Over in the Pets section of the Families.com forums, we had a recent discussion about doggy breath. If you’ve ever had a dog, met a dog, or especially kissed a dog, you know that dog breath can be deadly!
Dog breath doesn’t have to be awful, though. Sure, some dogs are just predisposed to halitosis. Some dogs have digestive problems that give them the stinkies. Some dogs eat things they shouldn’t.
Whatever the reason, there are lots of products out there to help keep your pup’s breath minty fresh. If dirty teeth are the culprit, you can always brush them. Not quite as easy as it sounds. Good thing there are other options! Nylabone is a big name in doggy dental care. They offer lots of nifty chews with little bumps all over them to help clean away the plaque and tartar while your puppy chomps. Nylabones come in edible and non-edible varieties, depending on what your dog prefers.
If your dog is more of a rope fan, you can find knotted ropes with actual dental floss twisted in with the fibers! As your dog chews, the floss will help clean his teeth. My dogs have one with mint-flavored floss… but they mostly pretend it doesn’t exist.
My latest J.B. Wholesale catalog has a nifty new Chew-It-Yourself toothbrush that I’m tempted to try on Moose and Lally. It’s a plastic base with bristles on both ends. You put yummy toothpaste on the bristles and your dog will chew his teeth clean! Sounds like a pretty smart invention to me!
You can also try mints or minty biscuits. Often they include parsley and mint for freshness; some varieties include digestion aids like activated charcoal to reduce the gasses that may be making your dog’s breath so horrible. I’ve even seen doggy breath spray and fast-melt strips like the ones we humans use from Listerine! Your local grocery store will probably have SOME form of breath-freshening treat, but you may find more options at your local pet store or by shopping online.