Have you noticed a stinky smell lurking around your dogs? Do you find it uncomfortable to be near him due to bad breath related issues?
It essential to get to the root of the problem, instead of trying to pamper your pooch.
Halitosis or smelly breath in dogs is a condition mainly caused by a diet or bad oral hygiene. Sadly, 9/10 dogs have some form of gum disease by the age of three. However, the best dog food for bad breath can help you combat this condition.
In today’s post, we will review some of the top quality dog food brands and try to come up with the best solution.
Top 5 Food For Dogs With Halitosis Reviews
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | INGREDIENTS | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Hill's Science Best Overall | ✓ Chicken ✓ Powdered Cellulose ✓ Whole Grain Wheat ✓ Chicken Fat ✓ Brown Rice | Check Price |
Adult Dogs  | Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Dogs | ✓ Brewers Rice ✓ Brown Rice ✓ Chicken By-Product Meal ✓ Chicken Fat ✓ Corn | Check Price |
With Antioxidants  | Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets With Antioxidants | ✓ Chicken ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Ground Yellow Corn ✓ Brewers Rice ✓ Ground Wheat | Check Price |
With Vitamins  | Milk-Bone Dental Chews With Vitamins | ✓ Rice ✓ Chicken By-Product Meal ✓ Powdered Cellulose ✓ Dried Skim Milk ✓ Propylene Glycol | Check Price |
Healthy Digestion  | Natural Balance Healthy Digestion | ✓ Duck Meal ✓ Potato Starch ✓ Lecithin ✓ Glycerin ✓ Sorbic Acid | Check Price |
Hill's Science - Best Overall
Hill’s Science offers specialized nutrition targeting various health disorders in canines. If your pet has any health issues, then it’s possible you will find your match with this brand.
The perfect blend of high – quality ingredients made this food our top choice. It features components which protect your pet’s teeth from plaque and tartar. The fiber technology helps to clean teeth and freshen breath, as your canine chews. Additionally, the recipe contains antioxidants and vitamins A and C, which support a healthy immune system.
The chicken comes as a dominant protein source. It will meet the dietary needs of your pooch and stimulate lean muscles.
Overall, this is the best dry dog food for bad breath. We are sure your pet will enjoy each bite, while it works wonders on his mouth.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet - Best For Adult Dogs
Royal Canin offers a prescribed diet for canines suffering from halitosis. In some cases, the GI tract might be responsible for this condition. Therefore, with Royal Canin, you are getting a complete and balanced meal.
This recipe is packed with digestible proteins which brush your pet’s teeth every time he chews. The tripe action dental care helps with the prevention of tartar, plaque, halitosis, and gingivitis. On the other hand, the Veterinary Diet Dental Dry Dog Food contains omega fatty acids. These ingredients support healthy joints and promote mobility in adult breeds.
We should mention the presence of vitamins E and C, along with the Lutein and Taurine. They play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system.
Overall, this dog food that helps with bad breath should manage your pet’s recovery. Once again you will enjoy his company without strange odor lurking around.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets - With Antioxidants
If you are wondering how to make dogs breath smell better, then Purina Pro Plan might be the answer to your prayers. This recipe features a couple of fiber-enriched ingredients, such as ground yellow corn, brewer’s rice, and milled wheat.
So, while your pet chews, these nutrients clean his teeth. The moderate calorie amount, as well as added antioxidants, make this meal perfect for adult dogs.
Proteins sourced from the chicken will boost lean muscles in your pet. On the other hand, other dietary benefits will provide optimal nutrition, while natural sources of glucosamine will promote overall wellbeing.
In all, Purina brand is famous around the world, and it’s probably the most reputable company in the pet care industry. Once your pooch tries this formula, you can say goodbye to halitosis.
Milk-Bone Dental Chews - With Vitamins
Once in a while, every dog deserves a treat. But what If you can make chews work in favor of your pet?
If you are dealing with a pooch who isn’t too thrilled to see a toothbrush, then Milk-Bone Dental Chews are an excellent choice. When given daily, these dental bones are efficient as brushing teeth twice a week.
Additionally, they will reduce tartar and built up plaque. Considering Milk-Bone treats have a patented design, they are made to twist, as your pet chews them. In that case, the bones will clean hard-to-reach spots and teeth in your dog’s mouth. On top of that, these treats contain 12 essential vitamins and minerals and are available in multiple sizes.
In summary, this is one of the best dog bad breath cures you will find on pet store shelves.
Natural Balance - For Healthy Digestion
All fans of the limited ingredient diet now have a chance to test Natural Balance Dental Chews. They are designed to limit protein and caloric intake while protecting your pet’s teeth. This treat will stimulate the natural chewing instinct in dogs. The savory ingredient such as duck meat will open his taste buds and make him enjoy each bite.
Since it’s a grain-free formula, Natural Balance Dental Chews are made with a single protein source. Moreover, this recipe features highly digestible ingredients. They will promote digestion and freshen up your dog’s mouth. The recommended dose is one chew per day. However, you can increase the amount if needed.
Finally, we are sure your pooch will love chewing the Natural Balance Dental treats, while his teeth stay white and healthy.
Causes Of Stinky Breath In Canines
Dental/Gum Disease
Halitosis in dogs often occurs when pooch has a dental condition. In most cases, gum infection or tooth decay causes a foul odor. You can notice the first signs when you lift your pet’s lip.
If his gums are red and inflamed, then he might be suffering from a gum infection. On the other hand, build up tartar might indicate the tooth decay. Therefore, annual checkups are necessary, to prevent dental disease.
Oral Tumors
Gums and teeth aren’t the only cause of concern when it comes to halitosis. The oral tumor is another potential threat. In some cases, teeth grow too fast, and blood vessels fail to follow their progress.
