My chihuahua has bad breath, what can be done?

Question

He is 22 months old. I have only had him for a week, and when I got him, his breath smelled horrible. He is also a very picky eater, which makes it hard to give treats that help the breath.

Answer 1

My vet recommended dog mouth wash. It is something you put into their water bowl and they drink it normally. You can find it at your local pet store. It works great. My dogs breath is so much better since we started using it.

Good luck!
-Brit

Answer 2

Here is the deal about dog's and their doggy breath. All dogs should have their teeth brushed, that said some dogs HATE it. Start early on in life if you can, get a meat flavored paste for dogs and either a finger brush or small toothbrush. Dogs can't spit like humans, so our toothpaste won't work. Brush daily, or every other day if you can. If the dog absolutely won't stand for it check into annual cleanings by the vet, the dog will need to be put under anthestsia and therefore it will cost you. Rawhides and bones are nasty dangerous objects that cause more harm than good, but it's up to the individual to choose whether or not to give them. Any hard toy creates friction and aids the tooth cleaning. They even make bristle ones that you can put paste into.

But you said your dog has horrible breath, that could be from decay or a digestive/stomach acid, etc problem and should be checked out by a vet. We adopted our golden at the age of 3, she gets her teeth brushed but still has the most horrible breath at times. She is also a picky eater and I recommend not free feeding those types. Excersize then feed, 2-3 times daily. Food becomes reward and only leave down for 20 mins. He will pick up the habit of eating when he can.

Answer 3

Brush his teeth with a doggie approved toothpaste only. If he don't like it tuff! Its what you want...to control his bad breath. Don't use the human kind of toothpaste as it can make the dog sick or poison them. I recommend the Pet Dental brand as it seems to work the best. Also try a doggie breath spray or tartar control mouth wash for dogs which you can find at your local pet store. I have the spray called Petrodex. Its a hot pink liquid, you can't miss it on the shelf. There is also a mouth wash that goes with the toothpaste I recommended above that I thought worked the best. The mouth wash works if you put it in their water or food depending on the brands directions. I sometimes still use the spray for a quick freshener when we have company or I want nice and clean puppy kisses! :)

Answer 4

Some dogs when nervous eat there own droppings. This in the wild helps to not leave any evidence to predators that they are around. I would suggest to clean up as soon as he has done his business. If this is not the problem then the food he is eating can also be a factor. You may want to look into a good small dog food that helps with digestion. If he is hungry enough he will eat it and if it is good for him that is important. There is another problem and not to scare you but heart disease can also cause bad breath.

Answer 5

First take the dog to a vet to find out if the bad breath is from bad teeth or health problems. Treats do not fix problems. Most often, bad breath is caused by dental or periodontal disease. Some dogs do not adequately chew their food; thus they don't clean their teeth naturally by the chewing process. Also, some dogs and cats are just prone to dental plaque, tartar and disease. These pets may need more frequent dental cleanings and treatments. Internal diseases such as kidney disease can also cause bad breath. A trip to your veterinarian is recommended in order to pinpoint the cause of your dog's bad breath and to ensure he is in good health. Good luck.

Answer 6

I too have a chihuahua who has very bad breath and loves to give kisses! I have read that it is actually inherent to their breed. My vet has given me a powder that I mix with his food that has signficantly reduced the horrible smell!

Answer 7

Rawhides are the best. You could also use dental dog bones. The vet also has dog toothpaste and a toothbrush that you could buy. It only cost $5. I had to purchase this before.

Answer 8

My chihuahua has the same problem , I bought a bottle of pills just for his breath . in order for him to take it , I have to pretend that i'm going for it. and he grabs it.

Answer 9

You can get your dog a dental at a vet clinic if it is really bad. Dogs need dental care just like people do.

Answer 10

Visit drsfoster&smith.com
they have easy to use pet brushes, denta bones, and other fantastic things.