Homemade dog treats for bad breath are a healthy and natural way to freshen your dog’s breath. These baked dog treats with mint and parsley are great for freshening stinky doggie breath.
You are in luck! Not only will you get an easy recipe for the dog breath treats, but I’m also sharing lots of tips and helpful information for pet parents like you too! I hope this guide helps you if your puppy has smelly breath.
FYI – This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Common Causes of Bad Breath
Before I get to the fresh breath dog treats recipe, I want to look closer at what causes that bad breath to begin with.
Stinky breath – also called halitosis – is most commonly caused by plaque and tartar buildup on your dog’s teeth.
Periodontal disease begins when bad bacteria cause tooth decay. This decay creates sulfur compounds that smell atrocious.
That is why things like crunchy DIY dog treats are so important. They actually help remove the plaque from your dog’s teeth and prevent it from building up.
Dog Dental Health
A dog’s bad breath isn’t the only reason to care about the kind of treats you give them.
It’s important to take care of your dog’s oral health. It’s a good idea to have a routine for dental care and oral hygiene. Your dog’s teeth play a big role in their overall health.
You want there to be healthy teeth in your pup’s mouth. Clean teeth are bright, white, and free of tartar and plaque.
You may even need to take your dog to the vet for a dental cleaning on a regular basis. Your veterinarian can take a look at your pup’s teeth and let you know if thorough cleaning is needed.
Can Treats Cure Dog Bad Breath
The effectiveness of treats for dog bad breath treatment depends on the cause and severity. Most treats will work for a dog’s occasional bad breath. It is not a guaranteed dog breath treatment.
The best treatment for dog bad breath is a combination of good oral care and making sure your dog’s diet includes healthy ingredients.
The quality of your dog’s food is vital for good health, whether it is dry food, wet food, or raw.
The Best Things About These Bad Breath Treats for Dogs
There are lots of things I love about these dog-safe homemade treats with mint flavor. Not only are they easy to make, but they also use ingredients that you probably already have around the house.
The recipe for the best crunchy dog treats is just a little further below. First, here’s more about the ingredients and why I chose to use them.
Dog Bad Breath Treats Recipe Ingredients
The entire list of ingredients and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some extra information about the natural ingredients I used in these fresh breath dog treats.
Here’s a list of what you need. Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic dog treats.
- Coconut Flour – This is high in healthy fats, so it’s good for your dog’s brain.
- Oat Flour – You can buy oat flour or make your own.
- Fresh Mint – Use the freshest herbs you can find – it will add that fresh smell and benefit your pup’s stomach too.
- Fresh Curly Parsley – Parsley has lots of nutrients that are good for your dog’s stomach.
- Eggs – The egg binds the dough and gives the treats a little boost of protein.
- Coconut Oil – This is really healthy for your dog, giving them the healthy fats they need.
Ingredient Notes
When you make this easy dog treats recipe, here are a few more notes to keep in mind:
Be sure to use curly parsley. Do not use Italian flat leaf parsley. And, yes, I know flat leaf is in the photos – it was a mistake.
To make your own oat flour, add rolled oats to a blender or food processor. Blend until it has a powder consistency. One cup of old-fashioned oats yields just over 1 cup flour. Steel-cut oats yield almost double (1 cup steel cut yields 2 cups flour).
Serving Size
How many homemade dog treats should you give your dog at once? That depends on your dog’s size and what else they ate that day. This might be one of the best dog breath treats, but it is still a treat.
Treats should be something you give your dog occasionally, not their main source of calories. Dogs shouldn’t overeat too many carbs – even healthy ones like the type of flour I used in these treats.
Large dogs can eat more than small breeds or small dogs. You should limit the number of calories your dog eats in a day to how many will maintain a healthy weight.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make homemade dog breath treats. You can use any regular cookie cutters but a dog bone cutter gives these treats a unique shape. You might as well make cute dog treats.
- Measuring Cups
- Mixing Bowls
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Cutters for Dog Treats or Custom Dog Treat Cutters
- Nonstick Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat
How to Make Dog Treats for Bad Breath
These are the recipe steps and photos of the process for making the treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe!
You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.
- Place oat flour, coconut flour, mint, and parsley into a large bowl.
- Combine the dry ingredients.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and melted coconut oil.
- Pour the coconut oil egg mixture into the flour. and combine until dry clumps form.
- Mix them together until crumbly.
- Pour half of the water into the mixture and mix well with your hands. Then add the rest of the water a little at a time and combine until the dough sticks together.
- Turn the dough out onto a parchment paper and flatten the dough evenly with your hands or a rolling pin.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out the treats and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Transfer the baked treats to a wire rack to cool.
