The main reason why a pet owner would want to know how to clean a dog’s mouth after eating poop is to ensure that the bacteria won’t enter into their pet’s stomach.
Poop-eating in dogs can be a worrisome habit since it can lead to sickness. The main thing is stop your pet’s poop-eating behavior but equally important is to clean its teeth and mouth right after, so that the germs won’t enter into its stomach.
In this guide, we discuss:
- 8 Tips to stop poop-eating habit in dogs
- 14 proven remedies to clean a dog’s mouth after it has eaten poop.
- And a lot more…
How to Clean a Dog’s Mouth After Eating Poop?
To clean a dog’s mouth after eating poop, try brushing its teeth or wiping his mouth out. You can also add dental additives to your dog’s water bowl to freshen up its breath. Your dog’s saliva will also naturally disinfect its mouth.
Let us study some more proven and effective ways to clean a dog’s mouth after eating poop.
14 Ways On How to Clean a Dog’s Mouth After Eating Poop?
If your dog has eaten poop, then use these effective methods to clean its mouth and prevent the germs from entering in its stomach:
1. Use a vet-approved dog toothbrush toothpaste
Specially formulated dog toothpaste and brush can help eliminate germs from the dog’s mouth after it has eaten its own feces or another dog’s feces.
Never use human toothpaste as they contain many chemicals which can be toxic to dogs. Only use vet-approved dog toothpaste to clean your pet’s mouth after it has eaten poop.
This method not only kills the bacteria from the poop, it also freshens your pet’s breath. High-quality dog toothpastes can also eliminate tartar and plaque and whiten your pet’s teeth.
Here are the steps to brush your dog’s teeth:
- Make sure your dog is calm. Select a good spot for brushing where there is plenty of light and no distractions.
- First touch your dog’s mouth without the toothbrush.
- Next, add the toothpaste on the brush and lift your dog’s upper lip. Clean the front teeth then pull down the bottom lip and clean lower teeth. Repeat brushing on the sides – up and down.
- If your pet allows, also brush the inner parts of the teeth.
- Keep teeth brushing positive and praise and reward your pet.
Also Read: 12 Surprising Reasons Why Does My Dog’s Breath Smell Like Poop?
2. Invisible finger brushes – for dogs that hate brushing
Many dogs hate brushing and do not allow their pet parents to insert a toothbrush in their mouths.
For such dogs, you can use an invisible finger brush . They are made of silicone and have tiny bristles all over. Finger brushes allow you to easily clean your dog’s entire mouth in a few swipes.
You simply insert your index finger into the brush and clean your dog’s mouth. You can also apply doggy toothpaste on it for freshening up your pooch’s poopy breath.
The bristles of the finger brush also effectively remove leftover poop from your fur buddy’s teeth and clear away other food debris as well.
3. Rough cloth
If your pet eats poop while on its walk, you can carry a cloth with you to clean its mouth immediately.
You can also clean your dog’s teeth and mouth with a handkerchief. Simply wrap the cloth/handkerchief around your finger and insert it into its mouth. Let your dog chew the rough texture of the cloth.
Remember: this is a temporary solution. You must come back home and deep-clean your dog’s mouth using a dog toothpaste and brush.
4. Dental wipes
No products found. are a blessing for dog parents. They freshen up your dog’s poop breath and also prevent hurting its gums – like brushes tend to do.
Pet dental wipes have several advantages:
- Remove bacterial and microbes from the poop left in the mouth
- Clear away calculus, plaque, and tartar
- Help you clear away debris from your dog’s mouth at any time or place.
Simply wipe your entire dog’s mouth with the wipes and pay special attention to the teeth at the back.
5. Chew sticks
If you are wondering how to clean a dog’s mouth after eating poo, then simply provide it with some dog chew sticks.
Dentastix®Dental Chew freshen poop breath and also eliminate hardened or stuck feces from your pet’s teeth. Their special texture can also remove plaque and tartar and eliminate bacteria from the teeth.
Feed an entire Dentastix to your pet (aged 12 weeks and over) once a day or after if it has eaten poop recently.
Also Read: Are Dentastix® Good for Dogs?
6. Dental water additives
An easy way to clean a dog’s mouth after eating poop is to add a few drops of dental water additives to its drinking bowl.
This is not an alternative to brushing but if your dog eats poop regularly (something that needs medical examination) then, in addition to brushing, you may use dental water additives to reduce the foul odor.
