{"id":1965,"date":"2025-10-01T13:39:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/s37407.p1377.sites.pressdns.com\/resources\/wicked-bad-breath-in-dogs-10-ways-to-tame-it\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:40:12","slug":"wicked-bad-breath-in-dogs-10-ways-to-tame-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wicked-bad-breath-in-dogs-10-ways-to-tame-it\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I get rid of my dog&#8217;s bad breath?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bad breath in dogs might seem like a minor inconvenience, but when it&rsquo;s your dog with the wicked breath, it&rsquo;s a huge deal. While there are lots of solutions available, how do you know what works best and when to contact your vet? <\/p><p>&ldquo;I always recommend that my patients follow a simple four-step processes to maintaining healthy teeth and gums for their pets: annual dental check-ups, brush your pet&rsquo;s teeth daily for 30 seconds (do not use human toothpaste), provide appropriate chew toys and feed some dry food daily,&rdquo; says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com\/about\/about-dr-carol\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Carol Osborne<\/a>, an integrative veterinarian from the Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic. &ldquo;If your pet does not tolerate the brushing well, you may need to consider professional cleaning.&rdquo;<\/p><p>But there are even more ways to fight back against stinky breath. Here are 10&nbsp;tips to bust that bad breath in dogs.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-custom-dynamic-list key-takeaways-block\"><h3>Key takeaways<\/h3><div class=\"key-takeaways-container\"><ul><li>Bad breath in dogs is often more than a nuisance &mdash; it&rsquo;s usually an early sign of dental disease caused by bacteria and infection. Regular care like daily brushing, dental check-ups, chew toys, and proper diet can go a long way in preventing serious oral health issues.<\/li><li>There are many ways to freshen your dog&rsquo;s breath, including dental treats, water additives, safe chews, and even small amounts of plain yogurt or herbs like parsley. However, these solutions work best as maintenance tools, not substitutes for proper dental care.<\/li><li>If bad breath persists, it&rsquo;s important to see a veterinarian, as untreated dental disease can lead to infections affecting the liver, kidneys, or heart. Professional cleanings or targeted treatments may be necessary to address the root cause and protect your dog&rsquo;s overall health.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-get-rid-of-bad-dog-breath\" data-toc-id=\"2f1b148b\">How do I get rid of bad dog breath?<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-brush-teeth-nbsp-correctly\">1. Brush teeth&nbsp;correctly<\/h3><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/vohc.org\/accepted-products\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Veterinary Oral Health Council<\/a> recommends certain products for a thorough teeth cleaning. Try using a <a href=\"https:\/\/petsmileusa.com\/collections\/toothpaste\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">doggie toothpaste like Petsmile<\/a>, the only dog toothpaste given the organization&rsquo;s seal of approval, along with an ADA-compliant toothbrush. If you&rsquo;re having a hard time getting Fido to open up, bring this up with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/dog-groomers\">groomer<\/a>, who should be able to brush your pup&rsquo;s teeth for you.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste Rotisserie Chicken Flavor\" class=\"wp-image-46659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile-1080x1080.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/06\/petsmile.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image via Petsmile<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Where to buy: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/petsmileusa.com\/products\/plaque-tartar-control-veterinarian-vohc-recommended-toothpaste-london-chicken-flavor-large\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professional Pet Toothpaste Rotisserie Chicken Flavor<\/a> (Petsmile, $25)<\/p><p><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-care-com-resources wp-block-embed-care-com-resources\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"QUg0eKQa0A\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/homemade-dog-toothpaste\/\">6 homemade dog toothpaste recipes to freshen up your pup&rsquo;s breath<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&ldquo;6 homemade dog toothpaste recipes to freshen up your pup&rsquo;s breath&rdquo; &mdash; Care.com Resources\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/homemade-dog-toothpaste\/embed\/#?secret=dB63I5PwIq#?secret=QUg0eKQa0A\" data-secret=\"QUg0eKQa0A\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-chew-and-chomp\">2. Chew and chomp<\/h3><p>Certain rubber toys such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chewy.com\/kong-extreme-dog-toy\/dp\/38493\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Kong Extreme<\/a> allow you to hide cleaning treats or even dog toothpaste inside. As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/kennel-cough-in-dogs-everything-you-need-to\/\">dogs<\/a> chew on the toy, their teeth get cleaner and their breath gets fresher.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"KONG Extreme Dog Toy\" class=\"wp-image-46664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2-1080x1080.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image via Chewy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Where to buy:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chewy.com\/kong-extreme-dog-toy\/dp\/38493\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KONG Extreme Dog Toy<\/a> (Chewy, $15)<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-visit-the-vet\">3. Visit the vet<\/h3><p>&ldquo;New <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vet.cornell.edu\/departments-centers-and-institutes\/riney-canine-health-center\/canine-health-information\/periodontal-disease#:~:text=Even%20if%20your%20dog's%20teeth,some%20component%20of%20periodontal%20disease.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies<\/a> show that 80-90% of pets have dental disease by the age of 3, with many pets showing signs of inflammation &mdash; an early sign of periodontal disease &mdash; as early as 3 months of age,&rdquo; says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drmartybecker.