Greetings, dog lovers!

Welcome to Dog Forum’s newsletter.

This Week's Dog-Centric News and Tips are in: 

• Natural Remedies For Your Dog’s Bad Breath

• Dogs Have Favourite Scents, Study Says

• Thread: Share your dog’s picture with us in our dedicated thread

• Video: This dog is not asking. HE IS DEMANDING FOOD

Bark Bulletin of the Week

Join some of the most buzzing discussions on our forum!

DOG HEALTH

Natural Remedies For Your Dog’s Bad Breath

Canine halitosis, generally known as bad dog breath, is much more common than you might think.

Around 80% of dogs over the age of three have periodontal disease, which is the major cause of bad breath in dogs. Fortunately, there are some home remedies that you can do that naturally cure bad dog breath.

Yogurt: A Tasty, Healthy Treat!
Yogurt isn't just a delicious snack for humans—it's great for your dog too! Regularly giving your pup yogurt can neutralize hydrogen sulfide, the main culprit behind bad breath. Probiotics in yogurt help balance healthy oral bacteria. Check with your vet to find the best probiotic brand and dosage for your furry friend.

Coconut Oil: The Ultimate Superfood!
Coconut oil isn't just for shiny coats and boosted immunity—it’s also a breath freshener! Adding a small spoonful of coconut oil to your dog's food can improve their metabolism and digestion while keeping their breath fresh. Remember, moderation is key to avoid any tummy troubles.

Lemon Juice: Nature’s Deodorizer!
Lemon juice is fantastic for neutralizing bacteria in your dog’s mouth and preventing tartar and plaque buildup. Just add a few drops to your dog’s water to naturally deodorize their breath. Apple cider vinegar works similarly and is another great option.

Parsley: Not Just a Garnish!
Parsley is packed with vitamins and minerals that support overall health, including fresh breath! It’s cheap, easy to find, and super effective.

Chop up some curly parsley leaves and mix them into your dog’s food to fight stinky breath. Avoid spring parsley, which is toxic to dogs.

More Water: Hydration is Key!
Dehydration can lead to bad breath, so ensure your dog has plenty of fresh water.

Always carry a portable water bowl when you’re out and about to keep your pup hydrated.

Remember, brushing your dog’s teeth regularly and feeding them a diet rich in fresh foods are crucial for maintaining good oral health.

If bad breath persists despite these efforts, it’s time for a vet visit to rule out any underlying health issues.

Source: The Dogington Post

Playful Picks

1.This dog is not asking. HE IS DEMANDING FOOD

2.

3. I can’t… 😂😂😂😂😂😂

DOG FACTS

Dogs Have Favourite Scents, Study Says

A dog’s sense of smell is so powerful, it’s kind of hard to wrap our heads around it as humans.

There’s evidence that pups can smell stress, fear, certain types of cancer, and COVID-19 — and working dogs have been trained to smell drugs, explosives, and lost or trapped people.

“A dog’s sense of smell is estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive and accurate than a human’s,” says veterinarian Dr. Lindsay Butzer. “Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in humans.”

So, if there are certain scents that you can’t get enough of (like that heavenly section of the mall that has a Bath & Body Works), the same is likely true for your dog — times 50.

A 2022 study found that most dogs favor a few specific scents. And it turns out they might even be some of the same as yours.

Dogs’ Favourite Smells

To find out which scents dogs favor, researchers presented 32 odor samples to 14 different dogs.

Cameras recorded the dogs and tracked their interest in the different scents throughout multiple trials. When dogs sniffed for longer than two seconds, this was considered a positive interaction.

They found that dogs loved lavender, blueberry, blackberry, peppermint, and rose.

Lavender, in particular, has researched benefits for pups and humans alike. “Lavender has been proven to affect a variety of species (including dogs and humans), with the scent of lavender shown to lower the heart rate of dogs … as well as increasing the rest and sitting time while riding in a car,” wrote the study’s lead author, Agata Kokocińska.

And we didn’t need a study to tell us this, but the results also showed that dogs really, really love the smell of food.

Obviously.

“The odor of food was always preferred by the dogs over the other smells presented in the same trial,” Kokocińska wrote.

Using Smells for Enrichment

“The sense of smell in dogs is not only a highly developed sense, but also plays a huge role in the animal’s welfare,” Kokocińska wrote. In humans and dogs, scents can evoke past memories and impact mood.

Knowing how important scents are to pups, some shelters have begun using scent enrichment to calm dogs.

Use Caution

Just keep in mind that many essential oils are dangerous for pets — including cinnamon, peppermint, and pine. The more concentrated the oil, the more dangerous it is, so keep your pet a safe distance from essential oils, and be sure the scent is not on the no-no list (good news: Lavender oil is generally safe for dogs).

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) advises, “Using an oil diffuser for a short time period in a secured area — one that your dog or cat cannot access — is not likely to be an issue.”

Source: TheWildest

Quiz Answers

True! 

Dogs are little mathematicians!

Dogs have been shown to have a basic understanding of arithmetic.

Studies suggest that dogs can differentiate between different quantities and have some sense of numerical concepts, such as recognizing when one pile of treats is larger than another.

That’s it for this edition of Dog Forum’s newsletter.

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