Dental additives contain natural anti-microbial ingredients that eliminate bacteria from your puppy’s mouth and also freshens its bad breath.It can also reduce plaque and tartar and give your dog a cleaner mouth.
Most dental water additives are suitable for puppies aged 12 weeks and above. You simply add a few drops to the water bowl. Make sure you follow the instructions on the product. These are tasteless and odorless, so most dogs drink it without fuss.
7. Baking soda + coconut oil
A natural way to thoroughly clean your dog’s mouth after eating poo is to clean it with a mixture of baking soda and coconut oil.
- Take a teaspoon of organic coconut oil at room temperature.
- Add half a pinch of baking soda to it. Mix well.
- Rub this mixture all over your dog’s teeth paying special attention to the teeth at the back.
Baking soda helps eliminate bacteria, deodorizes, and also whitens teeth. Coconut oil is a natural anti-bacterial and can even eliminate the bacteria that may have entered into your dog’s stomach.
The best part about this remedy is that it is completely natural. So, even if your dog swallows it, it is fine.
8. Give it some herbs to chew
Herbal remedies are great for dogs as they are gentle, natural, and devoid of side effects as long as you know which herbs are safe for dogs and the ones to avoid.
Safe herbs for freshening and cleaning a dog’s mouth are:
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Mint
You can wash a few sprigs of these herbs and give them to your dog to chew if it has eaten poop. These herbs contain chlorophyll which candeodorized and remove the poop-smell from its mouth, eliminate bacteria, and also prevent indigestion caused by the poop-eating habit.
Some herbs that are unsafe or toxic to dogs are:
- Garlic
- Nutmeg
- Onion/Chives
- Paprika
Also Read: 30 Dangerous Foods to Never Feed Dogs
9. Oral sprays
Dog oral sprays are a blessing to dog parents having puppies or dogs that are in a habit of eating poop and have foul odor as a result.
Simply spray the product 1-2 times in your dog’s mouth. Most dental sprays for dogs contain natural compounds that freshen up breath and also fight bacteria. They can be a blessing for dogs that indulge in coprophagia.
Regular use of oral sprays for dogs can also eliminate hardened tartar, calculus, and plaque and prevent dental disease and gingivitis as well. Remember: they are not a substitute to brushing.
10. Dental bones and treats
Dental bones and treatshave unique structure and texture that dogs can chew for hours. These flavored bones contain added minerals that freshen up your dog’s poop breath.
High-quality dental bones and treats also reduce plaque and tartar and give your pet healthier teeth and gums.
Simply feed one bone/treat to your dog. Please supervise young dogs when they eat bones to minimize choking hazards. Discard small bones right away.
11. Chew toys and teething rings
Chew toys and teething rings are not just for teething pups; they can also be given to adult dogs to chew on. This works in three ways:
- They keep your dog engaged. This prevents boredom that is often the cause of negative habits like poop-eating.
- Their rough texture eliminates stuck poop from between the teeth.
- They help create a lot of saliva in your pet’s mouth and dog’s saliva can help eliminate germs.
Additionally, regular use of teething toys for dogs can also prevent dental plaque formation.
12. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar or ACV has many science-backed benefits for humans and dogs.
If your pet has eaten poop, immediately administer some diluted apple cider vinegar to it. Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to 2 cups of water and let your pet sip it.
This will help in the following ways:
- Vinegar is naturally deodorizing. This will eliminate poop-breath from your pet’s mouth.
- It is a natural antibacterial – so it can eliminate germs left behind in your dog’s mouth.
- It could make your dog vomit out the poop.
- ACV can also settle queasy stomach and prevent vomiting and diarrhea that come from indigestion.
13. Probiotics
According to PetMD, probiotics for dogs help in two ways especially if a dog eats poop from time to time:
- It prevents changes in gut microbiome that occur if your dog eats from the trash or licks its own/other dog’s feces.
- With consumption of probiotics, your pet’s bad breath problem occurring due to coprophagia can also be reduced.
Your vet can help you select a good probiotic supplement (pills or powders) for your dog. Many dog foods and dog treats also contain probiotics.
14. Feed crunchy fruits and vegetables
Crunchy fruits and veggies like carrots and apples can be a good addition to your pet’s diet. They eliminate stuck poop from dog teeth along with other food particles. They can also eliminate bad breath.
Of course, it is a good idea to brush the dog’s teeth thoroughly first and then feed the crunchy fruit. This will prevent the bacteria from entering into your dog’s tummy.
Why Is Poop Eating Harmful To Dogs?
