be a serious problem, even deadly. Pets suffering from untreated gum disease can even find their life span reduced by as much as two years.  The reason for this is that the bacteria that causes gum disease (periodontitis) will enter the animal's blood stream where it can then cause other physical problems.  Living with this kind of disease can be a key reason for your dog’s bad breath.

Just like with human teeth, however, you can significantly decrease the likelihood of gum disease (periodontitis) by brushing your dog's teeth.  Some pet owners prefer not to do this task themselves, or your pet may react badly when you try, but your favorite veterinarian will be happy to help you in this department.  This is a very important part of your pet's overall care and especially their oral health, so don't skip this step.

On the market today are a variety of items to help treat your pet's bad breath (halitosis) and oral hygiene:

• Pet food treats which contain plaque-reducing ingredients
• Mouth rinses with tartar control properties
• Tooth and mouth sprays
• Tooth brushing gel
• Tooth wipes

All of these can help to ensure that your dog has the best breath possible even if you can't keep him away from the cat poop!

Take a look also at how your dog eats his food. Does he chew slowly, taking a long time to eat, or does he get so jumpy and excited at meal time that he attacks his food bowl before you can even get it down onto the floor?  If your dog is really excitable at meal time, try feeding him mostly dry dog food.  This can sometimes be better for dental care, as dry food has the added property of helping to dislodge plaque build-up on the dog's teeth. 

Dry dog food is formulated to help remove plaque.  If you see that your dog is eating large quantities of food and wolfing it down while barely chewing it, you may also want to consider getting additional dental care as the food may not be doing its full job in helping reduce plaque.

The bottom line is that the best policy is to make sure your dog has healthy teeth and gums.  This can help extend his life and keep him healthy.  If your dog needs some attention to his dental health, and you prefer not to brush your dog's teeth or administer a mouthwash, then don't hesitate to ask your veterinarian for help. 

At least, give your dog special treats made to help with dental problems, which is better than no care at all.  It's essential to give your dog the right dental care to help ensure a long and happy life, but also to make it just a little  more pleasant when they lick your face and show you affection.