Recently, an owner came in and told me he was giving his pet dog yogurt with parsley to "freshen" his dog's breath. I had never heard of such a combination before. This concoction had come from Dr. Google, and according to the owner, it had very limited success.
A lot of folks are interested in giving their pets home remedies. Very often these include the same foods or supplements that we humans take. If it's safe for us, it should be safe for our pets, right?
You probably already know that chocolate, which is much-loved by a lot of people, is a big no-no for dogs and cats. This is a classic example of when our pets differ wildly from us, in terms of anatomy and physiology. What's good for the goose ain't always good for the gander!
Inspired by today's bad breath-fighting recipe, I thought I'd start a series of articles about common home remedies, their safety, and their efficacy (if we know it.)
A lot of folks are interested in giving their pets home remedies. Very often these include the same foods or supplements that we humans take. If it's safe for us, it should be safe for our pets, right?
You probably already know that chocolate, which is much-loved by a lot of people, is a big no-no for dogs and cats. This is a classic example of when our pets differ wildly from us, in terms of anatomy and physiology. What's good for the goose ain't always good for the gander!
Inspired by today's bad breath-fighting recipe, I thought I'd start a series of articles about common home remedies, their safety, and their efficacy (if we know it.)
Parsley
In small amounts (i.e. a small sprinklings) parsley can be safe for dogs. Larger amounts, however, can lead to liver disease. Parsley can also cause diuresis, and in the past, before the discovering of diuretic medication, it has been used to treat people with kidney disease. Most people aren't feeding their dogs such a large amount of parsley, but a quick google search shows that some people are recommending parsley puree for bad doggy breath (also called halitosis), which is possibly unsafe, especially if used continuously over time.
In terms of effectiveness, it doesn't seem to be especially helpful. Much like chewing on mint gum sweetens our breath but doesn't do anything to actually clean our teeth, parsley might freshen breath a bit, but a mouth full of tartar can't be masked with herbs. Especially for doggies that like to eat cat food or animal poop, parsley is particularly ineffective.
And since I mentioned mint gum, I need to point out that you should NOT feed gum to your pets. It is much safer to try a little sprinkling of parsley! Xylitol, which is found in human chewing gum, is toxic to dogs and cats.
In terms of effectiveness, it doesn't seem to be especially helpful. Much like chewing on mint gum sweetens our breath but doesn't do anything to actually clean our teeth, parsley might freshen breath a bit, but a mouth full of tartar can't be masked with herbs. Especially for doggies that like to eat cat food or animal poop, parsley is particularly ineffective.
And since I mentioned mint gum, I need to point out that you should NOT feed gum to your pets. It is much safer to try a little sprinkling of parsley! Xylitol, which is found in human chewing gum, is toxic to dogs and cats.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a safe treat for dogs, although some dogs are lactose-intolerant and won't stomach yogurt very well. Avoid flavored yogurts, (especially if chocolate is an ingredient) as these will be particularly high in sugars. I think the reasoning behind using yogurt to treat bad breath is that the acidity neutralizes odor, but there is nothing special in yogurt that will help with halitosis.
One Japanese study from 2005 suggested that eating daily sugar-free probiotic yogurt might reduce bad breath in people, by decreasing the amount of hydrogen sulphide produced in the mouth. However, the number of participants in the study was very small, and people do not have the same level of dental disease (and eating habits) that we see in dogs and cats. Although a teaspoon of yogurt a day might not hurt, it's not going to treat the underlying cause of bad breath: dental disease.
Cats don't tolerate cow's milk, which frequently gives them diarrhea, so don't allow them to eat or drink any dairy products.
One Japanese study from 2005 suggested that eating daily sugar-free probiotic yogurt might reduce bad breath in people, by decreasing the amount of hydrogen sulphide produced in the mouth. However, the number of participants in the study was very small, and people do not have the same level of dental disease (and eating habits) that we see in dogs and cats. Although a teaspoon of yogurt a day might not hurt, it's not going to treat the underlying cause of bad breath: dental disease.
Cats don't tolerate cow's milk, which frequently gives them diarrhea, so don't allow them to eat or drink any dairy products.
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Have any more questions about what's safe to give your pet? Fill out the contact form and I will try to answer any queries.
Have any more questions about what's safe to give your pet? Fill out the contact form and I will try to answer any queries.