My dog’s mouth smells like the inside of a trash can.
I mean, not all the time. Not even most of the time, actually. Most of the time, Kol’s breath is just fine, but every so often, he breaths on me and his hot, wet breath makes me gag. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN EATING, KOL? Is there a family of skunks living in your jowls?
The first thing I did was check out Kol’s chompers to make sure there wasn’t a problem. Dental disease is a huge problem amongst pets and I’m careful to make sure I pay as close attention to the health of my dog’s mouths as I do the health of their bodies. A mouth full of bacteria can lead to much more serious issues like heart, liver and kidney problems, besides, no one likes having a gross, painful mouth.
Koly and Fe get their teeth brushed daily with an organic, natural toothpaste. They also regularly get a dental spray designed to fight common bacteria and raw, meaty bones, which can also help keep teeth clean.
Still, sometimes, my dog’s breath accurately reflects the amount of time he spends grooming his nether regions.
When that happens, I just like to give him a quick freshen up. Our homemade Minty Chicken dog treats are just the thing to freshen his breath and make him think he’s getting a treat at the same time, plus gelatin is legit good for your pooch.
The Stuff (aka Ingredients)
- 1 c. low sodium, onion free chicken stock
- 3 packets Knox Unflavoured Gelatin
- 1 tbsp. freeze dried chicken treats, finely crushed.
- 1 tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 pinch fresh mint, finely chopped (you want just enough to make a difference, but not enough to be overpowering)
How We Do It (Instructions)
Bring chicken stock to a boil.
Mix a small amount of water into the crushed chicken treats, forming a paste. Stir the chicken paste into the boiling water. Sprinkle the gelatin over the boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved. (Sprinkle the gelatin, don't just toss it all in, like I did, or it will clump.) Add the chopped parsley and mint.
Allow the mix to cool for a few minutes, then pour into silicone moulds. Pop them in the fridge for a few hours, until quite firm.
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for several weeks.
Does your dog ever get rotten breath? How do you deal with it?
These look cool and know my dogs would love them. A recipe that is definitely a keeper.
Honey’s breath is absolutely neutral. Not good. Not bad.
But my husband’s? That’s another matter. He’s one of those guys who breathes garlic out of his lungs for days after eating it. And in the morning his breath smells like death on toast.
I’m wondering if I used another shape mold I might be able to pass these off to him as yummy, low carb treats? I bet he’d like gummy chicken treats.
Thanks for the treat recipe. I love that I can come here for so many cool things to share and try at home 🙂
I remember once our Blue caught and killed a snake. His breath smelled like decomp. LOL
Oh My Doodle!!! They look scrumptious. At first I thought you purchased them, then when I saw the recipe I got really excited. I will definitely have to give this a try, the Boys would love them.
We have pretty good breath, but since we started using the emmi-pet ultrasonic toothbrush for dogs, Mom says our breath is excellent. These sound quite tasty, though.
These look yummy but we were really hoping we wouldn’t have to brush our teeth anymore.
Those look really cool – we have never tried any gelatin type treats before! Our boys breath is usually not too bad but there are definitely instances where these would be a lifesaver!
What a cool idea! I love that you see the parsley flakes inside the dental treats!
Any idea of a long lasting softish dental chew that is grain free? I have been searching for ages and cannot seem to find one that is not made or sourced in China. Most companies seem to have been bought by the big guys who have trouble with recalls. I would also make them but dont really know how to make one that last a little longer than 5 minutes of chomping! Dental health is so important!
Unfortunately, I’ve never had much luck with this. My dogs get raw meaty bones (they are raw fed), as well as bully sticks, but I don’t rely on these for dental care. For dental care we use the bluestem liquid, frequent brushing and the occasional teeth cleaning.
I agree about the “trash can” smell 😀 “Pls don’t kiss me now”. Thank you very much for the tutorial! My dog will love this treats.
I love this recipe! I was wondering can these be stored in the freezer to increase shelf time as well as keep your dog chewing a minute longer?
Unfortunately, freezing gelatin rarely goes well. It doesn’t freeze solid like a pure water would and because freezing will damage the colloids and polymers that bind the gelatin together, and the Jello will separate when it thaws creating a bit of a gross mess.