Bad Dog Breath: A Sign of Bigger Problems!
Is the most enjoyable moment in a person's life when he or she is greeted by a dog at the door ready with a loving lick on the face? However, have you ever experienced a terrible dog breath smell while a dog is trying to give you a loving grooming?
Having stinky dog breath is a common problem, but it's not just the smell you need to worry about. If your dog's mouth emits a strong, unpleasant odor, it might be a sign that there's a more serious underlying issue at play.
In most cases, however, you can prevent or treat certain oral health issues (and the smelly dog breath that comes with them) by taking some extra steps, giving your dog some healthy chew toys, and changing their diet to make them more healthy.
However, if you're really concerned, it's always a good idea to contact your veterinarian.
WHAT CAUSES BAD DOG BREATH?
A dog's teeth are most likely to get plaque and tartar if bacteria and food are left to accumulate on them over a long period of time - which will cause it to smell (smelly, of course).
If your dog breathes bad, you shouldn't ignore it, as it may be a sign of an early dental disease. When dogs are in pain (especially when the source of pain is somewhere less visible, like inside their mouth), they can find it hard to tell you. Therefore, it is very important that you take steps to prevent plaque buildup from causing gingivitis or dental disease in your dog.
KIBBLE VS RAW - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
In order to be able to keep your pet's teeth clean and prevent bad breath, it is important to choose food wisely and to be informed on what you are feeding your pet in order to prevent plaque buildup and the smells that go along with it.
It is widely believed that highly-processed kibbles fail to provide your dog with all the essential nutrients he or she needs to thrive, and they also don't provide any functional action to brush or floss your dog's teeth, as is widely believed.
There are a lot of high-carb fillers in kibble products, such as wheat, oats, starches, and corn products, which are filled with sugars. It is also possible for these fillers to cause your dog’s digestive system to malfunction, as dogs don’t have the digestive enzymes to digest grains, which can increase oral bacteria in the mouth (damaging teeth and gums).
However, raw foods contain naturally occurring enzymes that can help your dog digest food and break down plaque as well as protect teeth and gums as well as help your dog digest food. If you are feeding your pet dry kibble or canned food, it is likely that the enzymes have been destroyed by heat, so if you are feeding your pet dry kibble or canned food, chances are, those precious enzymes are nowhere to be seen.
Premium pet foods have been created by using a slow, gentle air-drying method that preserves the raw meat's enzymes and is a food that requires no prep and is safe for up to eight weeks after opening in the pantry. This process is one that is highly favored by many pet guardians as it is a food that can be stored in a pantry for up to 8 weeks after opening.
Here is a well-known experiment by Veterinarian Tom Lonsdale that illustrates the vast differences between a kibble diet and a raw diet, which shows the dramatic difference between the two diets...
After treating four raw-fed dogs for 17 days without giving them anything but kibble, Dr. Lonsdale found that all four dogs had stinky breath, yellow teeth and sore, bleeding gums after eating nothing but kibble.
Dr Lonsdale saw such drastic changes in the animals that he called kibble "junk food" after seeing how significant the changes were.
Dr Lonsdale explained, “As a result of not being scrubbed away by the appropriate food, the bacteria have multiplied. And now they are getting access to their mouths and their bodies through the mouth, and this leads to a number of diseases that animals suffer from, such as liver, kidney, heart, immune system, etc.” As a result of this, animals end up with many diseases.
Good hygiene for your pet
In order to combat smelly dog breath and all the problems that come with it, a high-meat diet can be an effective ally in the fight.
If you switch your furry friend to a high-meat diet, you will be able to observe beautiful clean teeth quite quickly, as well as improved dog breath, just by switching to this diet. Other things to take into consideration include:
- Give them some parsley, which acts as a natural breath freshener
- Add a little to their diet
- Clean their food and water dishes
- Regularly brush their teeth
- Let them chew on raw meaty bones and air dried ones
- See a vet for a regular checkup
In order for your dog to have a happy and healthy life, it's important for you to educate yourself about the ingredients that are in his or her food. Take a look at the labels and ask your vet for any further information you need. By following a diet that is nourishing for your dog's teeth and tastes delicious, you will be able to keep your dog's mouth healthy. Fresh breath will simply be a nice bonus for your dog.
It is also recommended that you visit your veterinarian for a check-up.
