As much as you love your dog, you could probably really do without his stinky breath in your face when he jumps up to say hello.
If your pet's breath could definitely do with a freshening up, first, make sure he has had a thorough physical to rule out dental problems, such as periodontal or gum disease, which affect 80 percent of dogs over the age of three.
In older dogs, an ammonia-like smell on the breath can indicate kidney disease. There's also a slight chance your dog has a mouth tumour or an infection that you can't see.
Once you've ruled out any medical reason as the cause of bad breath, try this simple steps to banish doggie breath for good.
1. Brush your dog's teeth
Brush the front and back of your dog's teeth as you would your own for about 30 seconds on each side. If you start doing this early and regularly, before disease sets in, you'll save his or her teeth.
2. Let your pet chew on a rope
If you can't get your dog to enjoy having his teeth brushed, give him a large hemp rope or rope toy to chew on - it acts as a sort of toothbrush, rubbing away food. Raw knucklebones are great for big dogs. Don't use them with small dogs who are not able to get their back teeth around the bone.
3. Cut your dog's facial hair
3. Cut your dog's facial hair
Keep your animal's hair trimmed and washed. Facial hair collects saliva and bacteria-causing odour around the mouth.
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