Charlie’s breath continues to smell like a combination of roses, lilacs, lavender, and jasmine.
Well…relatively speaking.
All I know is, whatever the bad-breath-causing microorganism was that the course of antibiotics eradicated last week—whether it had been in his gut, his gums, or his soul—our lives have been completely transformed.
If not our lives, then at least the ability to be in the general vicinity of a Charlie yawn without either fainting, contacting Guinness, screaming, writing letters to veterinary institutes, crying, panicking, or running for the hills.
Or all of the above.
This photo would not have been possible two weeks ago. My girl would have fainted and Charlie would have just stood there wondering why all his loved ones always wind up lying on the ground with their eyes closed when he’s around.
Poor little Charlie.
He was starting to develop a complex.
It’s not that we didn’t love Charlie before his breath was saved by veterinary science. It’s just that we sobbed when we were in his presence.
But now we smile in his presence.
We sing for joy.
We embrace him.
We kiss him on the lips.
Okay, we definitely do not kiss him on the lips. But still.
If your dog has bad breath, I want you to know that life doesn’t have to be like this.
You don’t have to go through life writing letters to veterinary institutes. You don’t have go through life fainting. You don’t have to go through life running for the hills. Your doggie doesn’t have to go through life wondering why his yawns clear a room.
It can be better for you. It can be better for your dog. At his next check-up, mention to the vet that you have this weird redheaded friend in Oklahoma who loves Ethel Merman and accidentally breaks doughnut cases in convenience stores, and she has a dog named Charlie whose demonic breath was cured by a five-day course of antibiotics.
Also be sure to mention the fact that she walked into a wall at church yesterday, and that last night she wandered around the house looking for her phone while she was talking on her phone.
I think it’s important for your vet to have all the necessary information.
This has been a public service announcement.
Love,
P-Dub
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
