My Shih Tzu has bad breath. Could his chicken breast diet be why?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While you didn't ask a specific question about Tanner I am assuming you are concerned about the black discoloration of his teeth. This is likely calculus accumulation and dental disease. Bad breath is usually associated with bacteria in the mouth from dental disease as well. While I don't think this is an emergency based on the photo you provided, I recommend you take Tanner in to see his vet soon. He would benefit from a dental exam and your vet will likely recommend a cleaning to remove the calculus and tartar on his teeth. Dental disease is one of the most common issues in small breed dogs and is very common. Removing the calculus now will help keep his teeth healthy longer and will definitely improve his breath! .

Bad breath can indicate dental disease, diabetes or renal disease. I recommend to have Rosy examined by the veterinarian as this is the best way to begin figuring out the cause. If everything looks good on her, then you need to start at home dental care. The breed in general is prone to dental disease so at home care can help slow this process down. I hope this helps.

Those teeth could be the problem but these dogs can also have issues with the hair staying wet around the mouth or discharge from the eyes causing the odor. You may try things like facial wipes around the eyes and lips, and brushing the teeth with pet toothpaste every day. You may also have him examined by the veterinarian to make sure there are no infected teeth or other pressing dental issues. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It's not uncommon in dogs, if his teeth looks dirty and full of tartar he probably needs a scale and polish dental treatment at the vets, if the teeth look very clean then it probably comes from the stomach and is usually related to the food he eats.

I'm sorry to hear Leo is suffering from bad breath. Does he have a large amount of plaque or tartar on his teeth, even though he is younger? If he does, I would recommend a dental cleaning. I would also have him Becker to ensure there isn't a broken tooth that has become infected. If his oral exam is normal, there are water additives or dental cleansing strips that your veterinarian may carry that help with plaque and gingivitis, reducing bad breath. Good luck!

At his age, the bad breath could be an abscess or the normal shedding of his puppy teeth. Take a good look inside his mouth to check for any abnormalities. You may also consider having him examined by the veterinarian if you are not sure what you are seeing. Otherwise, I recommend to brush his teeth. This is one of the best ways to maintain dental health: https://www.petcoach.co/article/brushing-teeth-home-dental-care/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yorkies notoriously have extremely bad teeth and brushing at this stage will very likely not any difference in the condition of Tabias' teeth. He will need a veterinary exam and likely a professional dental cleaning first before any brushing his teeth at home will help prevent or slow down tartar accumulation on his teeth. The bad breath is a sign of bacterial growth under the gum line and in tartar on your dog's teeth. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for a dental exam.