My chihuahua's teeth are rotting. How can I afford dental care?

Hello. I would not pull them. Even though the teeth appear loose,, they will still have fairly good attachments to their dental ligaments. If you pull, this will be quite painful & the resulting tear will cause quite a bit of bleeding. The bleeding will stop, but it can be quite a bit of blood that may need compression or cautery to stop. If Marley swallows a tooth, it will pass with no problems, so no need to worry about this. You might want to find out if there is any low income veterinary care in your area. Your veterinarian might be able to guide you. You may also want to check out some payment options such as https://www.cafecredit.com & https://www.scratchpay.com. Good luck & thanks for using PetCoach.

By your description, it is possible your dog has significant tartar build up and possibly periodontal disease. Daily brushing with a pet approved tooth paste/brush can slow the progression. It will not remove existing tartar or clean effectively under the gums. What your dog likely needs is a complete physical exam including oral exam followed by a dental cleaning and dental x-rays under anesthesia. She may need extractions if the periodontal disease is severe. Without treatment, she can have a chronic low grade infection which has the potential to spread to other organs. Eating may become difficult which can further complicate the condition. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing such as CareCredit with your veterinarian. You may also be able to secure financial assistance through Red Rover (www.redrover.org).

It's great that you are thinking about Charlottes dental health. Your vet will examine Charlotte and then give you a plan to do the dental cleaning. Care credit is a good option for things like dental care that allow you to pay it off over time, often with no interest. Otherwise there are low cost clinics in many cities that often will do dental cleanings at a lower rate or based on your income.

Hi there! Charlotte will need a teeth cleaning under general anesthesia to make her mouth happy and bright again. Your veterinarian may take x rays to see if any of the teeth need to be pulled or filled just like your dentist does. After a thorough exam and work up-charlotte will undergo her procedure and come home with much fresher breath. Brushing after these procedures greatly helps too!

Chihuahua teeth are a bit prone to dental disease and I totally understand your difficulty in trying to brush them. Would a children’s toothbrush work any differently ? If not you could try dental biscuits such as t/d from Hill’s. There is a very useful on line video that explains how these biscuits works. Alle these measures should aim at postponing the inevitable dental procedure, but it will come a day when she will need a deep cleanse. To reassure you, you must know that I have carried several dental procedures in elderly Chihuahuas .. some of them with heart disease too. They all went very well, it is important to have the best anaesthetic equipment and a skilled veterinary technician and supporting staff by your side. It is a routine procedure and I have never had any problems so far ! Sending Lucy lots of cuddles ! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. No, Petco does not offer dental cleanings. If cost is a concern, you could see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help, or apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most veterinary clinics: www.carecredit.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.