This causes dead areas to appear. Bacteria then takes over the dead areas, and it’s the reason why foul odor happens. This can later result in an oral tumor. You should be able to notice discolorations in your pet’s mouth.
Diabetes
A specific type of diabetes can affect your dog’s breath. For example, it smells unusual and has a sweet and fruity scent. Additionally, dog bad breath and licking lips condition are often linked to diabetes.
If you don’t manage these diseases, then it can damage the immune system in your pet. It will allow the bacteria in the mouth to grow and cause a bad smell.
Read more: Top 5 Dog Food For Diabetic Canines
Metabolic Diseases
Halitosis doesn’t only affect the pet’s mouth. Therefore, you should look further when you are trying to determine the cause. For instance, gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases might be causing your pooch to have stinky breath.
If his teeth and gums are healthy, then consult a vet and try to determine the root of the problem.
Toxic Substance
All dogs are different; they like to wander and explore the space. However, there is a common assumption that canines will eat anything you throw at them, even the bad stuff. Unfortunately, sometimes this is true.
There are a lot of toxic substances out there, and if they smell bad, then they might be the reason why your pet has a foul odor in his mouth.
Food
While garbage and other toxic substance can cause halitosis to appear, the dog-approved food might have the same effect. Dry and wet nutrition have pros and cons on how they affect canine’s breath.
For instance, dry formulas might be better for teeth and keep your pet’s mouth clean. However, wet dog food has more water, which is also excellent for the dog’s mouth.
Home Remedies To Cure Your Dog’s Smelly Breath
Carrots and Apples
If your dog’s breath smells like a sewer, then you should consider using carrots and apples. Build up tartar on teeth leads to bacteria that stinks. However, removing that tartar might be a challenging task for the majority of pet parents.
Therefore, you can make homemade dog dental chews from carrots or apples. This will help clean those hard – to – reach teeth.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is an excellent way to get rid of halitosis. If your dog’s breath smells like poop, then add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in his water bowl.
This is an excellent natural disinfectant and a great way to freshen up your pet. Considering it’s a healthy alternative, you can repeat this process as much as you want.
Probiotics
The dog acid reflux bad breath is often connected to improper digestion. For that reason, you should support the good bacteria in his body. The use of probiotics will help you get rid of the foul odor in your pet’s mouth.
Therefore, you can resort to dog-friendly human food such as:
- Bananas
- Kefir
- Honey
- Yogurt
They all have natural probiotic features.
Read more: Top Rated Anti-Acid Reflux Dog Food
Kong Treat with Toothpaste
If you have a dog who isn’t too fond of traditional teeth bruising sessions, then the next best thing is to try to trick him. You can apply a thin layer of natural toothpaste on Kong or similar toy.
As your pet lick and chews the toy, he will mimic brushing. This is a homemade dog breath freshener, which is excellent for foul odor.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has become a favorite cure for numerous health conditions. And, now, you can add another thing to that list, halitosis in canines.
This ingredient can help your pooch maintain clean teeth and fresh smell inside his mouth. Add one tablespoon of this healthy fat to your dog’s diet. It will additionally promote digestion and a robust immune system.
Mint and Parsley
When you chop these fresh herbs for dinner, sprinkle some of them in pet’s bowl too. Not only do they act as a freshener, but chlorophyll makes their teeth white and free of bacteria. On top of that, mint and parsley have an excellent effect on the digestive system as well.
Fresh Water
Your pet’s water bowl is another place where bacteria live and breed. You have to be very careful about how you manage his water supply. Before filling fresh water, make sure to wash the bowl several times a day.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a natural probiotic that can eliminate the dog’s bad breath from the stomach. It will stimulate digestion and promote the absorption of nutrients. However, if your pooch is sensitive to lactose, then you should be careful with this ingredient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can grain-free dog food cause bad breath?
High-quality dog recipes don’t contain grains. Therefore, grain-free dog food can’t cause halitosis. On the other hand, grain-based nutrition is the reason why dogs have allergies.
This condition may trigger foul odor in your pet’s mouth. You can also try whole grain diet because it mimics the brush movement, as your dog chews.
Is smelly breath common when a dog has diarrhea and constipation?
We can’t say that diarrhea and constipation are directly connected. However, in some cases dogs have bad breath and diarrhea. However, other factors may influence this condition as well.
May pet parents tend to believe that dog bad breath and constipation are linked. But, that’s not the case. Constipation is often triggered by a poor food choice.
Read more: Best Dog Food for Diarrhea
Are senior dogs prone to having smelly breath?
Halitosis is an individual thing, and it doesn’t only affect mature dogs. If a dog’s breath smells like rotten meat, then you should look for the causes, instead of thinking of age. Even puppies can suffer from halitosis if you use unsuitable nutrition.
What is the recipe for homemade dog breath spray?
When dog breath smells like feces, the best solution is to use homemade breath spray. You can easily make one using the essential oils. For example, peppermint oil features 1,8-cineole. It has cooling as well as healing properties.
Additionally, this oil will eliminate the bacteria and fungi in your pet’s mouth. You can mix a couple of drops of peppermint oil with water and pour it into a spray bottle.
Conclusion
Even though it’s not a life-threatening condition, halitosis can be quite uncomfortable. Many pet parents tend to neglect dental hygiene in their canines, which leads to gum diseases and bad breath.
However, healthy teeth enable your pooch to chew properly, which additionally stimulates digestion. So keeping his teeth healthy is the first step in combating plaque and tartar.
Moreover, food has excellent healing properties. In this article we reviewed some of the brands, so you have a starting point. The nutrition will prevent dog dry mouth bad breath and improve your pooch’s GI tract.
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