How to Store Baked Dog Treats
Store the baked breath treats in a container for dog treats. A dog treat jar is best so they are not mistaken for human treats. Here are some cute ones on Amazon:
- Metal Farmhouse Style Dog Treats Jar
- Rae Dunn Good Dog Ceramic Dog Treats Canister
- Clear Plastic Paw Print Air-tight Container
Can humans eat these mint dog treats?
Yep, they sure can! All the ingredients in these mint and parsley dog treats are safe for human consumption. Since they are not sweet, folks probably won’t like them. I suggest making Lemon Mint Cookies for people.
Dog Dental Products
Don’t feel like baking or making these homemade dog treats? There are a lot of dog dental products on Amazon. There are dental treats, dental chews, water additives, and plaque removing powders. Here are popular ones:
- Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste Dental Chews have a toothpaste center surrounded by a harder layer to abrasively clean teeth.
- Blue Buffalo Dental Bones are all natural with added vitamins and minerals for oral health.
- Dental Fresh Advanced Plaque & Tartar Water Additive eliminates plaque-causing bacteria that cause foul odor.
- Greenies Original Dental Dog Treats have a chewy texture that cleans down to the gum line. Accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
- Oravet Dental Hygiene Chews have delmopinol hydrochloride (a human oral rinse) as the active ingredient.
- ProDen Plaque Off Powder for Dogs is made from seaweed and free from additives or artificial preservatives.
Best Dental Chews for Dogs
So which one of the dog dental chews is the best? It is the one that works for your dog. It’s a matter of testing them for effectiveness. You can also ask your vet for recommendations.
Many dog chews contain glycerin which keeps the treats soft and chewy. Just make sure it is vegetable glycerine made from vegetable oils and not a petrochemical by-product of the distillation of ethanol fuel from corn.
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More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more treats for your dog? Check these out:
- Apple Dog Treats
- Blueberry Dog Treats
- Carrot Dog Treats
- Chicken Jerky for Dogs
- Coconut Dog Treats
- Dog Treats with Rolled Oats
- Gluten Free Dog Treats
- Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
- Pumpkin Dog Cookies
- Satin Balls for Dogs
Here is the recipe for the best dog breath freshener you will ever make! Share them with your pet and you’ll enjoy plenty of dog kisses without the bad dog breath.
Dog Breath Treats
Ingredients
- 2 ½ Cups Oat Flour
- 1 ½ Cups Coconut Flour
- 1/3 Cup Mint Leaves
- 1/3 Cup Fresh Curly Parsley (do not use flat leaf parsley)
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ Cup Melted Coconut Oil
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Bring eggs to room temperature.
- Melt the coconut oil and allow it to cool as close to room temperature without it solidifying again. You do not want to fry the eggs in hot oil when mixing them together.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Chop the mint and parsley.
- Place oat flour, coconut flour, mint, and parsley into a large bowl and combine well.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and melted coconut oil.
- Pour the coconut oil egg mixture into the flour and combine until dry clumps form.
- Pour half of the water into the mixture and mix well with your hands.
- Add the rest of the water a little at a time and combine until the dough starts to stick together. Do not allow it to become too wet and sticky. You want just enough moisture to hold the dough together.
- Transfer the dough to a counter or work surface.
- Press the dough flat with your hands or a rolling pin to about ¼ – ½ inch thickness.
- Cut out the treats with a cookie cutter.
- Place the cutouts on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
Can u make these fresh breath treats in a silicone mold??? Also, how do u store these since they have eggs in them?
Yes, you can make these treats in silicone molds instead of rolling out the dough and cutting it. Simply press the dough into the molds and bake.
Like baked goods for humans that contain eggs, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
How do you make or where do you get coconut flour?
You can get coconut flour at a grocery store. Look for it in the baking section with other types of flour or in the health food section. If you can’t find it at any grocery store near you, you can purchase it on Amazon.
I am confused about the calorie count. Can you explain? Also how long can I store these treats?
The cookie cutter I used made 13 treats and the calorie count is for 1 treat. So it’s the total amount of calories of the ingredients divided by 13.
You can store the treats up to 4 days at room temperature, 7 days in the fridge, or frozen for up to 4 months.
Would you ever put spirulla in these? I notice my dogs death breath less after she’s had the treats with spiral la and Honey in them but those store bought ones have so much other junk in them, i am looking for DIY alternatives. Chiweenies are so high maintenance but shes si worth so the extra
Yes, spirulina is great for dogs. Adding a teaspoon or two to the treats would be fine.
Can bone broth be used instead of water?
Yes, as long as the bone broth was made without onions.