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Dog's bad breath

I have a 13 year old chihuahua. We got him when he was 11. He already had bad teeth, but lately his breath has become almost unbearable and when I try to look into his mouth he snaps at me. I now he has one bad tooth and sometimes his jaw looks swollen. Would it be humane to get his tooth pulled or just see if they can give him meds for the infection?
Best Answer
462827 tn?1333168952

Periodontal disease is common in dogs over the age of 3.....If there is a loose tooth, your dog has some form of disease.....Bad breath is a classic sign!

First, you need to schedule a dental cleaning w/extraction if necessary. If there is an infection going on, antibiotics will be used....
After that, you need to brush their teeth if possible. I personally use a product called" Petzlife" gel. I love it!

Left untreated, periodontal disease will cause Heart related problems in the future! Once, the mouth gets bad enough, the bacteria travels through the bloodstream and wreak havoc on the internal organs.....Trust me, it's not worth the risk!   Karla
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462827 tn?1333168952
P.S. We've had many teeth pulled here!!!!!  I DO NOT mess with trying to save a bad tooth.....If it's damaged or infected, I Always make them pull it....I leave them NO choice......Karla
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462827 tn?1333168952
Great News......Most people don't realize how important good oral health is for a dog.....It's best to take care of bad teeth or infection before it gets out of hand......
Two of mine have regular dentals every 2-3years...The other two have never needed one!  I've seen what damage rotten teeth can do over a period of years! It's awful & Painful for the dog!!!!

Also, in a dog yours age...It is VITAL to have the pre-anesthectic blood work done before your dog is put under for the procedure....Good luck and let us know how he's doing....Karla
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Avatar universal
Thank you. I had no idea it could get into his blood stream, although it does make sense since it is an infection. I'm absolutely going to call and make an appointment to go ahead and have them pull the tooth.
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Avatar universal
You definitely want to get that fixed before it gets into his bloodstream and you end up having to put him down, like my sister did to her dog.
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612551 tn?1450022175
Bad teeth, especially in older dogs (and people) is rather common.  We have a Westie (Terrier) and had to have a tooth pulled when he was 8 years old.  He is fine now, a year later.

Bad teeth and gums would cause bad breath I believe, and likely a lot of pain, no wonder he "snaps".

An age of 13 may not be the end for a chihuahua but it is old... I don't know how long they typically live.  Old pets, like old people, have high medical expenses if they are to live in some comfort.
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