Poop eating is harmful to dogs because it causes various health issues.
Poop, regardless of dog poop, cat poop, or human poop, contains several harmful bacteria and even toxins that can cause gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes intestinal parasite in dogs.
If your dog eats poop once in a blue moon, it won’t cause any problems.
But, if your dog eats it regularly, there are chances for serious health issues to develop.
What Is Coprophagia?
Coprophagia is the term to describe the situation when an animal eats their own poop.
Coprophagia is not necessarily a disease as dogs may eat poop out of curiosity or for attention. However, repeated poop eating could be a sign that warrants medical attention such as inadequate absorption of nutrients in your dog’s intestinal tract. This could be due to the presence of parasites in the gut or lack of nutrients in the food.
Supplements like Naturvet Coprophagia could be given to your dog to deter them from eating their own stool or other dogs’ stool.
8 Tips to Stop Poop Eating in Dogs
Here are some useful tips that can eliminate poop-eating behavior in dogs:
1. Keep your dog leashed on walks
If your puppy eats poop on its walks, keep it leashed. This way, you will have a better handle on it and you can prevent it from eating other dogs’ poop. You can also use a muzzle which can help deter trash-eating but also barking, biting other dogs, etc.
2. Clean up after your pet
If your dog does its No.2 in the yard, pick it up right away. You can also add some taste deterrents like Bitter Apple spray which can prevent your dog’s poop-eating.
3. Feed it supplements
Natural coprophagia supplements contain enzymes that taste good while going in but make the poop smell and taste foul.
The best part about these supplements is that it even freshens up bad breath that results from coprophagia.
4. Feed it taste deterrents
Many natural foods like meat tenderizer, canned pumpkin, pineapple, etc. can also prevent dogs from indulging in coprophagia. They taste great but when they come out they make the feces taste very bitter.
5. Eliminate nutritional deficiencies
Often, coprophagia is a result of vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Dogs that eat poop try to make up for the missing nutrients by eating their own/other dog’s poop.
Your vet can test your dog’s blood and recommend some nutritional supplements to prevent this habit.
6. Keep your dog mentally stimulated
Another factor behind dog’s stool eating behavior is boredom. A bored dog is most likely to indulge in such habits.
To keep it stimulated, provide it plenty of toys, puzzles, treat dispensing balls, etc. These will keep your dog occupied and also tire it out.
7. Avoid reinforcing the behavior
Sometimes, dog owners unknowingly reinforce their pet’s bad behaviors by treating or rewarding the pet. For example, an owner might pick up the puppy that eats feces and treat it with the intention of distracting it. This ends up reinforcing the behavior as your pup will do the same thing again and again and get rewarded in the process.
8. Check underlying health issues
If your dog has suddenly started eating poo, there could be an underlying medical issue responsible for it. Have your vet examine your pet.
Will Pineapple Help To Stop My Dog From Eating Poop?
Pineapples are believed to be able to stop dogs from eating their own poop, and the poop of other animals.
It’s believed that the enzyme, bromelain in pineapples can change the taste and smell of the poop, making it taste disgusting to your dog, thereby discouraging it to eat more poop.
How do you do it? You can add some cubes of pineapple or pineapple juice to your dog’s meal as a special treat once they’ve finished eating.
My Dog Ate Human Poop, How Do I Clean His Mouth?
Is it worse for a dog to eat human poop than dog poop?
It’s not yet clear what is worse, eating human feces or eating dog feces.
However, it is extremely unhealthy for dogs to eat poop of either species.
A dog may have an adverse reaction to eating any kind of poop, but the outcome will depend on the type and amount eaten.
How do I clean my dog’s mouth if she eats human poop?
1. Take a wet rag and wipe your dog’s mouth out thoroughly.
2. Rinse your dog’s mouth with dog-approved dental water additives
3. Give him some dental chews to freshen his breath.
How To Freshen Dog Breath After Eating Poop?
If your dog has eaten poop before, you will know that its mouth will stink.
It is important to understand that a dog’s mouth naturally has a slight odor due to the bacteria living in it.
But, when a dog eats food with a strong smell or eats poop, there will be more bacteria present and the smell will become much stronger.
To freshen your dog’s mouth after eating poop, you can:
- Give mint-flavored dental chews to clean teeth and freshen breath.
- Provide some herbs like parsley, cilantro or mint for your dog to chew.
- Brushing your dog’s mouth with dog toothpaste to remove any residual poop and freshen its breath.
