Veterinarian

• Along with the halitosis, look for accompanying symptoms such as oral discharge, oral pain, bloody discharge from the mouth, drooling, difficult swallowing and/or eating and depression. All of these symptoms indicate that there is more to your dog's condition than just doggy breath and that a veterinarian will need to diagnose and treat your pet. The veterinarian will do a complete medical history, physical examination, oral examination and may take X-rays of your dog's mouth to find the source of your dog's bad breath. Curing the dog's bad breath will depend upon what type of treatment is needed to address the underlying condition.
  
  

Professional Teeth Cleaning

• If no underlying medical condition is at the root of your dog's halitosis, your veterinarian will likely recommend a professional dental cleaning for your dog. During this process, the dog is under general anesthesia. Plaque and tarter are removed from the dog's teeth. Tarter can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, which can contribute to halitosis in dogs. In addition tarter building up can lead to periodontal disease, which is painful, can lead to teeth being lost, teeth abscessing and bone infection. At the time of the dental cleaning, your veterinarian will flush your dog's mouth with a solution to kill any bacteria present. This will also help to control your dog's bad breath.
  
  

Home Dental Care

• A necessary step to curing your dog's bad breath is daily dental care at home. Dogs need their teeth brushed just like people do. While your dog may not be cooperative the first few times you attempt to brush her teeth, with patience and tenacity, both you and the pet will find the process relatively easy in time. You should purchase a toothbrush and toothpaste that are specifically designed for use in dogs. Human toothpastes and baking soda can cause stomach upset and other problems when used for dogs. In addition, toothpastes designed for dogs are flavored with a taste that is palatable for canines and will make your pet less resistant to having her teeth cleaned.