Puppies are not only super cute, they even smell good. Even puppy breath is adorable, but why? As with most humans and adult dogs, your breath depends on what you eat.
Puppies are nursed and their mother’s milk is pure and sweet. We are detecting the sweet smell of lactose on their breath without the contamination of dog food, which we all know is pretty smelly, or meat, or any chemicals.
Eventually, puppy breath turns into dog breath and that magical puppy time is over. But there are things you can do to help your dog’s breath become less offensive.
Choose a higher quality dog food without dyes, meat by-products or sugars. Not only will their breath be better their bowel movements may also smell slightly better.
Many times smelly dog breath is a result of poor oral hygiene or gum disease. Start brushing your dog’s teeth. Whether you do it once a day, once a week or once a month, brushing can help your dog’s breath be better and make their mouth healthier.
Giving carrots as treats can help clean teeth and carrots smell better than many pre-packaged dog treats. Add parsley to your dog’s food and some dogs will even chew parsley raw.
Give your dog fresh drinking water at least twice a day and wash their bowl every day. A dirty bowl that sits on the floor and never gets washed is full of nasty bacteria that can make your dog sick and can lead to poor oral health. Using glass or metal bowls is also more hygienic.
You should also mention your dog’s breath to your vet and possibly even schedule a cleaning and get a lesson on brushing their teeth from your vet if you are unsure how to get started.