Chihuahua Bad Breath Issues

Overview

Practicing good dental hygiene is vital for this breed, since the Chihuahua is prone to dental issues. Related to this, is chronic or acute bad breath problems (medically referred to as halitosis). With some Chi, there will be a specific strong smell that is there at all times. For others, it may be a vague odor that seems to come and go. But in all cases, this is something that should not be ignored.

This article will cover all aspects of Chihuahua bad breath, including:

The most common causes
More serious (yet uncommon) health issues that may be involved
What certain smells may point to
Easy at-home remedies to treat halitosis with Chihuahuas and steps to keep a Chihuahua's breath smelling nice and fresh

Top Causes of Bad Breath with Chihuahuas

The most common reasons a Chihuahua will have bad breath include:

Teething - Typically seen with puppies 3 months old to 6 or 7 months old, a mixture of blood and saliva in the moist environment of the mouth can cause a smell often equated to sour milk. In most cases, this will self-resolve as the pup matures out of the teething phase. However, this is a good time to practice good dental hygiene and teaching a Chihuahua to be tolerant of having their teeth cleaned. See below for tips.

Dog food - Dry kibble often has a powdered coating residue; it is more apparent toward the bottom of the bag. When a Chihuahua eats their food, the powder can mix with saliva and turn into a type of paste. The paste has a thick peanut butter-type consistency and can easily become stuck to a dog's teeth. It often happens toward the back of the mouth and can be behind teeth (not easily seen).

Keeping dog food sealed up airtight to help prevent it from becoming stale can help as well as encouraging a Chihuahua to drink water after eating. And of course, cleaning the teeth will help remove the smell. See below for tips.

Coprophagia - In some cases of a Chihuahua's breath smelling like dog poop, it may literally be because they ate dog poop (medically referred to as coprophagia). There is debate among veterinarians regarding the causes of this behavior. However, the 5 ways to stop coprophagia include making changes to a dog's diet (main meals and snacks), providing supervision, and resolving boredom and stress.

Foreign object stuck in teeth/mouth - Less common, but a possible cause of bad breath is due to a blade of grass, wooden splinter, or other object becoming stuck in a dog's mouth. Often, this would be in conjunction with signs of pain when attempting to eat, shaking the head, or other behavior pointing to the issue. If an object can be seen, an owner may attempt to remove it. More complicated cases may require veterinary treatment.

Dental issues - There is a lot that can happen if a Chihuahua's teeth are not kept clean with regular at-home dental care. And even if an owner works to prevent problems, it cannot be avoided in all cases. Among the issues that can cause bad breath are infections, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Serious, Yet Uncommon Possible Health Issues Related to Bad Breath

There are a variety of health conditions in which halitosis is one sign. This includes:

• Canine diabetes

• Respiratory infection

• Gastrointestinal conditions

• Sinusitis (infection of the nasal cavities)

• Tonsillitis (infection of the tonsils)

If your Chihuahua has unexplained bad breath that is not fixed using the steps below, this warrants a veterinary exam to rule out any and all possible health conditions, issues, and diseases.

Bad Breath with Particular Smells

Particular smells may point to certain conditions:

Fishy odor - When a Chihuahua puppy or dog has breath that has a fishy smell (and they have not just ingested fish) this can point to an infection. It may not necessarily be related to the gums, but may be in the throat or other areas of the mouth.

Fruity/ overly sweet odor- When there are very high levels of sugar in the bloodstream it can cause this sort of odor on the breath and is an indication that a dog may have diabetes. Other signs are drinking more than normal (which leads to more frequent urination), changes in appetite, unexplained weight changes, and/or cloudy eyes.

Urine - When the odor of urine emanates from the mouth, this can point to kidney disease.

Remedies to Treat a Chihuahua's Bad Breath (and keep breath clean & fresh)

Please note: Before you work to freshen your Chihuahua's breath, it's vital to have serious dental issues ruled out. This includes gum disease, tooth decay, and infections. At-home remedies are meant to clean the teeth and prevent plaque buildup, they do NOT cure serious dental issues. So, please speak to your Chihuahua's veterinarian regarding a diagnosis, dental exam, and professional cleaning.

With this said, there are several things that you can do to keep your Chi puppy or dog's breath smelling pleasant (once dental issues or other health conditions have been ruled out).

1. Brush your Chihuahua's teeth. Plaque is a clear substance that is constantly being produced. If it is not removed, it hardens into tartar. Both plaque and tartar eat away at the teeth and can travel under the gum line to attack gum tissue. Left unchecked, there can be gingivitis (gum disease), devastating bone loss of the jaw, tooth infection and decay, and eventual tooth loss.

To avoid this domino of issues, it all starts with keeping the teeth clean. And the most effective method of doing this is to brush the teeth.

Be sure to use canine toothpaste that is non-foaming, fluoride-free (fluoride is toxic to dogs) and meant to be swallowed. Options for brushes include a regular canine toothbrush ('puppy' size often works best for Chi of all ages) or a fingerbrush which is a small doodad that fits over your pointer finger for less invasive cleaning.

To get started with this, we recommend the Nylabone Advanced Oral Dental Kit ; it has an effective paste, along with both types of brushes (and is sized small to comfortably fit in most Chihuahua's mouths).

2. If your Chihuahua does not tolerate brushing, you may want to opt for a spray. While this is not quite as effective as brushing, it can be a valid alternative if used regularly.

Do keep in mind that some sprays are designed specifically to treat bad breath only and others are meant to both reduce plaque and cure bad breath, and we recommend the latter.

One like Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dental Spray is sprayed directly onto a dog's teeth and gums (and can additionally be added to drinking water), and works to remove plaque and tartar, while freshening the breath.

3. Give a daily dental treat. Make one of your Chihuahua's snacks be a dental treat instead. One of the most popular and effective ones is Greenies Teenie Dental Dog Treats; since this is a hard chew (it has to be to remove plaque), you'll want to supervise your Chi and toss away any small fragments that may break off.

4. Food additions. Though keeping a Chi's teeth clean via the 3 above methods are the most important foundation for fresh breath, there are a couple of home remedies via herbs such as mint (that covers stinky breath) and fresh parsley (that can neutralize certain bad odors). A small amount can be mixed into a dog's meals or homemade treats.

Summary and a Final Thought

Sometimes people joke around about a dog's bad breath; however, chronic bad breath is a serious matter. With possible underlying issues such as tooth infection or decay, halitosis should always be brought to the vet's attention.

Working to keep your Chihuahua's breath smelling nice and fresh means keeping their teeth clean and this can only be beneficial.