My dog's breath stinks. Will coconut oil make it better or worse?

It is not uncommon for tartar to buildup on dog's teeth as they age. Some dogs, particularly little dogs, seem to be more prone to this than others. Unfortunately coconut oil has no benefit for this issue. I would recommend picking up a dog toothpaste and toothbrush or dental chews such as CET chews that have been proven to be effective at decreasing tartar formation from your vet's office.

Hello, thank you for your question about Nannu. If he is not used to getting coconut oil as part of his normal diet it is possible that it is causing GI upset, which could explain the vomiting and the noise that you are hearing in his stomach. I would recommend offering him other dietary options that he is used to for the next 3-5 days. If there is no improvement I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian to ensure that there is nothing else more serious going on. Hope this helps, good luck!

I wouldn’t recommend using this combination to brush your dog’s teeth. While the coconut oil probably tastes good, it will just add unwanted calories to your dog’s diet, even if you are using a small amount. And the baking soda will be too harsh and abrasive for your dog. Instead I would recommend a toothpaste specifically made for dog’s. Or, you don’t even have to use toothpaste at all! The most important part of brushing a dog’s teeth is the mechanical action of brushing away the plaque that builds up on the teeth! If you do this daily it will go a long way to helping your dog’s teeth stay nice and healthy. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

I do not recommend to give Paulie any type of breath mint but there are things you can do to help. Small breed dogs like Paulie are prone to dental disease, abscesses and tooth infections which can result in very bad breath. Make him an appointment with the veterinarian to have his mouth examined and potentially schedule a dental cleaning. Most small breed dogs should have their teeth cleaned every 1-3 years for best health. At home brushing his teeth 3 times a week or more will help with doggy breath and improve overall dental health. It is not a substitute however for a thorough dental cleaning. Make sure to get dog tooth paste and you can generally find videos on line for how to brush the teeth. they do make water additives and what not which help but brushing the teeth is most effective. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Even with minimal tartar buildup and gingivitis, a dog’s breath may smell without daily/regular tooth brushing (as with humans!). I recommend purchasing an enzymatic (chicken flavored) doggie toothpaste from your local pet store or veterinarian and brushing Marley’s teeth daily (with the enzymatic toothpaste he will not need to rinse and spit). I also recommend bringing him back to have his anal glands specially checked via rectal exam as vets don’t always do a rectal exam on every visit and I have seen dogs with very full anal glands that have not been scooting or licking as per the owner. Good luck!

It's odd that it improved when the [Giardia](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/giardia/) was treated. My first suspicion for the ongoing odor is that she may be licking at her anal glands or eating her own (or someone else's) poop. Ideally, have her examined by a veterinarian just to make sure there are no wounds, irritation, etc in her mouth or throat that maybe contributing. You r vet can also check her anal glands to see if they seem full or irritated which could lead t her having a tendency to lick at them a lot. If her anal glands are fine, and her mouth is fine, use a daily product for dental health. [CET products](https://us.virbac.com/cet-veggiedent-fr3sh-dental-chew-for-dogs) contain chlorhexadine which kills bad breath causing bacteria. [Water additives](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-oratene-water-additive) are great too. I hope thats helpful for you. Thanks for asking PetCoach! Good luck!

At his age, the bad breath could be an abscess or the normal shedding of his puppy teeth. Take a good look inside his mouth to check for any abnormalities. You may also consider having him examined by the veterinarian if you are not sure what you are seeing. Otherwise, I recommend to brush his teeth. This is one of the best ways to maintain dental health: https://www.petcoach.co/article/brushing-teeth-home-dental-care/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.