Dogs are man's best friend, but sometimes they have stinky breath that can knock us off our feet. If we want to cuddle up with them on the sofa or get up close and personal during a walk in the park, it would be better if their bad breath did not send us running for fresh air. So what can we do? One thought may cross your mind - can I give my dog a breath mint? In this article, we're going to explore this idea from all angles so you can decide whether it's advisable or not.
What Causes Bad Breath in Dogs
Before we dive into whether our canine companions should pop some mints, let's take a look at why they have stinky breath in the first place. Common causes of bad doggie breath include:
- Poor Dental Hygiene
- Diet (such as consuming too much protein)
- Digestive Issues
- Illnesses like liver disease or diabetes
It all starts with improper dental hygiene, which is often overlooked by many pet owners when addressing their pet's foul odor...
Could Mints Help Freshen Up Their Breath?
Now that we understand what causes pungent doggy mouth odors...it makes sense that anything that could help get rid of those smells would be considered viable solutions right?? It might seem logical to assume than giving your furry friend frequent (or even just every once and awhile) peppermint-flavored treats or drops could be an excellent solution.
While some pet parents believe chewing gum or sucking on citrus fruits can improve their pets' oral health and provide fresher smelling mouths - both options are ultimately unsafe for dogs because chewing gums contain xylitol (which is poisonous for dogs) while citric-acid found within fruit juices creates more harm then good particularly when ingested frequently.
Furthermore, while a few fresh mint leaves might not cause any harm, most dog-breeds are big gobblers who like to eat quickly or in large amounts. Solely chewing on hard-yet-still-soft all-natural breath mints may carry some benefits without causing ill-effects but again moderation is key.
Are Breath Mints Safe for Dogs?
This question needs addressing since it's good for pet parents to understand the risks with particular products before "treating" their furry friend's bad breath with them.
Most breath mints available today, particularly human-grade ones that we might be tempted to give our pets contain enormous amounts of xylitol which can lead to serious health complications upon ingestion by dogs; such as rapid spikes in insulin-levels leading into hypoglycemia rates below 40mg/dL (of glucose). These same advanced symptoms include depression/lethargy accompanied by seizures and respiratory issues.
Additionally, most mints are tough and difficult for dogs' stomachs or even esophagus' digestive systems to digest properly or safely making choking quite common amongst breeds while other chemical tooh-like agents - found within artificially manufactured/mass-produced blood pressure supplements aren't approve especially when looking oral-malaise treatment options!
It's essential always checking out thorough dental-care/hygienic routines more closely first supplemented with other credible veterinary resources.
Solutions To Bad Doggy Breathe
Now that we know why our pup pals have stinky mouths...and what things wont help let's discuss how you can handle mouth odors caused as listed above:
- Brushing: While it seems obvious…it’s so important of course! This can be challenging especially if your pup does not enjoy being cleaned one bit-o-bit—so do your best at taking small steps every day towards getting comfortable around tooth care routines.
- Diet changes: Alongside brushing, adopt a diet allowing for greater crunchiness and less processed foods. Check out your local pet store, either online or brick-and-mortar locations to pick up some fresh-tasting hard morsels like celery/parsley/broccoli which help keep teeth shiny-white.
- Regular Vet Visits: Don't be shy when it comes to visits with veterinary professionals - especially when bad-breath signals get stronger–even mild cases; they can be an invaluable resource.
But Seriously...That Fresh Breath
While dogs might not appreciate the minty-fresh scent that we humans adore (they tend toward smelling butts after all); there are few avenues outside regular dental care that could help with keeping them smelling daisy-fresh from time-to-time.
One option is using water-enhance solutions, often one manufactured specially crafted towards improved breath quality like USDA-certified-organic mouth-water additives containing important ingredients such as peppermint oil/eucalyptus oil/cinnamon extracts/vanilla etc! These natural oils formulated create enticing aromas other animals also enjoy – so even if every canine out there were frowning upon the idea of having fresher breathe at least our fellow fauna friends would definitely high-five on this new situ!
Alternatively (and possibly conveniently) you could always lean on buying products from reputable resources available at trusted stores alongside services done by veterinarians who understand what doggy puppies need in terms of oral-malaise treatment options while keeping safety concerns top-of-mind.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, giving your dog breath mints may seem like a simple solution to address their persistent foul odor issues—however it's best avoided due do potential side-effects coming along with most common commercial brands found today. It's much better sticking around traditional hygienic practices/diet routines combined with occasional/all-natural garden produce/snacks/upgraded hygiene-oral-care options created just for animals should probably bear in mind when looking bad breath-curing solutions. All things considered though if you follow the above suggestions with patience: perfect pooch cuddle moments will wait right around the corner!