The Ultimate Home Remedies For Corgis With Bad Breath
We all know how adorable corgis are, but you know what’s not so cute? Corgis with bad breath.
I love getting kisses from my corgi, Winston, but I’m not such a fan of how they smell!
And while there are many commerical products available to combat bad breath, I prefer to use natural remedies that are both effective and safe.
Home remedies for corgis with bad breath include good old-fashioned tooth brushing, natural snacks such as carrots and apples, and food toppings like probiotic yogurt.
Before we dive into the homemade remedies, first let’s take a look at what’s causing your corgi’s bad breath.
Why your corgi has bad breath
Bad breath, or ‘halitosis’, in dogs is most commonly caused by a build up of plaque and tartar.
As soon as your corgi salivates, plaque builds up on their teeth and gradually turns into rough tartar.
If left to its own devices, this tartar will cause gum inflammation and generate bad bacteria that causes decay. And decay is stinky!
The good news is that there are plenty of dental products and home remedies available that decrease the accumulation of plaque.
The importance of tooth brushing for corgis with bad breath
However, there is no substitution for regular tooth brushing.
I highly recommend that you brush your corgi’s teeth at least 2-3x per week to maintain good dental hygiene and minimize the chance of them needing a clean and polish under general aesethetic.
Disclaimer: Even with regular tooth brushing and the use of natural remedies to freshen Winston’s breath, he still had to have his teeth professionally cleaned when he was around two years old.
The vet informed us that almost all dogs will need to have ‘maintainence’ cleans every few years to prevent them needing teeth removed later in life.
By doing your best to keep your corgi’s teeth clean, you can help to reduce the frequency of these cleans and ensure your corgi has fresh, pain-free teeth for as long as possible.
4 natural remedies to freshen your corgi’s breath
Besides tooth brushing, you can incorporate certain natural remedies into your corgi’s diet to fix bad breath.
Let’s take a look at 4 of them.
1. Carrot and apple snacks
Carrots and apples (with the seeds removed as they are slightly acidic) make a fantastic natural remedy for bad dog breath.
Think of them as nature’s Dentastix! But without any additives or ingredients you don’t recognize.
Gnawing away on these snacks helps scrape away plaque and tartar build up on your corgi’s teeth, minimizing smelly breath and giving them a boost of nutrition.
I recommend feeding your corgi natural carrots (rather than canned) and apples.
Store them in the fridge to create a soothing dental stick, great for teething corgi puppies.
2. A dollop of probiotic yogurt
Not only is yogurt a great remedy to fix bad breath, it’s also good for your corgi’s digestive system.
That’s because yogurt is high in calcium and protein, and acts as a probiotic (which is great for the gut).
Several studies have found that unsweetened, natural yogurt helps reduce plaque and inhibits the growth of odor-caushing bacteria in the mouth.
I recommend you dollop a tablespoon of probiotic yogurt on your corgi’s food once or twice a week.
Just make sure you opt for plain Greek yogurt that doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients, sweeteners, or preservatives.
3. Homemade banana and mint breath freshener biscuits
These biscuits are super easy to make and contain mint to keep your corgi’s mouth deliciously fresh.
Ingredients
- 90g rolled oats
- 180g all purpose flour
- 127g mashed banana
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp mint, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F // 180°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Add oats to a food processor and blitz until they become a flour consistency
- Melt the coconut oil until it liquifies
- Add all the ingredients into a bowl and mix until it forms a dough
- Sprinkle the countertop with a tablespoon or two of flour, then turn the dough out onto the countertop
- Roll the dough out to .5cm thick and cut out treats (using a cute dog bone cookie cutter if you have one!)
- Place the biscuits on the parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden
- Let the biscuits cool before giving one to your corgi
4. Homemade coconut and fresh mint bites
You can whip these bites up in no time. Then pop them in the freezer and a couple of hours later, treat your corgi!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp fresh mint
- Handful of fresh spinach
- 100g natural yogurt
- 2-3 tbsp coconut oil, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a food processor
- Spoon mixture into moulds and spread evenly
- Freeze for 1-2 hours or until solid
- Pop treats out of the molds and serve to your corgi!
- Store treats in an airtight container in the freezer
What about apple cider vinegar?
Many articles online suggest giving your dog a few drops of apple cider vinegar to help combat bad breath.
However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this works for dogs or provides them any other health benefits whatsoever.
3 tips to maintain good dog dental hygiene
It’s really important to maintain your corgi’s dental hygiene because dirty teeth can be very uncomfortable… and stinky!
Here are 3 tips I recommend to keep their teeth as pearly white as possible.
1. Brush their teeth at least twice per week
Like I said above, there really is no substitute for good old-fashiong tooth brushing.
Aim to do this at least twice per week. Find out how we got into this habit with our corgi, Winston.
2. Give them natural dental sticks
Regularly treat your corgi to a natural dental stick like carrots, apples or the homemade treats above.
Remember, all additional snacks (no matter how healthy) must be given in moderation.
I give Winston one medium sized carrot every day after we get back from his morning walk.
3. Review their food
If you feed your corgi predominantly wet food, it might be worth speaking to your vet about switching this for dry food – or feeding them a mixture of both.
Dry food can provide a mild cleaning effect on a dog’s teeth and may benefit your corgi if their breath is really bad.
