Dogs need oral and dental care as much as humans. Dogs can suffer from gum disease which can cause bad breath and they also suffer from plaque buildup, another source of bad breath. Having an oral care routine is important for any dog. Like humans, this should include brushing their teeth on a regular basis.Establishing a regular routine for brushing their teeth thoroughly will help prevent gum disease and bad breath, but finding the best dog treats for bad breath and chewing toys can also help.

Remember poor dental hygiene can be painful and could also affect your dog’s behavior. If you notice your dog is licking their nose more regularly, changes in eating habits or if they start to chew things compulsively, these are signs you need to improve your dog’s dental care.

You may also need to visit a vet to make sure there isn’t a more serious reason your dog is behaving differently.

The best dog treats for bad breath are intended to supplement a tooth brushing regime, not replace it, so always be sure to brush your dog’s teeth regularly. However, dog treats should help clean teeth and help freshen breath (though masking bad breath with a minty smell, no matter how strong, never works).

Best Dog Treats for Bad Breath – Must Haves

When considering which are the best dog treat for bad breath it’s important to consider the following.

• Dental treats that require your dog chew a lot to consume it really helps keep their teeth healthy. But it’s important to make sure the chew is suitable for your pet, smaller breeds have softer jaws and so may find it difficult to chew products meant for larger breeds.
• Check to make sure that the active ingredients are healthy for your dog.  Things like Xylitol have no business in your pet’s treats as it’s toxic to them.
• Check that the active ingredients deal with plague, tarter and bacteria which may be causing bad breath. For example, if it contains chlorhexidine, or similar alternatives, this can help to keep bacteria known to cause bad breath from your dog’s mouth.

Best Dog Treats for Dental Health

Canine Greenies

Canine Greenies are one of the best dog treats for bad breath as they are recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, which approves products proven to be effective at combating plaque and tarter for dental health.

There are a wide range of products available, some are grain free or specifically formulated for weight management or joint care. The chews are also available in different sizes and so make for great options for a wide a range of dog breeds.

The products are good for preventing tartar and plague build up and also have active ingredients for reducing bad breath. They have added vitamins and minerals and are low fat, so are a good source of addition nutrients for your pet.

They are one of the best dog treats for bad breath because:

• They have been endorsed by the veterinary oral health council which only approves products proven effective at improving dental health.
• They are available in many sizes to suits different breeds.
• They tackle plague, tartar and bad breath.

HealthiDent Bright Bites

Next on our list are the HealthiDent Bright Bites.  These dental chews, like the Greenies, are also recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council and are recognized as being effective against plague and tartar build up. They’re a star shaped chews which are available in a varieties of sizes to suit different breeds.

They are also a number of flavors to choose from such as peppermint, spearmint and cinnamon and are reviewed by owners as one of the best dog treats for bad breath on the market. Pet owners report the chews are popular with the dogs and have a positive effect on the dog’s breath.

Bright bites are great dental chews for the following reasons:

• They have been endorsed by the Veterinary Oral Health Council as being effective for tartar and plague control, both of which can cause bad breath.
• They are available in different sizes to suit different dog breeds. Choose the size most suited to your pet to make sure they’re getting the full oral health benefits from the chews.

Although they are expensive, they are also very popular with dogs and have a positive effect on bad breath. Be sure to limit your dog to one chew a day at the most.

Hill’s Science Diet Dental Chews

Last on our list are the Hill’s Science Diet Dental Chews. These dental chews are available in two sizes for different dog breeds. However, they aren’t suitable for dogs less than 5lbs or puppies less than 6 months old. They’ve been recognized as being effective for both plague and tarter by the Veterinary Oral Health Council and pet owners report an improvement in the bad breath of their dogs.

Like all dental chews, it is recommended you give them to your dog sparingly; they shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily nutrition (around 1 a day).

The small chews are recommended for adult dogs between 15-25lbs, and the medium chews are recommended for adult dogs between 25lbs and 50lbs.

The Hill’s Science Diet Dental Chews are one of the best dog treats for bad breath because:

• They are one of only a handful of products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council for reducing both plague and tartar.
• They come in different sizes for adults dogs up to 50lbs.
• They are recommended by pet owners who report they are effective at reducing bad breath

The Importance of Dog Chews for Treating Bad Breath

While the basis of any dog’s dental care routine should be daily brushing (or at least fairly regularly), regular dental chews can also play a part. However, all chews aren’t created equal, with some only masking the bad smell rather than dealing with the main problem.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council analyses studies into dental health products for pets and only recommends those products that can prove their effectiveness. The three products listed as part of the best dog treats for bad breath were included because they had the Council’s approval for both plague and tartar, and also because pet owners have reported a high success rate with these products improving their pet’s bad breath.

We hope you got some good information so you can help improve the life of your pooch and help them smell a little better too.