Hi Everyone! I have been asked quite a bit recently what to do about stinky dog breath and how to keep teeth clean. I came across this blog post by Kelli Harvey, I love it! I used some of these methods myself and kept my dogs’ teeth and gums clean for their entire lives. The only remedy I would caution is the bones and toys, make sure they are natural and contain no synthetic ingredients. Hope this helps! Below is the link to the actual post.
Is stinky dog breath putting a stop to your snuggle time?
Brushing your pet’s teeth once a day at home is the best way to prevent bad breath caused by bacteria buildup.
But some doggos just aren’t into having their teeth brushed the old fashioned way.
If this sounds like a furry friend you know and love, there are other ways to help keep their breath fresh and teeth clean naturally!
Try One of These Natural Remedies For Bad Dog Breath
1
Share a healthy snack of Carrot Sticks & Apple Slices with your best buddy.
The crunchy texture helps scrape away plaque buildup on your dog’s teeth and gums naturally.
A few minutes in the freezer creates a soothing treat for teething pups!
2
Add a little bit of Coconut Oil to your dog’s food or use it as a toothpaste!
The Antiviral, Antifungal & Antibacterial properties found in coconut oil are a bad breath fighting trifecta for dogs!
Bonus! Coconut oil helps keep your pup’s coat shiny too!
3
Sprinkle a little Fresh Mint onto your dog’s food at every meal.
This freshly scented herb contains Chlorophyll which has natural healing properties. Mint is also rich in Vitamins A and C, which support healthy bones, skin, and vision.
Mint can even help to promote healthy digestion in pets and humans!
4
Add up to a teaspoon of Lemon Juice or Apple Cider Vinegar to Fido’s water bowl.
Lemon Juice
The acidity in lemon juice helps neutralize bacteria & fight the buildup of odor causing plaque and tartar.
Lemon acts as a natural deodorizer creating freshly scented breath with every drink of water!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Contains bacteria killing Malic & Acetic Acids.
Apple Cider Vinegar is also a natural source of calcium, potassium & magnesium —important minerals for overall health.
5
Choose Chew Toys & Treats designed for cleaning teeth
Lemon acts as a natural deodorizer creating freshly scented breath with every drink of water!
6
Give Your Dog Yogurt or speak with your vet about Probiotic Supplements
Some research has shown that the good, active bacteria found in yogurt and probiotics can help with stinky breath by killing odor-causing bacteria found in the mouth.
Good bacteria can also help with digestive and other health issues!
Start a Routine to Stop Stinky Dog Breath
The home remedies above will certainly help keep stinky dog breath at bay, but they are just one part of keeping your pet’s mouth healthy. Maintaining a routine of regular at home brushing and seeing a professional for twice yearly deep cleanings, is the best way to ensure your pet’s mouth stays fresh, clean, and free from bad bacteria. If you’re having trouble getting your dog to relax while you try to clean their teeth, our At-Home Brushing Guide is full of tips and tricks to help make brushing your dog’s teeth at home a more enjoyable experience for you and your furry best friend!
With these 6 ways to stop bad dog breath and a routine of regular brushing, you’ll be back to snuggle time with your beloved canine in no time!
Kelli Harvey
Kelli Harvey has produced educational materials for local animal rescues and worked closely with veterinarians across the US to help improve the lives of pets for many years. She’s also an obsessed pet mom to two rambunctious rescue mutts!
As always, my goal is to help you keep your dog healthy and happy for as long as possible!! Please leave a comment or contact me with questions or ideas. I look forward to hearing from you!
Hello again! A friend of mine who breeds and shows Golden Retrievers shared this with me. I think it’s important for those looking for a puppy since some breeders remove the dew claws when the pups are days old. Another reason to leave the dew claws is in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture) a major energy meridian runs right through the dew claw, removing it and the scar that remains can cause energy blockages and physical problems. I hope this article provides information to help you choose the right puppy. If your dog has had dew claws removed the information in this article can help you determine if your fur baby should a vet.
