Dog Breath

Hard dog chews, treats with mint / parsley / natural herbs, water additives to “loosen tartar”, tooth brushes, pastes and gels – there are all kinds of products to help with “bad dog breath syndrome”. Bad breath is a multi-faceted issue, so to speak, since it may result from not only poor oral hygeine, but also from internal / digestive issues. Realistically, we should address both for optimal results. For today, however, I’ll focus on oral health care.

If you want your 4-legged fur baby to be part of the family long term, preventing plaque and tartar buildup on teeth (that icky-looking brown stuff typically seen on back molars) is critical. A good oral hygeine program includes brushing their pearly whites a few times weekly with a toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs, feeding a high quality crunchy dog food and providing hard chews, like nylabones.  These three things will go a very long way in preventing that yucky buildup on their teeth. Not only is it unattractive, but it may ultimately result in heart problems and a host of other health conditions. Oral health is directly linked to the health of many other body organs, so please take care of Fido’s teeth!.

For a quick, easy, temporary “breath freshening remedy”, here’s a quick recipe for natural breath drops most dogs LOVE:

1) In a 1/2-oz glass bottle with dropper, dispense 4 drops of peppermint essential oil and then top off with vegetable glycerin.

2) Shake well and then dispense a few drops into your dog’s mouth. The first time, you may want to let Fido smell the dropper before dispensing the drops ino the mouth so he can become familiar with the “new treat”. Often, the dog will start licking the dropper, which is your cue that he’s “ready to receive”!

3) You’ll be amazed at how fresh his breath smells immediately after! While only a temporary solution for freshening breath, it’s a delightful treat for your dog. As peppermint essential oil helps increase energy levels, your dog is likely to be elated afterwards (and may run around as he does once his bath is over)!

This recipe is safe for humans too, so you may wanna whip up a couple batches:-)  If you’re not into mixing your own products, check out Sweet Kiss, which reduces bad breath and body odor over the short and long term.

Enjoy in good health!
barbara-ann