My dog is pawing at her mouth. Does she need a vet for dental issues?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to something affecting the mouth such as dental disease, inflammation or even a growth causing discomfort. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check what is going on so that therapy can be started. Best of luck!

Hi. They can paw at their face or kick alot if mouth is painful, or from allergies. In this case it could be either or both. There isn't anything unfortunately you can do about the teeth other then the cleaning with a veterinarian. You can speak to your veterinarian about a round of pain medications and antibiotics in meantime, but those are temporary. You can look in to care credit for payment plans allowing interest free financing for 6-12 months by going to care credit.com

What I see in your pictures looks like tartar buildup. It happens more frequently in smaller breeds and is sometimes associated with feeding wet food. Getting her teeth cleaned by your vet will remove the tartar (you can't clean it off by yourself, it's adhered firmly to the teeth) and ensure she remains healthy for longer. Tartar buildup will trap more material, irritate the gums, breed bacteria, leading to foul breath, gum and even heart disease, as the irritated gum allow the bacteria to get into the bloodstream more easily. I recommend getting her in to see your vet for an exam and bloodwork to see how well she'll tolerate anesthesia. She will have to be anesthetized for the procedure. Trust me, this is in everyone's best interests. It greatly reduces the stress for your dog and keeps the veterinary staff from getting bitten by a frightened dog. They will remove the tartar with a scaler, polish the teeth to make it more difficult for new tartar to adhere and most likely recommend some treatments you can do at home to help slow the rate at which tartar collects on her teeth in the future.

Hi. Just as in humans, yes dental problems can be very painful. There aren't any ways with that much damage you can help at home, other then softening the food to help her eat. There are no safe human or over the counter pain medications unless directed by your veterinarian. A veterinarian would perform a full exam, recommend a dental under anesthesia and clean the teeth. While cleaning, they also check for loose teeth, bone loss, pockets, abscesses, x-rays, etc. to determine which teeth should be extracted for the patients health and comfort. Warning signs of dental disease are redness of gums, loose teeth, bad breath, pain, decreased appetite, chewing differently, and guarded of mouth. You'll need to watch his appetite, pain level, and quality of life.

I do recommend to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Take the tooth in with you as well. Chihuahuas are a breed that is prone to dental disease. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Minnie. The black tooth is likely infected and the red gums indicate periodontal disease. She needs to go to your vet for a mouth exam and likely will need to have this area cleaned well and potentially have to have the tooth extracted. The vet may recommend dental x-rays for optimal care. Until you can get her in you can rinse her mouth with pet formulated mouth wash to help with the odor and cut down in the infection. Best of luck at the vet.

Yes, definitely take Winnie into a vet right away. From your description, it sounds like there is something causing her extreme discomfort and she could have something stuck in her mouth or may have eaten something caustic. I think it's worth rushing her into a vet now, especially since I can't see her in person. I hope this helps, good luck!