What’s REALLY Hiding Behind Your Dog’s Bad Breath?

Do you love your dog but HATE his bad breath? When you find out what’s hiding behind that canine halitosis, you’re going to hate it even more.

According to the American Veterinary Dental College, “Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats, and is entirely preventable.“ They go on to explain that most often, BAD BREATH is the only sign of periodontal disease in dogs until the disease progresses to where it becomes a serious health concern.

Hiding behind that seemingly harmless stinky puppy breath lurks a disease that can lead to pain, tooth loss, organ damage and even death.

In nature, dog’s would naturally be protected from periodontal disease by their diets. Wild dogs would rely on catching and eating prey animals as the main ingredient in their diet, and the act of catching and eating raw food would naturally clean any plaque on their teeth- warding off periodontal disease.

But today’s dogs don’t hunt their meals and the majority don’t even eat a raw diet- they eat dog kibble. And if you REALLY knew what was in that commercial dog kibble, you’d not only be disgusted, you’d probably be very, very angry.

Loving Pet Parent Prepares Wholesome Food for Beloved Dog

Imagine this:

You put on your apron and step over your dog sleeping in a warm ray of sunshine coming in your kitchen window as you gather the ingredients to make him a nice nutritious meal.

You’ve purchased organic vegetables and free-ranging, organic, meats and organs specially for this meal.

But when you read the fine print, you discover the meat is not only non-organic, it’s not even from the right animal.

You thought you purchased bison and salmon, but you’re really getting chicken- and something called chicken meal at that. It doesn’t look like meat and it surely doesn’t taste like meat.

There’s also a sticker that says, “This meat-like product has been stored in an unsanitary warehouse infested with rats and birds, and is likely to contain ‘droppings’.” The labeling goes on to explain that in order to get the meat-like substance to stick together in a “pleasing patty shape” it’s been injected with various chemicals and a few preservatives to extend its shelf life.

The final insult is when you see this bonus instruction, “For best results, feed with packaging included for added flavor and freshness.”

Disgusted, you turn to those organic wholesome vegetables you bought for your pup. But you tear into those packages expecting to reveal ripe organic veggies, but only succeed in flinging a strange powdery substance all over your kitchen. It turns out you actually bought powdered vegetables, not real veggies.

Outraged that you wasted good money on “top-dollar” organic foods for your dog, you can’t believe such a deceptive market exists. But it does. It’s called the commercial pet food industry- and they deceive pet parents everyday with commercial dog kibbles.

The More You Know...

You wouldn’t knowingly put all those disgusting and non-nutritive substances into a big pot and feed it to your dog every day of his life- but you do exactly that when you feed your dog commercial dry kibble.

Not only do those disgusting and non-nutritious ingredients put your dog’s health at risk by depriving him of essential nutrients and infusing his body with known cancer-causing substances, it adversely affects his dental health.

Remember that article from the American Veterinary Dental College that explains periodontal disease in dogs? It goes on to describe how periodontitis occurs:

“Periodontal disease begins when bacteria in the mouth form a substance called plaque that sticks to the surface of the teeth. Subsequently, minerals in the saliva harden the plaque into dental calculus (tartar), which is firmly attached to the teeth. Tartar above the gum line is obvious to many owners, but is not of itself the cause of disease.

The real problem develops as plaque and calculus spread under the gum line. Bacteria in this ‘sub-gingival’ plaque set in motion a cycle of damage to the supporting tissues around the tooth, eventually leading to loss of the tooth. Bacteria under the gum line secrete toxins, which contribute to the tissue damage if untreated. These bacteria also stimulate the animal’s immune system. The initial changes cause white blood cells and inflammatory chemical signals to move into the periodontal space (between the gum or bone and the tooth). The function of the white blood cells is to destroy the bacterial invaders, but chemicals released by the overwhelmed white blood cells cause damage to the supporting tissues of the tooth. Instead of helping the problem, the patient’s own protective system actually worsens the disease when there is severe build-up of plaque and tartar.”

Plaque builds up on your dog’s teeth, spreads below the gum line, and breeds bacteria until your dog’s own immune system destroys his gums and teeth in an effort to get rid of the hard, sticky substance.

Have you figured out where all that plaque comes from? You guessed it- your dog’s food.

Have you ever noticed how thirsty your dog is during and after mealtimes? When you feed him kibble, he instinctively knows he needs to wash it down and rinse his mouth to help rid it of gunky processed dog food. Pour a little water on some kibble as an experiment to simulate saliva and watch what happens to it. Imagine trying to swallow that sticky paste. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it!

If you brushed your dog’s teeth after every kibble meal, his teeth would probably be mostly plaque-free, but I’m betting most people don’t brush their dog’s teeth everyday, or even every week, right? Instead, that sticky kibble-paste clings to your dog’s teeth and leads to excessive amounts of plaque.

Making a Change for the Better

But now that you know what’s really going on with your dog’s mouth, you can make a few changes starting today for a healthier, happier fur-baby.

1. STOP feeding him commercial kibble
2. Feed him a raw foods, species appropriate diet, like nature intended
3. Make regular dental care a part of your dog’s grooming routine

Even if you decide a raw diet isn’t right for you and commit to cooking meals for you dog instead of feeding him kibble, it’s far better than feeding him commercial pet foods. You can research raw dog food recipes or purchase a ready made raw dog food like TruDog’s FEED ME. Freeze-dried raw dog food provides convenience and nutrition without the mess and hassle.

When you feed your dog a raw diet, you’ll notice significantly less plaque buildup in your dog’s mouth. Have your veterinarian check your dog’s mouth at his yearly check-up to see if a dental cleaning is necessary. Regular professional cleanings will keep your dog’s mouth free of periodontal disease.

You can also extend the amount of time between required professional cleanings by using TruDog’s SPRAY ME. This natural, pleasant tasting spray binds with your dog’s saliva to help remove plaque in between teeth and in those hard-to-reach places. It’s also a great way to freshen up your dog’s breath any time. We use it every day after meals with an extra spray when she picks up something gross (like the cat box treasures) or when she’s going out to socialize with people- because no one likes to be greeted by nasty puppy breath.