My dog has mouth ulcers, drools, and bad breath. Antibiotics failed.

Rex urgently needs to be seen by your veterinarian for an exam. You likely will need to schedule a dental cleaning under anesthesia. He likely has a very painful tooth root abscess. The vet will remove all tartar, and also clean under the gingiva wich will also remove bacteria which are causing infection and bad breath. He will also remove all rotten and infected teeth. This should greatly increase your dog's quality of life and will help prevent heart and kidney disease. He will also be able to eat properly without a toothache! Please make an appointment on Monday!

Missy appears to have several areas of bone loss and exposed tooth roots. I suspect she has several diseased teeth and significant infection. Sometimes severe bone loss can results in deep ulcers and even fistulas. I recommend to discuss having Missy sedated to remove the diseased teeth and clean out any ulcers. Then give her mouth time to heal. It’s unlikely that this problem and the odor will go away with out the full treatment. Ulcer and bad teeth can cause discomfort. Not to mention if can lead to other diseases as well. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. I’m sorry for your frustration, but some further investigation by a veterinarian is needed in order to determine what is going on. A thorough oral exam to look not only at the teeth but under the tongue, and all over the inside of the mouth for evidence of any growths, foreign bodies, etc would be the first step. This often requires sedation and dental X-ray may be helpful. Leo could also have something in his sinus or nasal cavity.....something stuck in there, a growth or polyp or just a deep seated chronic infection. Sedation to examine above his soft palate and then to flush his nasal passages would be recommended. If these things are not done to try to find the underlying problem, all you can do is continue to try antibiotics. If penicillin has been tried twice, it’s time to move on to a more broad spectrum one. However, I would be concerned that there is something more going on and the additional investigation would be best.

Hello, sorry to hear about Gunner. CUPS is typically a diagnosis that is made with histopathology and examination for the hallmark changes in the gum line. Given that Gunner has bad breath and drooling this is very possible. Besides having a dental cleaning and extractions if necessary, most dogs also need antibiotic therapy. CUPS is in general a very painful condition that prevents dogs from being unable to eat. If Gunner develops anorexia, then he may need to have a dental in order to alleviate his pain. You may consult with your veterinarian about obtaining antibiotics for his dental disease. Hope this helps and best of luck.

If there is a secondary infection associated with the ulcer than it will help. If the ulcer is caused by trauma from his tongue touching his teeth than it might not help completely. If there is a veterinary dentist in your area than you could have your dog evaluated to see if there is anything that can be done with the teeth to help prevent the problem.

There is no alternative at this stage other than a full dental assessment to remove the tartar and infection and relieve pain by extracting the loose and damaged teeth which would then allow the gums to heal. Contact your local humane society for advice on subsidised care if you cannot provide for his care. Toothpaste, rinses and dental chews will not be sufficient at this stage and it is not appropriate to ignore the current pain and infection you describe

Have Maya rechecked by your veterinarian. She may need xrays of the affected limb as well as her hips and possibly spine. A tick borne disease panel should also be submitted to rule out Lyme disease. Blood work to assess major organ function should be done (or repeated for comparison). A urinalysis will complete the picture and can further assess kidney function. Periodontal disease may be responsible for the bad breath and ulcers, but kidney disease is also a possibility to be considered. A complete dental cleaning is recommended.