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Dr. Marty Becker<\/a>, a veterinarian and author. He agrees that dogs must be seen by a vet at least once a year.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-yapping-for-yogurt\">4. Yapping for yogurt<\/h3><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dogsbestlife.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sara B. Hansen<\/a>, owner and editor of &ldquo;Dog&rsquo;s Best Life&rdquo;, suggests using yogurt to remedy bad breath. &ldquo;Add some plain yogurt to your dog&rsquo;s daily food allotment. Be sure to only add plain yogurt &mdash; no fruity flavors and definitely no sugar substitutes in the yogurt. Sugar substitutes, especially Xylitol, can be deadly for dogs,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;You shouldn&rsquo;t give your dog more than a teaspoonful or two, and watch to make sure your pup isn&rsquo;t lactose intolerant. Just like people, some dogs can&rsquo;t do dairy.&rdquo;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-buy-special-teeth-treats\">5. Buy special teeth treats<\/h3><p>There are lots of specialized dental care treats on the market. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenies.com\/products\/dog\/dental-treats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Greenies Dog Dental Treats<\/a> are among the top rated, and they&rsquo;re approved for use by the VOHC.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"GREENIES Original TEENIE Dog Dental Treats\" class=\"wp-image-46669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3-1080x1080.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-3.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image via Greenies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Where to buy:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenies.com\/products\/greenies-original-teenie-natural-dental-care-dog-treats-6-oz-pack-22-treats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greenies Original TEENIE Dog Dental Treats<\/a> ($9+, Greenies) <\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-relish-some-rawhide\">6. Relish some rawhide<\/h3><p>As long as you keep a sharp eye on your pet while they&rsquo;re indulging, rawhide bones are good for banishing plaque. Take it away as soon as it softens up.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-pass-the-parsley\">7. Pass the parsley<\/h3><p>&ldquo;My favorite home remedy is to sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or dill on the dog&rsquo;s food,&rdquo; Hazel Ketko, owner of Natural Dog Health Remedies, says. &ldquo;These herbs are antibacterial and natural breath fresheners.&rdquo;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-use-water-nbsp-a-dditives\"><strong>8. Use water<\/strong>&nbsp;a<strong>dditives<\/strong><\/h3><p>Water additives that fight bad breath in dogs are becoming popular with owners because of the ease of use. Petlab Co., for example, makes dental formulas for both cats and dogs.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Petlab Co. Dog Dental Formula\" class=\"wp-image-46676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4-1080x1080.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/petsmile-4.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image via Petlab Co.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Where to buy: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thepetlabco.com\/products\/dog-dental-formula\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dog Dental Formula<\/a> ($30, Petlab Co.)<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-research-dental-sealants\">9. Research dental sealants<\/h3><p>If you have a dog breed that&rsquo;s extra susceptible to decay, ask your vet about dental sealants. They can help keep teeth and gums clean, preventing tooth decay and plaque buildup.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-let-toto-drink-tea\">10. Let Toto drink tea<\/h3><p>If you suspect your dog&rsquo;s bad breath is due to upset tummy or indigestion, use a special tea, Ketko suggests. &ldquo;Make a ginger tea by putting one or two slices of fresh ginger in a cup of hot water and letting it cool down,&rdquo; she instructs. &ldquo;After removing the ginger slices, give one to two teaspoons of the ginger tea to your dog.&rdquo;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-should-you-visit-the-veterinarian-about-dog-breath\" data-toc-id=\"ca537bce\">When should you visit the veterinarian about dog breath?<\/h2><p>When in doubt, a trip to the vet&rsquo;s office is likely the best solution. &ldquo;In my 35 years as a practicing veterinarian, I&rsquo;ve seen dozens of products developed that claimed to be an antidote for doggie breath. Most say &lsquo;veterinary recommended&rsquo; or &lsquo;veterinary approved,&rsquo; but they don&rsquo;t work,&rdquo; says Dr. Becker. &ldquo;Bad breath in dogs and cats is caused by periodontal disease, which is an infection. Infections require treatment.&rdquo;<\/p><p>Dr. Osborne agrees, adding, &ldquo;Bad breath is often the first sign of canine dental disease owners recognize. Left untreated, bacteria from your pet&rsquo;s mouth can lead to liver, kidney and even heart disease.&rdquo;<\/p><p><em>*Original article written by Margie Mars.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to freshen dog breath? Leading experts share some terrific tips for when your best furry friend has stinky breath.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":975,"featured_media":11051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":false,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2026-03-31T13:39:57.576Z","last_update":"2025-10-01","view_count":563958,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1070],"member-type":[3],"vertical":[7,25,21],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-1965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dogs","member-type-seeker","vertical-pets","vertical-pet-care","vertical-pet-health-safety","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2015-08-12","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/975"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1965"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":227128,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1965\/revisions\/227128"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1965"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=1965"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=1965"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=1965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}