My dog is not eating, acting sad, and has foul breath. What's wrong?

Poor Layz! If her breath smells terrible and is eating less than usual, I would suspect that she may have a dental problem. Dogs need regular dental care just like humans, and if they don't get it, they can develop severe gingivitis, a tooth root abscess, or a rotten tooth among other conditions. She would be eating less because it's painful for her to eat. I would give your vet a call today to set up an appointment for her. The vet can examine her mouth, and if they feel that there is a dental problem, will want to do a dental scaling, cleaning, and polishing. It's best for her health to have this checked out as soon as possible, as dental problems that are left untreated can lead to further health problems such as abscesses on the liver and heart infections. Best of luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lyla. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She could have an infected tooth or a wound in her mouth contributing to the oral pain and bad odor. A thorough exam will be performed to attempt to identify her problem. From there, a treatment plan can be developed. In the meantime, you can soften her food with warm water or offer canned food to make it easier for her to eat. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Your dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away. He could have an infected tooth/teeth and need extractions and a dental cleaning as soon as possible. Infected gums and teeth can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream that can adversely affect your dog's heart. This problem needs to be addressed now.

Poor Felix! I agree, it definitely sounds like something is wrong inside his mouth. He may have a dental problem such as a broken or infected tooth, or may have a wound, a growth, or even some type of foreign body stuck there. I would strongly recommend taking him to the vet for an exam. He/she can do a thorough oral exam (with sedation, if needed) to determine what's wrong, and get him started on appropriate treatment depending on what is found.

Have her seen by your veterinarian. The odor may be due to periodontal disease that needs to be addressed she may need her teeth cleaned and/or may lose teeth. Severe periodontal disease can be painful which could affect the appetite. Discontinue feeding milk as it can lead to an upset stomach. You can feed her Pedigree if that is all she will eat. Try soaking it with warm water to stimulate the appetite. The "best" food in the world is useless if a pet won't eat it.

It sounds as Buddy is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. it could also be due to ingestion of a foreign body material. i would recommend taking him to the vet the first chance you get, he will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection he will need an anti nausea injection (lip licking is a sign of nausea), antibiotics and a special food for a few days in order to get better.

I am sorry to hear about Chico's current condition. Based on the clinical signs you have described, two top differentials come to mind. The first one is dental disease. This causes a wretched odor to emanate from the mouth and when bad enough, will make a dog not want to eat anything at all. The pain can be quite severe in some cases. The inability to defecate may actually be a indication that Chico hasn't been eating and doesn't have to go. The other differential that comes to mind is kidney disease. When kidney disease becomes severe, dogs can develop something known as a uremic scent from their mouth. It also causes anorexia, and subsequently, lack of defecation. I would definitely have Chico taken to the vet sometime soon for both an oral exam and some blood work. Best of luck with him!