Your cute puppy comes up to give you a big kiss, with bad puppy breath that almost knocks you out! Dog breath may smell a little different from human breath, and it may offend those not used to close encounters with dogs, but all in all, canine breath should not smell foul.
If you discover your dog has been nibbling from the litter box or you find an overturned trash can, you have your evidence. To remedy the situation, put the garbage and the litter box where your dog can't get into them, and pick up fecal matter in the yard. Simple enough! But if the answer isn’t that obvious, read on to learn more about bad breath in dogs and how to fix it with dental health care.
Brush up on puppy and dog dental care
If your dog’s bad breath is persistent, it could indicate a mouth infection, gum disease or excess plaque buildup on your dog’s teeth. Taking your dog to the vet for regular dental checkups and dog teeth cleanings, and following at-home preventive dental care should keep your dog's breath smelling much better — and make those puppy smooches a more pleasant experience.
Dog dental care from your vet
Without proper dog dental care, your pup’s teeth will begin to accumulate bacteria, plaque and tartar, which can lead to bad breath and periodontal disease in dogs (gum disease). This bacteria buildup can even affect your dog's overall health as the bacteria enters the bloodstream and taxes the heart, liver and kidneys.
Your dog’s checkup is an ideal time for your veterinarian to examine your dog’s teeth and gums to look for early signs of dental problems in dogs, including tooth decay and gum disease. Based on your dog’s health, your vet may recommend dog teeth cleanings anywhere from every six months to every two years. Learn more about what to expect during your dog’s teeth cleaning here.
At-home puppy and dog dental care
Your puppy can't tell you if his mouth is hurting, so it's up to you to watch out for the signs of dental problems in your dogs mentioned above. Here’s how to keep your dog’s teeth healthy between professional teeth cleanings:
- Check your dog’s mouth once a month for swelling, bleeding or loose teeth. The best way to examine the inside of your puppy's mouth is to gently grasp the top of the muzzle with your fingers on one side and thumb on the other. With your other hand, pull down on the lower jaw.
- Pay attention to any behavior changes like difficulty chewing, dropping food or pawing at the mouth.
- Offer doggie treats, dental chews and flexible chew toys to help keep tartar and plaque from forming on your pup’s teeth.
- Gently brush your dog’s teeth with a soft toothbrush and dog-specific toothpaste a few times a week.
It's never too early to care for your puppy's teeth. By starting now with at-home dog dental care and scheduling regular dog dental checkups with a vet, you can prevent serious dental problems in dogs down the road and help to ensure healthy puppy teeth and gums and fresh breath for your dog.
Remember that the CareCredit credit card is an easy way to pay for your dog’s teeth cleanings and dog dental checkups at participating veterinary practices nationwide.* Use the Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a nearby vet that accepts the CareCredit credit card.