Ask Bill: Stinky Pet Breath

My dog has horrible knock you down stinky dog breath.  He eats dry food but it doesn't help.  What do I do?  We can't stand to be around him.

First, you need to forget the idea that eating dry food will keep your dog's teeth clean.  It's true that chewing, tearing and gnawing will keep a dog's teeth clean, but they don't gnaw on their kibble.  Gnawing on raw meaty bones is the most natural and easiest way to keep your dog's teeth clean.  It may take a couple of times to get your dog used to it (and it's best to cut back on the food you're feeding on bone days) but the results are well worth it.  Even tiny tiny dogs can benefit from raw bones and probably need it MORE than bigger dogs.  Ever smelled a pomeranian's breath?  It will curl your hair.  We keep a variety of cut beef bones in our freezer and they range in price from $2.98 to $5.98. 

If you're squeamish or just don't want to deal with the hassle of raw meat, Zuke's makes a great Z-Ridge dental treat.  These treats are very similar to Greenie's, without the issues of digestibility making them much safer.  They come in sizes from mini to large and range in price from $1/bone for minis to $6/bone for large. 

And finally, there is always Petzlife dental gel and spray.  Incredibly effective and easy to use, it will dissolve the tartar from along the gum line (21.95 spray, 24.95 gel) and freshen your dog or cat's breath.