Do the Dew(claws)? M. Christine Zink DVM, PhD, DACVSMR I am a vet that works exclusively with performance dogs, developing rehabilitation programs for injured dogs or dogs that have had surgery as a result of performance-related injuries. I have seen many dogs now, especially field trial/hunt test and agility dogs, that have had chronic carpal arthritis, frequently so severe that they have to be retired or at least carefully managed for the rest of their careers. Of the over 30 dogs I have seen with carpal arthritis, only one has had dewclaws. The others have all had them removed. If you look at an anatomy book (Miller’s Guide to the Anatomy of Dogs is an excellent one – see figure below) you will see that there are 5 tendons attached to the dewclaw. Of course, at the other end of a tendon is a muscle, and that means that if you cut off the dew claws, there are 5 muscle bundles that will become atrophied from disuse. Those muscles indicate that the dewclaws have a function. That function is to prevent torque on the leg. Each time the foot lands on the ground, particularly when the dog is cantering or galloping, the dewclaw is in touch with the ground. If the dog then needs to turn, the dewclaw digs into the ground to support the lower leg and prevent torque. If the dog doesn’t have a dewclaw, the leg twists. A lifetime of that and the result can be carpal arthritis. Remember: the dog is doing the activity regardless, and the pressures on the leg have to go somewhere. They can be absorbed by the dewclaw, or they will move up and down the leg to the toes, carpus, elbow, and shoulders. Perhaps you are thinking, “I never have had one of my dogs have carpal pain or arthritis.” Well, we need to remember that dogs, by their very nature, do not tell us about mild to moderate pain. If a dog was to be asked by an emergency room nurse to give the level of his pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst, their scale would be 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Most of our dogs, especially if they deal with pain that is of gradual onset, just deal with it and don’t complain unless it is excruciating. But when I palpate the carpal joints of older dogs without dewclaws, I almost always elicit pain with relatively minimal manipulation. As to the possibility of injuries to dew claws. Most veterinarians will say that such injuries actually are not very common at all. And if they do occur, then they are dealt with like any other injury. In my opinion, it is far better to deal with an injury than to cut the dew claws off of all dogs “just in case.” Anatomical diagram viewing the medial side of a dog’s left front leg demonstrating the five tendons that attach to the dewclaw.
Hello Everyone! I know it’s been a while, but you know I don’t post unless something important comes to my attention. I was editing my book “Basic Dog Care” and as I was rereading the Chapter on Veterinary care I checked the link on vaccine protocols and realized the protocols had been revised since I wrote the book. So here is an article by Dr. Karen Becker, I loved reading this article since it high lights many things I have believed for years. I know the last post was also on vaccines, but I think you’ll benefit by this article. Thank you Dr. Becker and Mercola!
New Canine Vaccine Rules Rolled Out — Can You Guess What They Now Endorse?
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has issued a new set of canine vaccine guidelines for 2017
There are no notable changes to core vaccine recommendations (distemper, parvo, adenovirus and rabies), except that the parainfluenza virus is now considered an optional core according to the AAHA
As always, my canine vaccine protocol differs from the AAHA guidelines, especially with regard to non-core vaccines
For the first time, the AAHA acknowledges that titer tests are useful in determining dogs’ immunity to distemper, parvo and adenovirus
By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has updated their canine vaccination guidelines for 2017.1 These are the guidelines conventional veterinarians use. The last update was in 2011, and thankfully ushered in some new-and-improved thinking about the duration of core vaccines and how often to vaccinate.
Whereas prior to 2011, canine core vaccines (distemper, parvo and adenovirus) were supposed to be given yearly, the 2011 guidelines stated that core vaccines could be given at three-year or greater intervals. In addition, the AAHA admitted that immunity lasts at least five years for distemper and parvo, and at least seven years for adenovirus.
The reason for the updated guidelines seems to be to address new (non-core) vaccines developed in the last six years. I don’t recommend non-cores unless the risk of acquiring the disease is significant and outweighs the potential risks associated with the vaccines.
Initial vaccination in puppies up to 16 weeks of age: Starting as early as 6 weeks, administer combo vaccine every two to four weeks up to at least 16 weeks. Dogs in high-risk environments may benefit from a final dose at 18 to 20 weeks.
Initial vaccination in dogs over 16 weeks of age: Administer one or two combo vaccines. Dogs between 16 and 20 weeks living in high-risk environments may benefit from two combo shots two to four weeks apart. Revaccination: Administer a booster no later than one year after completion of initial series or dose, then every three years or longer thereafter.
•Rabies 1-year and 3-year
Initial vaccination should be one dose no earlier than 12 weeks of age. First revaccination for all dogs must be within one year of initial vaccination, regardless of whether the 1-year or 3-year vaccine was given. As required by law, subsequent revaccinations must be given either every year for the 1-year vaccine, or every three years for the 3-year vaccine.
The Canine Vaccine Protocol I Recommend
My protocol is to administer a first round of distemper, parvo and adenovirus (no parainfluenza) before 12 weeks of age, usually around 9 to 10 weeks. I give the second round between 15 and 16 weeks. Two weeks after the second round, I titer to insure the dog has been immunized and not just vaccinated. When it comes to rabies, I prefer to give the first vaccine at six months, and then as required by law, a booster one year later and every three years thereafter.
