Dog Owners Kiss Their Dogs

Del Monte Foods of San Francisco says a survey of dog owners shows that 32 percent of owners kiss their pets. The survey also revealed that about a third of the owners said their dogs breath is bad.

That's why, Del Monte says, it launched a new product, Meaty Bone Denta-Delicious dog chews in October. The product shaped like a dog bone helps clean teeth and freshen breath, the company said.

That owners smooch their pets wasn't surprising, Del Monte said.

"Many dog owners are affectionate with their four-legged friends, said Matthew Park, marketing vice president of Del Monte Pet Products Division.  For many people a dog is more than just a pet, he's part of the family.

"We found nearly one-third of dog owners reported their dogs' breath is either pretty bad or very bad, said Park. Now dog owners can breathe a sigh of relief with Denta-Delicious -- an innovative solution that cleans teeth and freshens breath."

Bad breath in dogs should be taken seriously. "Many owners overlook the importance of their dog's teeth, which can have serious implications,"


said Michael Rubinstein, clinic director for the Humane Society of New York. He recommended regular oral examines and teeth cleaning.

Twenty-two percent of owners said they just don't worry about their dogs' dental health

Other findings in the "Take a Bite Out of Bad Breath" survey:

• 79 percent said they've met other dogs with breath worse than their dogs.
• 57 percent of owners surveyed said they don't brush their animals teeth.
• 30 percent of owners said  dogs won't let them brush their teeth.
• 22 percent said they don't have tools necessary to clean a pets teeth.
• 18 percent don't know how to clean them.
• 11 percent say they don't have time to clean teeth.