by Christy Caplan|
April 29, 2021
Treats that use natural ingredients (and herbs) can help fight a dog’s bad breath.
Cooking homemade meals for your dogs rather than feeding kibble helps address specific health issues. Fresh ingredients and herbs are used to improve skin conditions, stomach problems, and oral health.
Fresh, natural ingredients help dogs with bad breath
photo credit: mint, from the garden
Use mint and parsley anytime you bake for dogs. These help with oral health and tooth decay.
Mint
Fresh mint in small amounts may aid in digestion for dogs and help freshen your dog’s breath.
Parsley
If you have extra parsley, chop it up finely and store it in the fridge. Add some to any recipe or dog’s dish to aid digestion and sweeten dog breath.
Natural ingredients typically used in recipes to help fight bad breath in dogs-
- Mint (fresh)
- Pumpkin puree
- Coconut oil
- Parsley (fresh)
- Honey
5 Delicious DIY recipes for dogs bad breath
- DIY Doggie Breath Mints
This recipe from SkinnyMs uses rolled oats and parsley.
What we like: dogs tolerate oats well without any digestion issues, plus the use of the parsley to help freshen breath.
- Pumpkin and Apple Doggie Mint Treats
Damn Delicious mint treats combine pumpkin puree and apple which is a nice twist to a DIY recipe.
What we like: mint helps with stomach upset and bad breath.
- Homemade Doggie Breath Freshener Treats
The Nerdy Farm Wife won us over with these treats as they look exactly like breath mints.
What we like: There are only three ingredients and no baking. Parsley leaves are full of protein, peppermint, and yogurt which helps with intestinal gas.
- Homemade Fresh Breath Pup Treats
Miss Molly Says shares a recipe that uses mint, parsley, and coconut oil. The dental staff tested these treats with their dogs, and they were a hit!
What we like: These minty treats may be stored for up to three months.
- Frozen Dog Treats (Mint froyo for fresh breath)
Parsnips and Pastries create this frozen treat for their pup. The size is perfect for a snack or training opportunity. This is another breath mint treat your dog will love.
What we like: These are frozen dog treats and perfect when you don’t want to bake. This recipe also includes honey, which is a fave and everyone has this in the kitchen.
Some dogs are prone to bad breath
Small breeds or toy breeds are often prone to dental decay. These dogs have tiny mouths, and many have issues with periodontal disease.
According to Animal Wellness Magazine, “Small breed dogs are more prone to dental disease than larger dogs, due to the anatomy of their mouths, heads, and faces, along with other genetic features.” Small breed prone to dental disease include:
- Doxies
- Pomeranian
- Boston terrier
- Pug
- Shih tzu
- Lhasa apso
- Pekingese
- Chihuahua
Dogs with bad breath need annual dental cleanings
Bad breath is associated with periodontal disease. In order to maintain good oral health for your dog, it is important to proactively brush their teeth every week. In addition, cooking natural treats with ingredients like mint that fights bad breath helps too.
Yet nothing replaces annual deep cleanings as these are necessary to prevent dental disease in dogs.