How to Determine If Your Dog Needs a Non-Core Vaccine
As I mentioned above, I don’t typically recommend non-core vaccines, which include bordetella, leptospira, Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme), canine influenza viruses H3N8 and H3N2 and Crotalus atrox (western diamond rattlesnake). The AAHA has developed a Lifestyle-Based Vaccine Calculator to help veterinarians and dog parents determine what non-cores, if any, should be given. In my opinion, each vaccine your dog receives should meet the following criteria:
First, your dog should be healthy. If he has allergies, endocrine issues, organ dysfunction, cancer (or is a cancer survivor) or another medical issue he’s not a candidate to receive vaccines
The vaccine is for a life-threatening disease (this eliminates most non-cores immediately).
Your dog has the opportunity to be exposed to the disease.
The vaccine is considered both effective and safe (most aren’t, especially the bacterins).
Your dog has never had an adverse reaction to a vaccine. Do not vaccinate a pet that has had a previous vaccine reaction of any kind.
If you do vaccinate your pet, ask your holistic veterinarian to provide a homeopathic vaccine detox such as Thuja (a common choice for all vaccines except rabies).
It’s also important to realize that several non-core vaccines are only available in combination with other vaccines, some of which are core. I recommend you check with your vet to insure none of the non-core vaccines are being piggy-backed on core vaccines your pet receives.
Unfortunately, most traditional vets do not carry single vaccines, so it’s a good idea to ask to see the vaccine vial before assuming your pet is only receiving one agent at a time.
Titer Tests Are Finally Going Mainstream
For the first time ever (to my knowledge), in these latest vaccination guidelines the AAHA admits titer tests are useful to check a dog’s immunity to distemper, parvo and adenovirus. Hallelujah! Per the guidelines:
“Measuring antibody levels (quantitative or qualitative) provides a reasonable assessment of protective immunity against CDV, CPV, and CAV2.”
And from the AAHA website page titled “Antibody Testing Versus Vaccination:”
“The demand for and availability of antibody testing (both qualitative and quantitative) for canine vaccine preventable diseases has increased substantially over the past decade.”2
And finally, from the pet owner section of the website on the canine vaccination guidelines page:
“Titers, or quantitative antibody testing, can help determine your dog’s protection from some diseases. Titer testing can be useful when a dog’s vaccination history for distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus is unknown — a positive result typically means he is considered protected.
However, no test is 100 [percent] accurate, so in areas where these diseases run rampant, your veterinarian may still recommend vaccinating. While titer testing for rabies is available, the law still requires that the dog be vaccinated since this is a fatal, zoonotic (i.e., can be spread to people) disease.”3
Interestingly, passionate pet parents and proactive vets in other parts of the world have developed much more progressive titering protocols that I hope one day we can institute in North America. In the Netherlands and Belgium, for instance, many vets titer puppies and kittens before their first vaccines to determine if there are maternal antibodies present.
This allows the animals to receive one perfectly timed vaccine. These animals are titered four weeks later to assure they were adequately immunized.
Integrative vets in this country understand convincing clients to titer once after young animals have received their initial vaccines has taken many years to accomplish. Convincing owners to titer before and after a vaccine is absolutely the best medicine, but may prove to be a difficult protocol to institute for economic reasons.
Let’s hope the demand for titer tests continues to increase among pet parents, along with access to affordable testing. The great news is Dr. John Robb has arranged for a rabies, parvo and distemper titer package for $55 (that you can submit yourself if your vet won’t do it)!
If your own vet isn’t offering titers at a reasonable cost, shop around. Any veterinarian truly concerned about the health of pets should happily offer affordable titer testing in lieu of automatic revaccination.
Hello Everyone! Those of you who know me, know that I have very strong opinions, especially when it comes to vaccines. My own dogs are NOT vaccinated every year, they instead have titer tests for IMMUNITY! I do think that all dogs, like children should have an annual checkup, not for vaccines, but to make sure nothing is brewing that could be a detriment to your dog’s health. Whole Dog Journal put out a really informative downloadable e-book that I think every dog parent should have! The information here is so important, and may go against what your vet recommends. When you are informed, you can make a better educated decision on the health care options of your fur kid. Below is the link.
As always, my goal is to help you keep your dog healthy and happy for as long as possible!! Please leave a comment or contact me with questions or ideas. I look forward to hearing from you!
