Really Bad Breath

[Randy Jane]

Can someone help me with "bad breath". Not mine...my puppy..
He is 5 months old. His breath was never good, even from the day we got him at 11 weeks old. It seems to have gotten worse over time. The vet has seen him and there is nothing wrong in his mouth. He's almost done teething, has most of his permanent teeth.
Could it be the treats I'm giving him? Besides Greenies, anyone have any suggestions. Please!!! It is really bad!!

[Maria Juliano]

Hi Randy,

What type of food/treats are you feeding your puppy?

I brush my 2, 6 month old shih tzus teeth every other day with a vanilla, all natural dog tooth paste. I don't use greenies since it has wheat gluten, my puppies are allergic to it.

Maria Juliano ( Lina and Giotto's mom )

[Amber]

Has your puppy ever been wormed? Sometimes puppies have bad breath because they have worms.

[Randy Jane]

Yes, my dog has been wormed. My vet said not to brush his teeth until all his baby teeth were gone and the permanent ones are in.
I mostly give him some kind of "jerky" like treats. I get them from a very upscale pet store, but I"m wondering if there is something in them.
And I give him Bully sticks to chew. He doesn't like nylabones.
What do you give your dogs for treats and chew toys.
Thanks for the suggestions.
RJ

[Maria Juliano]

Randy,

My vet thinks it's never too early to start brushing puppies teeth, gums. I have been brushing ( softly ) their gums/ teeth since they were 14 weeks old. They both have pleasant, sweet breath :P.... they look forward to having their teeth brushed.

The treats I give my pups are: Trader Joe's, all natural chicken strip jerkies, no salt. Frozen Kongs filled with kibble and sealed with Jiff creamy peanut butter. I also make them home made rolled oats, peanut butter, banana chewies. Innova Health Bars, and Karma Biscuits by Natura. If I'm in a creative mood, I give them tiny bits of cooked carrots, string beans, spinach, apples, bananas. :roll:

I don't know much about the treats you mentioned...I would read the ingredients and see if there is something that could possibly be the culprit.

As for chew toys, both my pups like to chew on Nylabones ( chicken flavor ) and a Kong String Floss, plus a multitude of rubber balls, toys.


Best wishes and hope you'll discover what is causing the bad breath.


Maria Juliano ( Lina and Giotto's mom )

[Clair Taberner]

perhaps when he's done teething his breath may improve?

[Eric Vecc]

We bought mint treats and used them when Bailey went potty. Served two purposes - better breath and reinforcing outside potty. You can also get a dental kong at petsmart. They look like a ball with groves in it. You put the doggie toothpaste in the grooves and as they knaw on it, it cleans their teeth. I would think you could coat anything with doggie toothpast though, and as they chew on it, it will freshin their breath.

[Hee Yung Lee]

Sometimes my dog gets a slightly fishy breath because of his food. One of the main meat sources is salmon. If your vet has checked him out and ruled out any digestive problems or mouth sores, then I agree with everyone else. I wold just start brushing his teeth.

[Chris Smith]

I have heard bully sticks have an awful odor once dogs have chewed on them (not surprising based on what they are...) My dog doesn't like them so I don't personally know, but if your dog chews on bully sticks regularly, maybe that's causing the bad breath???

I have brushed my dogs teeth since I got him at 4 months old and my vet said it was fine to. He didn't have all of his adult teeth, but I still brushed gently with a kid size toothbrush and dog toothpaste. He loves to lick the toothpaste.