My dog has aweful breath!?

Question

For such a small cute dog her breath stinks! Is it normal for dogs to have bad breath?

Answer 1

Get a good quality rope toy.( not the cheapy) ..the ones that appear to be twisted string tied in a knot. Soak it in unsalted broth. Dry it in a very slow oven. she will try to chew all the flavor out of that, and it works as dental floss to keep her teeth clean, and her breath fresh.
If she grows tired, (couple of months)as the flavor is gone, just wash by hand, and re-soak.

# Dog's bad breath is often caused by eating canned food..which leaves the teeth dirty,
# or bagged soft food....too much sugar for healthy teeth and mouth,
# or poor quality dog kibble..not completely digested.
.# or tooth decay/abscess..poor dental health..

However, dogs do have different digestive system and digestive juices that simply smell different than ours...Our breath stinks to them! ..It just depends on WHO is doing the smelling..

Answer 2

It is normal to some degree, but it sounds like you should start brushing her teeth. It really begins with a healthy diet ( Dry Food is preferred ) dry food provides a cleansing effect on your dog's teeth thereby helping to improve her breath. You can use a human toothbrush, but it must be soft...you can make it the softest by allowing it to soak in warm water for thirty minutes or so.

How to brush your Dog's Teeth: (Good luck!)

Step 1 - Select an appropriate time.
Find a quiet, convenient time when you and your dog are both relaxed.

Step 2 - Acquaint your dog with the process.
For the first few sessions don't even use a toothbrush. Hold your dog the same as when you are cuddling her. Gently stroke the outside of her cheeks with your finger. After she becomes comfortable with that, place a dab of toothpaste on your finger and let her taste it. We usually suggest starting with poultry flavored toothpaste, because pets like the taste...see link listed in sources.

Step 3 - Introduce the Toothbrush
Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush. In a slow circular motion, brush one or two teeth and the adjoining gum line. The purpose of this step is to get your dog accustomed to the feel of the brush, not necessarily brush all of the dog's teeth in one fall swoop!

Step 4 - Begin Brushing
Over the next several days, gradually increase the number of teeth brushed. It is important to eventually brush the rear teeth where plaque and tartar have a greater tendency to accumulate. Go slowly and gently.. Stop brushing when you decide to stop, before your dog begins to fuss. If she learns to dislike the procedure and finds out that more fussing makes you stop quicker, then this brushing business is going to get harder, not easier.

Build up to about 30 seconds per side. Dogs don't get much tartar on the inside surfaces of their teeth, so you only need to worry about the outside surfaces Be sure to brush the big teeth way in back.

Make tooth brushing a pleasurable experience
Proceed slowly and gently. Stop each session while it is still fun and lavishly praise your dog afterwards. She will soon start looking forward to tooth brushing and it will become a pleasant activity for both of you.

Step 5: A regular dental check up at least once a year is still very important. My dog would let me brush for about twenty deconds before she grew too excited, so I still had her teeth professionally cleaned at least once a year.

Answer 3

Dental care is usually the problem. SO important! next would be her digestion. So, first check the teeth... is there redness or puffiness along the gums? Can you see tartar buildup at the base of the teeth? She may need to have this scraped professionally.
Is her diet a pure, digestible one? A raw food diet with raw meats can be very beneficial. I give mine a combination of dry food (GO Naturals) and raw meats that are from reputable companies who freeze the meats within five days of the kill (I like FreshStart best). I also add EFA's (good fats) by North Coast Naturals or Omega Nutrition. Just ensure that she does not get soy in her food or oils as dogs cannot digest it. Get a book on pet foods to study the benefits and properties. Good luck!

Answer 4

You probably need to get the vet to clean her teeth. My little dog had the same problem and after I had his teeth cleaned, his breath was a lot better. You can imagine how awful your breath would be if you never brushed!!

Answer 5

Dogs spend a portion of each day licking their own genitals. Trust me on this, dog breath is a common problem. They sell special dog treats that are supposed to freshen their breath but it's a temporary measure.

Answer 6

To some degree it is normal. If it is really really bad, try getting the dog's teeth cleaned and consider switching food and brushing it's teeth ;). Raw meaty bones can help too but PLEASE check into this before giving them as there are certain bones that are ok and some are not.

Answer 7

Yeah, especially when they get older. Tip - Give her carrots. Most dogs will eat them and it definitely improves their breath.

Answer 8

WHEN THIS HAPPENS: time to see your vet for teeth cleaning. Dogs gets gum disease just as ppl do.

Answer 9

yup! they make treats and nylabones to help with that though. I think some of the treats are charcoal treats. It sounds gross, but my dogs love em!

Answer 10

get her some rawhides or dental chews, they clean her teeth and freshens it up.
you should also clean her teeth to make it smell better.