Grapefruit Seed Extract for Dog Bad Breath

I have two Shelties and a cat with very bad breath. I usually take them in for teeth cleanings but I know with the economy being bad many people (like me) are looking for effective treatments at a lower cost.

We all love our pets, but adult dogs do not have that wonderful puppy breath. And more importantly, the bacteria that causes bad breath and periodontal disease can actually shorten your dog's or cat's lifespan.

I use a natural product in the pets drinking water. It's Grapefruit Seed Extract.
Non-toxic and safe for my pets and it really takes care of the doggy breath (and fishy cat breath). I mix 10 drops in a gallon jug of filtered water and use this for my pets drinking water. I marked the jug with Pet's Drinking Water so anyone in the family can top the pet water dish off. It has no taste when diluted like this. Never use undiluted!

I use it as a mouth rinse myself. I dilute 4 drops in about 3 tsp of warm water, swish and swallow. I don't like the taste at all so I make sure I have it mixed well and with enough warm water. The pets don't notice any taste or smell in their water. I haven't tried this but you can mix a few drops in water and use it for a doggy mouth spray or tooth paste.

Grapefruit seed extract combines very well with other natural remedies. It is a great team player and seems to augment the activity of other medicinal herbs. Homeopaths particularly value it because is does not interfere with the activity of homeopathic remedies.

Regular teeth cleanings are important for you pets. Periodontal disease has been called the 'silent killer of pets', and proper oral health care may actually extend the life of your pet by 2 to 5 years. It's estimated that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of 3 suffer from periodontal disease, a serious deterioration of the gums and supporting bones of the teeth. Left unchecked, resulting bacteria can enter your pet's bloodstream, causing infection or damage to vital organs such as kidneys, lungs, heart, or liver.

You can find the Grapefruit Seed Extract from Natural Food Stores or from many online sources. I bought mine here, iherb.com. Use this code OBI850 and get $5 off your first order so you can get the GSE for less than $9.

I have also used products from Native Remedies and they do work with a higher price tag.
Get more info on Gumz-n-Teeth to prevent pet gingivitis.

There are so many uses for Grapefruit Seed Extract and I will write more but this post is about using it as part of your pets oral hygiene care.