Dog lovers know one crucial thing - puppy breath is magical. Is there anything that smells better than puppy breath? However, many people wonder what is so pleasing about the smell? Let’s explore what makes a puppy’s breath smell so unique.
Learning All About Puppy Breath
An adult dog’s breath is usually less than pleasing. It’s a combination of dog food and saliva. Also, many dogs love raiding the litter box or eating other repugnant items. However, a puppy’s breath is nothing like the animal’s adult counterpart. Instead, a puppy’s breath smells good. Most new dog owners fall in love with their puppy mainly based on how appealing the animal smells.
Why Does a Puppy’s Breath Smell Good?
A puppy has spent the first eight weeks of its life drinking its mother’s milk. A young puppy who drinks only milk or eats only a small amount of food while nursing is not exposed to stinky dog foods. The pup’s breath still has the sweet aroma of the mother’s milk.
The mouth and teeth of a young pup have also not had the opportunity to build up bacteria or plaque, which can cause bad breath.
Bad Puppy Breath
Not all puppies have good breath. In fact, the pup’s breath is a strong indicator of the young animal’s overall health. If the puppy is sickly or has worms, then its breath might smell less than ideal. Also, some young pups develop the habit of eating their fecal matter, leading to stinky breath.
How Long Does Puppy Breath Last?
Most puppies will have puppy breath until they start to teeth. When a puppy loses its baby teeth, the animal’s mouth will bleed, and the pooled blood causes an unpleasant odor. Also, the large adult teeth cause the pup’s gums to bleed, which leads to bad breath.
By the time a dog turns three years old, it has usually started to develop plaque and bacteria, so it’ll have bad breath. As the dog ages, tooth decay and abscesses can also cause an unpleasant odor.
Pleasant Dog Breath
All puppies grow up, but not all dogs develop bad breath. It is not inevitable that your adult dog has terrible breath. Yes, the pet’s puppy breath will go away as the canine grows up, but you can still prolong your dog’s good breath by practicing regular dental preventative care and routine oral maintenance.
Start brushing your puppy’s teeth using a soft bristle brush and dog toothpaste several times a week. The puppy will get used to the brushing, and you’ll be able to continue brushing your dog’s teeth well into adulthood.
Ideally, you should brush your adult dog’s teeth three times a week. You’ll also want to take the dog to your veterinarian for regular exams and cleanings. Preventing periodontal disease in your aging dog will prevent the animal from suffering from painful oral problems and might even prolong the dog’s life.
As with all stages of your dog’s life, enjoy the puppy breath stage and soak it up! Puppy breath is genuinely remarkable.