Some people think “dog breath” or “bad pet breath” is normal, but this can potentially be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Causes 

Continuous bad breath can be caused by several health conditions:

Gum Disease
It is likely if your pet has inflammation of the gums, alongside bad breath, a daily oral care regime will reduce the chances of this.

Kidney Disease
With this condition the breath can smell like ammonia.

Diabetes
Due to the build-up of ketones in the bloodstream the breath can smell sickly sweet & fruity.

If your pet has bad breath, then it is always best to book in with your vet who will do an oral examination or carry out further investigations.  Once the cause of the bad breath has been identified then treatment can begin.

The following are natural ways to help:

Diet
A complete, balanced diet which is tailored to your pet’s life stage is important for their overall health.  Dry food has a toothbrush affect as it has an abrasive texture that helps clear the surface of the teeth as they eat.

Toys/Chews
There are so many dental toys/chews available for pets which are safe and usually have small bumps or ridges on them to help keep teeth clean. Also see specialist canine chews that can help treatment of bad breath in dogs.

Teeth Brushing
Daily brushing is the best prevention against gum disease and the most efficient at keeping pets teeth clean, it needs to be introduced gradually and the toothpaste needs to be pet friendly – NOT HUMAN VARIETY!