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Why insect-based dog food reduces bad breath in dogs

by Valerie De Clerck on Jun 30 2026

Periodontal disease affects 86.3% of adult dogs in cross-sectional studies — making oral bacterial health a mainstream concern, not an edge case Bad breath in dogs is caused by volatile sulphur compounds produced when bacteria break down protein in dental plaque — the mechanism is in the mouth, not the gut A 2024 peer-reviewed study found dogs fed black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) kibble had fewer volatile-sulphur-producing bacteria in dental plaque and more beneficial Moraxella in saliva, compared to poultry-based kibble BSFL contain approximately 40% lauric acid by total fatty acids — more than 20× the concentration in chicken — a medium-chain fatty acid with documented antimicrobial activity against key oral pathogens