Dog Breath Knock You on Your Butt?

Is your dog’s breath enough to knock you on your butt sometimes?  How about more times than not?  Have you ever looked in their mouth or do you not want to get that intimate?  Trust me, as a veterinarian, I have seen some pretty dark and nasty mouths, almost like sewage pits at times.  Well, you are not alone.  Even our dogs have this problem from time to time.  Let’s look at some options that we have found pretty helpful, outside of brushing their teeth.

Bad breath in your dog is not necessarily their fault.  In truth, our mouths would likely not be much different if we were eating a processed kibble day after day with no access to a toothbrush and minty toothpaste.  The bad breath you are experiencing, and they are tasting, is a reflection of the bacterial microbiome which has developed in their mouth along with the accumulation of tartar on their teeth.

Tartar is essentially food stuff which accumulates on the rough edges to the surface of the dog’s teeth. Just like our teeth, the outside surface is rough if you look at it under a microscope or even run your tongue across it.  These rough or non-smooth surfaces accumulate food particles, like a rock in the middle of a river creates ripples.  Food is attracted to it and sticks, then over time, it accumulates and becomes almost cement like.

Considering that their mouth and yours is not a sterile place, nor was it meant to be, bacteria then attach themselves on this food stuff and populate.  The foul odor you smell is essentially rotting food in their mouth due to bacterial invasion.  Give it enough time and that bacterial population will erode at the gum line and create gingivitis.  This could equate to worse problems than just bad breath.

Oh, and one more thing, this overgrowth of harmful bacteria is swallowed by your pet.  As it is swallowed and enters the digestive tract, it is possible to enter the blood stream, circulate and then lodge onto other structures, including heart valves.  Thus, it is not uncommon at all to have a small breed dog, such as a poodle, with a heart murmur or heart failure, but also an extremely foul mouth with bad breath and tartar.

So, what can you do?

Options for Dental Tartar and Bad Breath in Your Dog

The main concern here is that dental tartar accumulation and bad breath indicate there is not just food stuff accumulating in your dog’s mouth but that the bacterial microbiome of their mouth has shifted negatively.  The bad odor is from fermentation of debris in the mouth, which is done by generally harmful bacteria that are linked to gingivitis, tooth loss, and other health ailments.  So, that microbiome is something we desire to stabilize and improve.  If we can keep those ‘bad’ bacteria under control and instill a sense of balance to their mouth, then dental tartar and bad breath can be minimalized.

Whether if you are looking to prevent or manage the problem, there are options.

In both the preventative and manage mode, our desire is to stabilize and promote balance to the oral microbiome.  Interestingly enough, and this holds true for all circumstances, the oral microbiome is directly linked to the digestive microbiome.  Now, having said that, don’t think that just because your dog’s kibble contains ‘probiotics’ that they are protected and healthy.  This couldn’t be further from the truth, but I will not dive into that subject at this time.  It is misleading information, brought on by advertising, and that is all that needs to be said.

The first thing we desire to do is feed as ‘clean’ of a diet as possible.  I am always in favor of a home cooked diet, but this is not always possible and even if you do home cook, it will not always prevent dental tartar.  Just feed as clean as possible with as little preservatives, chemicals, and dyes as possible.  If your pet will allow you to brush their teeth, then do so.  You can use baking soda mixed with water as your toothpaste in all truth, even add just a hint of mint for flavor.  It works well and the baking soda can help to keep the oral cavity pH level in check, which will assist with harmful bacteria.

Then, we come to supplements.  I am all about improving and maintaining overall health in the dog.

One of my ‘go to’ formulas in many cases of pain, allergies, digestive and other ailments in the dog is the Cur-OST SA Total Support.  This is a supplement that we give our Greyhounds every day.  I like it because it benefits many aspects of their health from joints to gut and even skin.  Due to the ‘gut’ benefits, the Cur-OST SA Total Support can assist us in balancing their digestion and microbiome, both in the gut and mouths.  I’ve even seen many where the tartar slowly disappears from their teeth as a result, along with improved breath.  This formula can be used daily for health prevention as well as higher doses for specific problems in their health or joints.

The second supplement or herbal formula that we use daily along with the above mentioned, is the Cur-OST Tri-GUT Companion.  This is an ancient ‘digestive’ herbal blend of three herbs, used in Ayurvedic medicine to help improve and balance digestion, along with the microbiome.  Interestingly enough, in research, the herbs used in this formula have been shown to reduce dental cavities in people when used as a mouth rinse, not to mention impacting inflammation in general.  The Cur-OST Tri-GUT Companion has far reaching capabilities outside of digestion, benefitting joints, skin, the mouth and ears, along with allergy conditions.

Those are the two supplements that we use in our own dogs and they can make a huge difference, not just in a preventative fashion, but also in helping to reduce tartar and foul breath once it has developed.  Now, with that being said, and speaking as a veterinarian, if your pet has severe dental tartar buildup and gingivitis, then a professional dental cleaning is in order and warranted, often along with a short course of antibiotics.  In some cases where there is mild tartar buildup, your dog’s teeth can be ‘hand scaled’, which is done without sedation and used to remove the large buildups of tartar.

Don’t let your dog’s breath ruin your day or activities in your life.  Keep their mouth healthy by keeping their body healthy.  Their digestive system is so heavily connected to other problems and organ systems, that it is shameful not to recognize it and act accordingly.  These are two easy to administer supplement formulas that can go a long way if given daily.

Good luck!

Author:  Tom Schell, D.V.M, CVCH, CHN