Piper (Toronto) on 01/29/2013
For cat bad breath. I took my 14 year old cat in to vet - he was doing poorly. Losing weight, poor appetite, really bad breath. Did blood tests - but none of the usual ailments present. The vet told me that with bad teeth - they have bacteria in their mouth that is picked up by the blood and carried around their body.
As nothing conclusive came up in bloodwork, I decided to work on his teeth. I started to brush his teeth daily with a small amount of baking soda. I put a little bit on a child's toothbrush and just brush gently but firmly.
He doesn't particularily like it. He also doesn't rush to get the taste out of his mouth either. I think the time that the baking soda is in his mouth it is killing bacteria.
After doing this for a couple of days, his appetite returned. He seemed to have more energy and his fur seems nicer. His breath isn't terrible.
I should note I might have tried something added to his water, but he will only drink out of the tap.
Garlic for Dog's Bad Breath Nathalie (Laval, Quebec) on 05/18/2011
This site suggest giving your dog garlic for your dogs breath. DO NOT.. Garlic and onions are unhealthy to your dogs blood count!!!!!!
BAD ADVICE!
Clean Diet for Pets Health Esprit64 (North Yarmouth, Maine) on 02/21/2011
I have owned dogs and cats for years and the way I keep them well (having fresh breath, non-smelly stools and clean teeth--indicators of good health) is to feed them a no-grain diet, both wet and dry, supplemented by raw meats, occasional fresh fruits/veggies. I am not a nutritionist, so I always purchase a good quality manufactured pet food as the basic food source (not any of the popular brands found in supermarkets, even those touted as healthy or natural or "top of the line" --rather, purchase from select pet stores--likely not any of the box pet stores--which stock foods having only healthy ingredients.My pets "brush" their teeth by eating raw, not cooked, beef/chicken/rabbit/etc., meats on the bone. Chewing raw--not cooked--bones is nature's natural toothbrush.
As a result of good eating and food habits, your pet's breath should be fresh, they should pass no gas, and their stools will not be horrendous smelling.
Diane (Saratoga Springs, New york) on 02/24/2009
What is carmal extract? Do you mean caramel?
EC: Must be -- no such thing as carmal extract!
Garlic and Cats R.... (Anaheim, California, USA) on 12/27/2008
Warning
Warning to those who would take the advise of using garlic for their cats' bad breath. I surfed the net for toxic plants and food for cats. At least three websites posted the same thing: garlic, onion, chocolate, raisins, among other very common food ingredient... were said to be poisonous to cats - they may not be for dogs, but accordingly, garlic for instance kills red blood cells in cats if I remember right... and since cats are different in that they have very slow metabolism, the bad effects would not quickly manifest. ...good for humans but never for cats!!!
Children's Toothpaste for Bad Breath in Dogs Crystal (Beaverton, Oregon) on 11/23/2008
Hello all I have had many dog's. I even had a litter if 6 puppies. The best thing that I found is brushing my dog's teeth with childrens toothpaste with my kids old tooth brushes. The dog's love the taste and I love the smell!!! Must brush once a week if not more. The vet say's they have perfect condition teeth too. Bad breath is just a tad of kids tooth paste away you really don't need very much.
EC: WARNING! Some of the ingredients in kids' toothpastes may be toxic for dogs (i.e., xylitol ), so one would need to research the brand very carefully before using!
Alan (USA) on 07/06/2006
We use: Grapefruit seed Extract. H20, carmal extract, xylotol for sweetness -- found in sugar free gums. A solution of 20 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract with 10oz. H20 and carmel extract for taste has cured incoming dogs to the pet rescue of bad breath and tarter build up. This took about 2 days of having it sprayed into the mouth for bad breath and a week to notice loss of tarter. Daily maintenace of 4 drops in water also showed a reduction in weight in our heavier dogs. Give chew toys or carrots to dogs during this time to assist with the cleaning process. GSE is an excellent anti bacterial element and has many uses for people and pets. Great for raising the pets PH level as well.
Dorothy (Valley Glen, California) on 03/24/2008
Our eight-year-old Jack Russell Terrier had very bad breath and ugly black-stain teeth for most of her life. We tried everything, chopping parsley and adding it to her food, brushing her teeth with pet toothpaste, Greenies which gave her hemorrhoids, tried getting the Vet to clean her teeth but he never did, and everything we tried, failed. That is until I tried a drop of hydrogen peroxide. Now I've gradually worked up to adding an eye-dropper full (5-8 drops) to her water bowls daily, and her breath and teeth have improved much to our amazement. Her black teeth are now pure white, her breath is fresh and she seems to have a lot of new energy. Now I'm ready to give it a try myself for my arthritis.
