14 Best Natural Remedies For Dogs Bad Breath

I love waking up next to my dog, even when he wakes me up himself, but if his breath is bad, it just sets my day off on a bad note.

Dogs naturally have bad breath. It’s not weird at all: think of how their food smells, and consider that they don’t brush their teeth. If we would live the same way, our breath would smell just as bad. 

I love him and all, but if he’s gonna lick me in the face, I’d really appreciate it if he’d at least brushed his teeth first! That’s why I am going to tell you all the best ways to turn that foul smell into a much more manageable one.

Best home remedies to cure bad breath in dogs

Brush their teeth!

I put his at the top of the list because it is easily one of the best ways to solve this issue. Using a toothbrush made for dogs, or a regular one for humans will clean the mouth better than any other remedy could. It removes plaque as well as any other unpleasant things stuck in between their teeth. I brush my dog’s teeth at least once a week and notice an immediate improvement after doing it.

While using only the brush will clean the mouth well, consider getting dog-specific toothpaste. You can typically get these at any pet store, and they are not hard to find. These kinds of toothpaste are available in many tastes. My dog especially likes a peanut-butter-flavored paste. Try a few and see which ones your dog likes!

Carrots

Carrots help with scraping plaque off dogs’ teeth, which often results in less bad breath. Since carrots are hard and rigid, chewing on them often removes some of the plaque between teeth. The fact that dogs love snacking on them is a great bonus! I used to give my dog one or two carrots once a week, and I believe it made his breath better!

Plaque is one of the worst offenders when it comes to bad breath. Unless you remove it, it will accumulate up in the mouth over time. Plaque is really just a buildup of food particles, which over time will cause a foul smell. These particles smell bad, just like food smells bad when it goes old. 

Bones

Similar to carrots, bones will help with plaque. Basically, any hard foods that your dog likes to chew on will. It also helps prevent gum disease, another problem that could cause foul breath. In addition to that, chewing on bones provides a dog with essential minerals and vitamins, which provide other health benefits. 

Make sure it is of the right size though. If you have a big dog, you should give him/her a big bone. A bone that your dog can accidentally swallow is dangerous, so avoid these. Also, cooked bones are not suitable, as they are more likely to splinter and crack.

Coconut oil

Because of its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, coconut oil can do wonders for your dog’s breath. It is extra efficient at killing a specific bacteria called Streptococcus mutans, one of the leading causes of tooth decay. I like coconut oil because it will not only be a temporary quick fix, but it will treat the underlying conditions, such as gum disease & tooth decay.

You can either serve it straight with a spoon or mix it into your dog’s regular food. Some dogs love it, and some are more hesitant. Choose virgin coconut oil for the best results, as it will have kept more of its benefits than other kinds. It can also serve as a good way to get your dog to eat its pills!

Lemon

Apart from being a natural flea-repellant, lemon juice in small quantities can help with bad breath. It all comes down to killing the bacteria that causes the stink. A few drops of lemon in the water bowl will kill these bacteria and make your dog’s breath a whole lot more pleasant! 

It neutralizes the bad odor and is something your dog won’t really have a problem with when you mix it into their water. Just don’t add too much, as that can cause problems with your dog’s stomach. 

Apple cider vinegar

You can add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food or water. It will neutralize the bad breath, and has other flea-repellant properties, just like lemon. Don’t give your dog this straight, though, as it is very acidic and will upset their stomachs. Dilute it with water or mix it with food.

Yogurt

In addition to improving mouth health in general, Yogurt can help with bad breath. One of the worst offenders when it comes to bad dog breath is hydrogen sulfide. It is a sulfur compound that is produced by bacteria in your dog’s mouth, and is believed to cause a terrible smell! Mixing yogurt into your dog’s food can combat this bacteria, and reduce the unpleasant smell. I used to give my dog this twice daily and liked the results.

A Pinch of Parsley

This herb has been used to combat dogs’ bad breath for decades, and usually gives good results. Apart from its fresh scent that will stay in your mouth for some time after consuming it, it is high in chlorophyll, which can have a deodorizing effect. Similar to yogurt, It has also been shown to combat the smelly sulfur compounds. Get fresh or dried parsley and mix it with dog food.

How much? About a teaspoon a day

Homemade mint treats

These can be a great way to combat your dog’s bad breath. Obviously, the mint in these treats will freshen up any dog’s mouth and make the smell a little bit more manageable. There are hundreds of recipes out there, so just pick one you like and get baking! Here’s an article that shows some example recepies

Apple slices

Apples are, similar to carrots, great at combating plaque buildup, which goes a long way towards a fresher breath. I let my dog chew on some apple slices as part of his regular snack routine, about 3 times a week.

Neem

Neem has anti-bacterial properties, which aid bad breath by killing the bacteria that is responsible for it. It also alkalizes your mouth, restoring the natural pH balance. This is great since pH imbalance in the mouth often leads to a less-than-ideal smell.

Cinnamon

I put cinnamon on the list since it is one of the oldest ways of treating bad breath. It kills bacteria and leaves a nice scent. So, it not only covers up bad breath temporarily, it treats it as well! I’ve heard some people mix cinnamon with honey and lemon juice, and serve it to their dog. I’ve never had any success with that, but if it works for you, it will probably be one of the best home remedies available.

Dental chews

Maybe not exactly a home remedy, as you have to go get them at the store, but dental chews seem to work really well at combatting bad breath amongst dogs. As dogs chew on them, the sticks will clean the teeth from plaque and tartar. Some are even designed with this purpose in mind, Greenies Original Dog Dental Chews, for example. Just make sure to pick a size that is suitable for your dog.

Probiotics

Bacteria are often responsible for dogs’ bad breath, and as much as you want to remove these smelly bacteria, you want to promote the good ones. Probiotics pills are made up of real microorganisms and come with many health benefits. For example, they can help promote a healthy gut, which will further help reduce bad breath.

What causes bad breath in dogs?

There are many different reasons your dog could have bad breath. One of the most common ones is plaque and tartar on the teeth. Plaque is a buildup of bacteria in the mouth, which often both directly, and indirectly leads to bad breath. Many of the home remedies I’ve listed above will help prevent plaque, and brushing your dog’s teeth regularly will make the biggest difference.

Another common cause could be dental degradation. If your dog has poor dental hygiene, the teeth will eventually start to degrade. This often starts with plaque and tartar buildup on teeth, leading to inflamed gums. The best way to prevent this is to regularly brush your dog’s teeth, and staying alert for signs that your dog has teeth problems.

Even bad gut health could be the cause. If something bad is going on in a dog’s stomach, oftentimes you will smell it on their breath. For example, if your dog vomits, you can often notice it on his/her breath for a while after. Also, diarrhea plays a part here since dogs will often lick their behinds in an attempt to clean themselves. 

Lastly, health problems such as liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. These are problems that should be treated by your vet, so if you suspect that your dog might suffer from one of these illnesses, contact a professional.

Conclusion

I really hope you liked this list of home remedies for bad dog breath. They’ve always helped me when my dog’s breath has been awful, and I bet they will help you too.

While home remedies can often help, sometimes the best option is to treat your dog to a professional teeth cleaning. These are available in almost every city, and often help a lot when it comes to removing plaque and tartar. They can also let you know if there is something else wrong that could be the cause of the bad breath.