Homemade dog breath mints are a healthy and natural way to freshen your dog’s breath. 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 mints, 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 Dog Bad Breath
- Dog Dental Health
- Can Mints Cure Dog Bad Breath
- The Best Things About These Breath Mints for Dogs
- Mint and Parsley Benefits for Dogs
- Dog Breath Mints Recipe Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes
- Equipment Needed
- How to Make Dog Treats for Bad Breath
- Alternate Method
- Serving Size
- How to Store Baked Dog Treats
- Can humans eat these doggy breath mints?
- Dog Dental Products
- More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
- Dog Breath Mints
Common Causes of Dog Bad Breath
Before I get to the dog breath mints recipe, I want to look closer at what causes that stinky dog 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 help remove 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.
Taking care of your dog’s oral health is important to prevent dental disease. Having a routine for dental care and oral hygiene is a good idea. 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 Mints Cure Dog Bad Breath
The effectiveness of mint 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 bad breath is a combination of good oral care and ensuring your dog’s diet includes healthy ingredients.
The quality of your dog’s food is vital for good health, whether dry food, wet food, or raw food.
The Best Things About These Breath Mints for Dogs
I love many things about these dog-safe homemade treats with mint flavor. Not only are they easy to make, but they also use ingredients that are found in a regular grocery store.
This dog treat recipe is made with natural ingredients. Your fur baby will love eating doggie breath mints and you’ll enjoy that they finally have better breath!
The recipe for the best dog mints is just a little further below. First, here’s more about the ingredients and why I chose to use them.
Mint and Parsley Benefits for Dogs
Mint and parsley have many health benefits for dogs.
Mint can help relieve intestinal gas and stomach upset. It has vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Parsley is a natural source of vitamin K that promotes liver health and helps maintain a healthy blood clotting system. It also has vitamin A which is great for a dog’s vision. It’s rich in antioxidants and folic acid.
Dog Breath Mints 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 and fresh ingredients I used in these mint dog treats.
Here’s a list of what you need. Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic dog treats.
- Fresh Mint Leaves – Use the freshest herbs you can find – it will add that fresh smell and benefit your pup’s stomach too.
- Fresh Curly Parsley Leaves – Parsley has lots of nutrients that are good for your dog’s stomach.
- Large Egg – The egg binds the dough and gives the treats a little protein boost.
- Unsweetened Applesauce – Naturally sweetens the mints
- Pumpkin Puree – Adds fiber and moisture to the dough.
- Oat Flour – You can buy oat flour or make your own.
Ingredient Notes
When you make this easy dog treats recipe, here are a few more notes to keep in mind.
To make your own oat flour, add rolled oats to a blender or food processor. Blend until it has a flour-like consistency. One cup of old-fashioned oats yields just over 1 cup of flour.
If you want to use whole wheat flour, it is best to only substitute half of the oat flour with it. Whole wheat flour is denser and absorbs more moisture. You may also need to add more applesauce or pumpkin puree if the dough is too try.
Do not use pumpkin pie mix because it may contain spices toxic to dogs.
Be sure to use curly parsley and do not use Italian flat leaf parsley. And, yes, I know flat leaf is in the photos.
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 of 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 the applesauce, pumpkin puree, and egg in a large bowl.
- Mix together the wet ingredients.
- Add the chopped mint and parsley. Stir to combine.
- Add the oat flour.
- Mix to form a dough.
- Place the dough on a floured surface or parchment paper.
- Roll out the dough until about 1/3 inch thick.
- Cut out shapes and place them on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Gather dough scraps to re-roll and cut until there is none left.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove the baked treats from the oven and transfer them from the baking sheet to a wire rack. Cool them to room temperature.
This recipe made 35 mint treats using a medium dog bone cookie cutter. The number of treats will vary depending on the size of the cookie cutter used.
Alternate Method
Don’t enjoy rolling and cutting dough? Simple press the dough into a silicone mold. Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes.
Serving Size
How many homemade dog mints should you give your dog at once? That depends on the size of your dog and what else they ate that day. This might be one of the best mint flavored dog 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 oat flour I used in these treats.
Large dogs can eat more homemade fresh breath dog treats 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.
How to Store Baked Dog Treats
Store the baked breath treats in an airtight 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 doggy breath mints?
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.
This is a special treat for your pet. When you make your own dog treats, you can certainly eat one, but this tasty treat might not taste so good to you.
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 a 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. 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:
- Blueberry Dog Muffins
- Charcoal Dog Treats
- Golden Paste for Dogs
- Homemade Dog Gravy
- Peanut Butter Cups for Dogs
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats
- Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
- Soft Dog Treats
Want to get some store-bought instead of making homemade dog treats? Check out my favorite dog treats on Amazon.
Here is the recipe for the best breath mints for dogs you will ever make! Share them with your pet and you’ll enjoy plenty of dog kisses without the bad doggie breath.
Dog Breath Mints
Ingredients
- ½ cup Canned Pumpkin Puree
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 1 large Egg
- ¼ cup Chopped Fresh Mint Leaves
- ¼ cup Chopped Fresh Curly Parsley Leaves (do not use flat leaf parsley)
- 2½ cups Oat Flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix together the wet ingredients and the chopped herbs.
- Mix in the oat flour to form the dough.
- Roll out the dough on parchment paper until 1/3 inch thick.
- Cut out shapes and place them on a greased or parchment paper-lined baking tray.
- Re-roll the leftover dough and cut until there is none left.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove the baked treats from oven and transfer them to a wire rack. Cool them to room temperature.
Your recipe omitted the applesauce mentioned in the notes, it was not in the list if I gradients or in he recipe itself. What is the quantity of applesauce? Please email to me. Otherwise, good information in your comments, as well as the matching ingredient. And my dogs did like the biscuits, I had just added pumpkin as was in you basic recipe. You might also add to your instructions to roll the dough between 2 pieces of parchment or wax paper to keep the mint smell from you rolling pin.
I’m so sorry Lynn and thanks for giving me the heads up. It is 1/2 cup of applesauce and I have updated the recipe card so it’s in there now.
A few years ago I made some dog treats and haven’t been able to find a recipe since that intrigues me. But I came across your recipe and made these for my dog, Duke. I made them about quarter size since he’s picky about his treat size and Duke just has the worst breath. A) he likes them which is great B) I think they are already helping with his bad breath! C) the recipe is easy, I actually put all oats and herbs (dried after washing) right into a food processor, that way it does the work for you. Thanks for the recipe, I will definitely be making these again!
What a great idea to put the herbs in the food processor with the oats! I’m so glad your dog enjoyed the treats and they helped with your dog’s breath.
I must have done something wrong. My dough is still sticky I can’t roll it out unless I add a ton more flower then stated.
I don’t know what could have happened. Perhaps you measured something wrong?
Finnigan loves them! Thanks! What is the best way to store them?
Thank you, I love your recipes.
Liz
Store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week at room temperature or freeze them for up to 3 months.