Why Does My Dog's Breath Smell So Bad?

Any owner who walks around with a bad breath dog may actually ask himself the question, “Why Does My Dog’s Breath Smell So Bad?”. Without going to the vet, the answer may actually lie in the care that he is giving to his dog. Well meaning as dog owners are, the way we treat our dogs may actually be the cause of his foul smelling breath. So we can actually take a look at this checklist to see if we are causing more harm than good to our dog. Better check to find out if your dog is getting what it deserves.

Soft Canned Food versus Dry Food

No doubt that there are advantages to both types of food. For its part, soft canned food is more palatable than its dry version. As such, the dog easily finishes its food when fed with this soft and wet food. It easily chews its way to the last bit so it able to get its fill and nutrition. However, this soft food encourages the growth of plaque and bacteria because it stays stuck in between the mouth for some time. For its part, dry food is typically hard so the dog scrapes the plaque in its mouth as it chews on the food.

Dog Food and Its Ingredients

As responsible pet owners, we should always check the label of our dog food. Some ingredients may be the real cause of us having a bad breath dog. Look at it this way, feeding our dog salmon can actually cause bad breath in our dog. Some makers of dog food include bits of salmon into their feed. Without knowing it, they create a dog's bad breath. Thus, better check on the ingredients of the food we give our dog. For all we know, we may be feeding him too much of the wrong stuff than the good.

Dog Food Plus Table Scraps

Think of it like this. Our dog has nutritional needs that are quite different from ours. That way, it has to have foods that are well-balanced and nutritionally satisfying as well. It is for this reason that pet care companies create dog foods that are fit for the dog’s nutritional needs. Besides, they are meant to be hard so that the creaking motion between the food and the teeth helps to clean the dog’s mouth from bacteria and plaque. Feeding our dog table scraps may actually do more harm than good.

For one, its nutritional content may not be balanced enough to meet the dog’s needs. Second, some food from the owners table may actually encourage the onset of bad breath especially if we feed our dog sticky food that sticks in between their teeth.

These are just some of the many possible ways be which a dog owner can actually check on if his dog has fallen victim to the stench of halitosis. In due time, if he carefully examines the way he takes care of his dog, he will stop asking himself the question, “Why Does My Dog’s Breath Smell So Bad?”. Who knows maybe he might even start signing a new tune.

Dog Joint Pain

- Find Out How to Deal With Dog Hip Pain and Other Dog Joint Pains


It is not easy to see your pet suffering through dog hip pain. But help is at hand. Find out what you can do about dog joint pain and other concerns when you visit HealthyHappyDogs.com - the site that cares about your dog.

If you are too young to experience arthritis - good for you. It would be great if you start stocking up on your vitamins and minerals so you don’t have to experience the discomfort that this condition brings.

But although you have within your power to control the factors contributing to your health, your pet does not. Canine arthritis is a very common condition that you need to know about so you could help your dog to avoid this or at the very least - minimize his pain.

Canine arthritis, like human arthritis, causes stiffness in the muscles and joints of the body, which in turn causes pain in the joints and surrounding areas. You will notice that your dog will have a hard time shifting positions. Most likely he is suffering from dog hip pain and will be resistant to being touched. If he is manifesting a change in behavior and physical appearance, you need to get him checked by the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Arthritis always results in dog joint pain largely due because of overuse throughout the years. That is why more often than not, it is the senior or overweight canines that experience this condition.

However, this condition is not restricted to older dogs - far from it. When a puppy who sustains a leg injury or has genetic skeletal abnormalities can also acquire arthritis and also suffer the effects of it.

Fortunately, there are ways to treat dog joint pain. Veterinarians frequently prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs to treat arthritis. NSAIDs help in impeding the progression of this disease and reduce inflammation that causes extreme pain for the dog.

Most of the NSAIDs used can be shared by both canines and humans alike. However, you must never administer any medication without your vet’s go signal. You need to know the correct dosage and frequency specific to the animal and this usually varies depending on your pet’s weight, breed or particular health issue.

As with most drugs, there might be some cases where the subject does not do well with the particular medication. Sometimes there are adverse side effects like vomiting, nausea, bloody stool, intestinal infection, etc. It is imperative that you bring him to the doctor if he continues to manifest these signs so the prescription dosage can be corrected or even stopped altogether.

Along with a healthy diet, include supplements that improve the canine’s joint health. Chondroitin Sulphate and Glucosamine Sulphate are some elements which hinder the damage done to the cartilage and joints of the skeletal system. Chondrotin and Glucosamine Sulphate are generally safe for use and are known to enhance lubrication in critical areas which help in easing dog hip pain. For more immediate relief, get some olive oil and check with an expert on the correct way to massage your dog’s aching joints and muscles.

Take your dog out for regular light exercise and maintain a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and other essential minerals. Our dogs might have soreness and pain that come with age or injury - but we can always do something about it by being the caring master they know us to be.

For more on dog joint pain, click here!