Please be aware of where you get your puppy. Pet stores have puppies from puppy mills. This is a video of a dog rescued from a puppy mill. There are wonderful, responsible breeders, rescue organizations and shelters where wonderful dogs are waiting for loving forever homes. I hope this changes your mind about the cute puppies in the window.
Hello everyone! After a conversation with a woman whose puppy had a bad experience I thought it was important that you understand the critical periods in a dogs life, especially fear imprint periods, of which there are two. They may occur earlier or later, since each pup is an individual. Any fearful situation during these critical times can cause a fear that the dog never gets over. I found this article that explains the different periods in yours puppy’s growth and maturation process. Not all people working with animals are patient and willing to help a dog learn gently to tolerate necessary’s like the vet or grooming. Please be your pups parent and advocate, there is no reason why ANY dog should be afraid, bullied or traumatized by ANYONE! If you can’t observe how your dog is being treated, especially by someone you don’t know, do not leave them!!! I hope this article helps you make informed decisions in the care of your fur kid. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with.
So, my son has a beautiful Siberian Husky he is considering breeding, the first thing he did was do a genetic DNA test. The results are really nice! I was curious, do breeders do DNA testing? If so, what are the benefits? If not, can this test help breeders produce puppies less likely to have health or temperament problems? I heard of a breeder in Pennsylvania, she does DNA testing, is very picky of who she breeds her dogs to, and guarantees the health of her puppies for 18 months!! I found this article by the AKC and thought it would be useful for anyone looking for a puppy. After learning this I would definitely want a puppy from dogs who both had a DNA test so I would have an idea of what to expect as far as health and temperament. There are also questions I would ask the breeder about the general health and temperament of her dogs and puppies. References of past puppy buyers and owners would also be something I would want. The breeder should be very careful of who buys his puppies, I would also be very careful of who I buy a puppy from. Hope you find this information useful!
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is composed of a sequence of substances known as nucleotides. It carries the unique blueprint for every individual living organism—from the smallest bacterium to humans. Genes are segments of DNA, and these code for specific proteins that play the central role in building, maintaining, and reproducing a cell.
Dogs have about 20,000 to 25,000 genes that are located along 78 chromosomes (compared to 46 in humans).
In 2005, an international research team led by MIT’s Broad Institute published a paper in the journal Nature, describing the sequencing the canine genome. This complete set of dog genes gave scientists, breeders, and owners a powerful tool to better understand and care for dogs.
The research was based on the genetic sequence of Tasha, a female Boxer. This breakthrough gave researchers a tool for identifying genes for specific traits, including diseases, in addition to pinpointing genes and parentage.
Courtesy National Human Genome Research Institute/Broad Institute
Today, DNA testing is used in the following ways:
Confirming parentage A technology known as “genetic fingerprinting” is used by law-enforcement throughout the world to positively identify crime suspects. The same technology can be used to provide a DNA snapshot of any individual, canine or human. These profiles serve several functions, including positive identification of a dog, accurate pedigree tracking, and confirmation of parentage. The American Kennel Club offers AKC DNA Profiles service that creates and records the genetic identification of dogs. This voluntary program adds value to breeding programs by giving breeders a way to eliminate concerns and questions about parentage. How does this work? Each gene is present as two copies called alleles. Offspring receive one copy of each gene from each parent. DNA tests to confirm parentage do not use actual genes, but other DNA sequences referred to as markers. These are not functional genes, so the DNA profiles are used only for genetic identity and parentage verification. They do not provide any information about appearance, genetic diseases, or breed.
Enforcing pet waste laws The same kind of technology is used to put the finger on poop-law scofflaws. One company—PooPrints by BioPet Laboratories, in Knoxville, Tennessee—has offered a genetic profiling service to managed communities since 2008. Landlords can log each resident’s dog into a pet registry. If waste is found in place where it doesn’t belong, a sample of cells extracted from the feces can be compared to an individual in a database of genetic profiles of local dogs.
Determining the mix in mixed-breed dogs DNA tests are available to reveal what breeds went into creating dogs that are affectionately nicknamed “Heinz 57s.” The AKC designates these dogs as Canine Partners. Wisdom Panel, which is owned by Mars Inc., covers all AKC registered breeds, as well as some of the rarer breeds in the Foundation Stock Service listing. The tests cost about $85, and Wisdom Panel says it has sold about 400,000 since the company launched in 2007. Wisdom Panel and other similar tests are available online. Knowing the breed will allow owners to make intelligent choices, based on breed, about healthcare and training. It can also give puppy owners an idea of how large the adult dog is likely to be. Wisdom Panel’s tests are being used by the Search Dog Foundation, which takes dogs from shelters and trains them for search-and-rescue, to help assess if a dog’s genetic background is well-suited to a certain kind of work.
