Dogs are man’s best friends. Every dog owner knows they are very cuddly and love to give a million kisses at every opportunity. It is always devastating for many pet owners to deal with the bad breath that comes with every kiss. But no more, because there is a solution for dog bad breath remedy: yogurt.
This article explains how yogurt can be a potent homemade remedy to treat and even curb the causes of your dog’s bad breath.
What Causes Bad Breath In Dogs
Dogs may sometimes have bad breath. Puppies do not normally have bad breath since the bacteria that cause bad breath are yet to build up in their mouths. But it is not unusual for puppies to have bad breath. Older dogs also have bad breath, but the likely cause would be eating some kinds of foods or eating their poop when not under supervision.
Although you may be tempted to smile and bear the smell, the stink in your dog’s breath might be a symptom of an underlying health problem. There are numerous causes of bad breath in dogs; the most common are renal illness, liver disease, and dental issues.
Additionally, suppose your dog has unpleasant dietary habits like digging through the garbage or having access to the remains of dead animals. In that case, the stink in his breath will result from these unsanitary actions.
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Yogurt – Dog’s Bad Breath Remedy
Yogurt is a dairy product you get from milk that has been fermented with yogurt culture. It contains protein and calcium, which may help improve intestinal bacteria.
Before feeding your dog yogurt, find out which is safe first. Some dogs are lactose intolerant, so adding yogurt to their diet might be a no-go, except in very small quantities. It is important to know which yogurt to feed your dog and which to avoid.
The different types of yogurt are;
- Low-fat or reduced-fat yogurt is made of just 2% milk
- Non-fat yogurt – has 0% milk
- Kefir – contains probiotics
- Greek yogurt
- Skyr
- Frozen yogurt
- Non-dairy yogurt
Plain Greek-style yogurts are safe for dogs to eat. Greek yogurt contains less lactose than conventional yogurt, making it better for puppies with lactose intolerance.
However, feeding them flavored Greek yogurt should be avoided because it often has extra natural and artificial sugars. These additives will hamper your dog’s health.
Probiotic yogurts are also safe for your dog, and they contain calcium and protein.
How Much Yogurt To Feed Dogs
When considering adding yogurt to your dog’s diet, measure the portion according to the size of your dog.
Generally, one spoonful is an appropriate portion to serve a small dog. However, if your dog is not a regular small-sized dog, you want to increase the feed by 2-3 spoonfuls of yogurt.
If your dog is overweight, it is advisable to use fat-free yogurts to prevent them from adding extra weight.
The good news is that pregnant dogs also are not excluded from this. Certain nutrients in yogurt should be in every homemade pregnant dog food and treats. Yogurt provides more calcium and omega-7 to your pet than other dairy items.
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Benefits Of Feeding Dogs Yogurt
There are undoubtedly several ways to treat bad breath in your dogs; however, yogurt has been proven to be a quick and efficient way to get rid of the stink in your dog’s breath.
According to several studies, the active and beneficial bacteria in yogurt can help destroy the bacteria that cause a bad odor in your dog’s mouth. As a result, many dog owners have included plain yogurt in their dog’s diet to help prevent bad breath.
Besides fighting bad breath, yogurt is a healthy, natural, and nutritious treat for your dog. The gut makes up 70% of the dog’s immune system. In addition, highly processed meals, human foods, and drugs not intended for their intake can weaken the immune system’s ability to function properly.
These put your dog at risk of sickness, environmental stress, cell oxidation, and the aging process. Consumption of yogurt could help balance out some of these issues.
Introduction Of Probiotics Into Your Dog’s Mouth
Oral health is crucial to getting rid of bad breath in dogs, and this is exactly one of the benefits that probiotics in yogurt offers. Probiotics improve doggy breath and oral health by regulating bacterial growth in the dog’s mouth.
These bacterias are known as Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium. Apart from the oral health benefits they offer your dog, they also help your dog with the following:
- Weight loss
- Improved digestion
- Improvements to immune system function
- Reduced risks of diseases and cancers
Protein In Food
Apart from introducing helpful bacteria into your dog’s mouth to help combat the causes of bad doggy breath, yogurt holds many other benefits for your dog.
The dietary protein that yogurt provides is required to properly grow and maintain nearly all your dog’s bodily tissues.
It has essential amino acids for the development of hair, skin, tendons, etc.
Cost-Efficient
You also do not have to break the bank when searching for the perfect yogurt to give your dogs.
If there are certain ingredients in store-bought yogurt you do not want to feed to your dog, you can make yours at home.
Making homemade yogurt is simple. You need good quality milk, a few spoonfuls of your favorite plain yogurt as a beginning culture, and patience. You can also substitute whole milk with low-fat milk – 2 percent works better than 1 percent.
Final Thoughts
Bad breath is a plague you do not want to experience with your dog. It can have emotional consequences for you and your pet as your dog could begin to feel rejected and neglected every time you try to avoid kisses that come with its bad breath.
While many homemade remedies battle the situation, yogurt is one fool-proof way. You also want to reduce other contributing factors, such as limiting your dog’s access to bins containing rotten food.
You also want to take more intentional steps about your dog’s oral hygiene, such as brushing their teeth as frequently as recommended by your vet and using a toothpaste that has probiotics in it.
I am a huge animal lover and have four dogs, a Labrador, Jack Russell, Pug, and Teacup Yorkie. I also have a cat and a Cockatiel. I have had pets since I was a toddler, and there was not a day when there wasn’t an animal in my house.