Top 10 Best Dog Food for Bad Breath

Best Dog Food for Bad Breath Buying Guide

Our buyer’s guide is to help you determine which is the best dog food to prevent your puppy from suffering from a smelly mouth.

We’ve researched the possible causes and triggers so you don’t have to, but make sure that you read here to choose the best option for your pet. But before that, let’s take a quick look at what could be causing the bad breath.

What causes bad breath in dogs? 

Sometimes the answer is as simple as a poorly chosen diet, but other times the cause can be a little more serious than that. It’s important that you take your dog to the veterinarian right away if you’re worried about their overall health, as bad breath could be a symptom.

Kidney and Liver Disease

• Some dogs like to drink urine if they have a kidney infection. Not the nicest subject, we know. However, it is still important to note in case you start smelling urine on your dog’s breath.
• Other symptoms are yellowing gums and vomiting. These can also be signs of liver disease. Both kidney and liver disease can develop into something worse, so it’s important that you visit the vets as soon as you see these worrisome signs.

Subpar Oral Hygiene 

• Dogs are just like humans in some respects, such as their teeth need to be brushed. Think back to the last time you brushed your dog’s teeth, then think about how you’d feel if you suffered through the same amount of time without a toothbrush.
• The build-up of plaque and tartar can be the cause of bad breath in your dog’s mouth. If not treated, your dog might be subjected to gum disease, cavities, and tooth loss.

Bad Eating Habits

• Dogs like to eat what they can when they can – no matter what is in front of them. Some dogs have more class than others, but others tend to rummage through trash and eat rotten leftovers.
• A select few will also choose to eat poop. Yep, you read that right – poop. Now try not to gag the next time you get a whiff of your dog’s breath. Around 24% of dogs eat poop once in their lifetime while 16% will make it a habit.
• If you catch your dog in the act, get to work training them not to as soon as possible. Poop contains tons of bacteria which could be the source of your dog’s bad breath.

Periodontal Diseases

• Periodontal diseases simply refer to the diseases around a dog’s teeth and mouth. Dog’s can suffer from four stages of these diseases. Gingivitis is the first stage and can be characterized by stained teeth and swollen gums.
• If not treated the teeth and roots will begin rotting away, causing bleeding gums, bad breath, and stained teeth.

Wet Dog Food vs Dry Dog Food

• Dog owners never stop debating whether they should be purchasing wet or dry food for the benefits – but which is better for dog breath?
• While wet food is good for dogs with fussy tastebuds, dry kibble is definitely better for rectifying bad breath.
• This is because the wet food manufacturers often enhance the food smell to get your dog to eat it. It is also more likely to get stuck within your dog’s teeth and cause an unpleasant smell the longer it stays there.
• What’s more, dry food works as a kind of toothbrush for your dog and helps to remove plaque and tartar. That crunch when your dog is chewing their food helps to scrape off bacteria that can be contributing to their bad breath.
• This can prevent diseases from forming in the mouth which can also cause bad breath. So, dry food is the best option to avoid your dog having bad breath.
• However, wet food contains moisture that helps your dog to get enough water in their diet. Without this, your dog could be more at risk for kidney infections.
• While we are focusing on dry food today, the best diets for dogs are ones that have a mixture of wet and dry food.

High-Quality Ingredients

• Dog food made with high-quality ingredients is less likely to make your dog’s breath smell than low-quality foods. This is because low-quality ingredients are more likely to promote bacteria growth on your dog’s teeth, which can lead to bad breath.
• Foods with lots of sugar can also promote cavities and therefore bad breath. To avoid this, look for natural ingredients or foods with limited ingredients. The fewer ingredients there are included within your dog’s diet, the less there is to potentially damage their teeth.

Your Dog’s Size

• Smaller dogs are more likely to get dental diseases and therefore you need to get the correct food for their size. Choosing a kibble made specifically for smaller dogs will leave them with an easier meal time so that they’re not struggling to eat their food.
• Smaller pieces of kibble will also be easier for them to crunch and get the full effects of the ‘teeth brushing’ benefit. On the other hand, small pieces of kibble will do nothing for larger dogs.
• They have larger mouths and throats and they might simply swallow the small kibble without even chewing. Therefore they won’t be getting any of the plaque or tartar removed from their teeth either.

Price

• While your puppy deserves the best dog food that money can buy, you still need to look for the best option that is within your price range. Remember that you will need to continue purchasing the same dog food repeatedly once it runs out, so can you afford to do this? Changing a dog’s food can often result in an upset stomach.
• Also, look for the value for money and how many portions are within a bag. While the initial cost might be the lowest on the market, there might not be as many portions and therefore the overall cost could end up being higher in the long run.