Detecting inherited diseases Breeders have a responsibility to choose the sires and dams that have the best chance of producing sound, healthy puppies. Genetic testing plays a huge role in this, by giving breeders a heads up that there may be a tendency toward a disease lurking in a dog’s DNA. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Inc., founded in 1966 as a control database for the orthopedic problem known as dysplasia, now maintains voluntary databases of canine health, some of which is based on X-Rays, some on genetic tests. According to an OFA monograph, “knowledge of the genotypic status is the breeder’s most powerful tool for elimination of genetic disease.” Today, there are hundreds of these tests, pinpointing the gene for dog diseases. The AKC Canine Health Foundation has a list of available canine genetic tests, organized by breed. There are 119, but more are being researched and added each day. PennGen, a genetic testing facility operated at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, is a collection of laboratories that coordinate as a not-for-profit unit, that offer routine testing for genetic disease. According to PennGen, more than 900 inherited disorders have been identified in dogs. It maintains a database of available tests, which can be searched by breed or condition. Breed clubs generally list recommended genetic tests.
Revealing hidden traits DNA tests are also available for detecting genes for coat color and type. A dog may look like he’s a certain color, but may carry the genes for another color, pattern, or texture that may show up in the offspring.
How Can You Get a DNA Test for Your Dog
Several universities and companies offer testing services. Some require blood to be drawn, and this is probably best done by your veterinarian. Others require only a scraping of cells, taken from the inside of the mouth, known as a buccal swab or smear. This video shows how it is done for tests conducted at University of California, Davis. Test kits will provide the materials needed to obtain and ship samples to laboratories.
Dr. Marty Goldstein is one of the canine experts I respect the most. Years ago I had the privilege of attending a workshop where Dr. Goldstein was speaking. I learned how to prepare my dogs real, appropriate food that they loved! Dr. Marty has very informative, helpful videos on Youtube. Dr. Marty has developed his own natural pet food, you can find it at https://drmartypets.com/ Hope this helps you make great choices for your fur kids diet!
My own dogs were on a raw food diet that I prepared myself. Dr. Marty was one of the experts I learned from to make sure my dog’s meals were nutritionally complete. Now if you want to feed raw and you live on Long Island, Joe Armellino is a doggy butcher. Joe makes sure all his formulas have the appropriate amount of ground meat, bone, fat and vegetables. He sells frozen logs which makes it very easy to give your dog a varied diet. You can see Joe on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Armellinos-K9-331825363525116/
As always, my goal is to help you keep your dog healthy and happy for as long as possible!! Please leave a comment or contact me with questions or ideas. I look forward to hearing from you!
My son has 5 Husky’s, they are all so wonderful! As a grandma, I love to spoil my grandpuppies. So I bake. I was telling a friend what I make for my puppies, she not only wanted the recipe, she insisted I put it out there. It’s not my recipe, but it is so easy!! When grandma comes over all 5 pups run over, hoping grandma brought COOKIES! Here’s the recipe I found online. I sometimes add blueberries and melt carob chips and drizzle over the cooled cookies. Thank you Damn Delicious!!
All you need is 4 ingredients for these hypoallergenic treats! And the coconut oil makes these so HEALTHY for your pup!
INGREDIENTS: • 3 cups old fashioned oats, or more, as needed • 2 ripe bananas, mashed • 1/4 cup peanut butter • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine oats, bananas, peanut butter and coconut oil. Add an additional 2 tablespoons oats at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.
Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.*
Let cool completely.
NOTES: *Baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the treats. Serving size will also vary depending on the desired shapes and cookie cutters used.
How do you know if your dog has an ear infection? Does the ear smell, is it red, is there dirt or black gook? These are all signs of an ear infection. Usually floppy eared dogs are prone to ear infections. Moisture gets trapped inside the ear, bacteria sets in and, voila! an ear infection!
As a Golden Retriever groomer I used to see a lot of gooky, infected ears. I found this wonderful solution from an amazing woman, Helen McKinnon. Once I started using it, I never had to deal with dirty ears again!!
As always, my goal is to help you keep your dog healthy and happy for as long as possible!! Please leave a comment or contact me with questions or ideas. I look forward to hearing from you!
How do you know if your dog has an ear infection? Does the ear smell, is it red, is there dirt or black gook? These are all signs of an ear infection. Usually floppy eared dogs are prone to ear infections. Moisture gets trapped inside the ear, bacteria sets in and, voila! an ear infection!
Healthy, Happy Dogs! 