My dog won't eat her food and has bad breath. What should I do?

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.

Poor Rosie. This foul odor around her mouth could be due to a broken tooth or an infected tooth, and that would prevent her from eating well. It would also make her lethargic. She needs to see a vet now, please take her into one immediately.

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!

If Charlotte's breath is very bad, that does suggest dental problems. She likely is swallowing her teeth if they fall out, dogs do that. She really does need to see a vet for these problems, this is not something you can treat at home. I would see if you can borrow money from family and friends to afford the vet, and I can give you some resources that may help. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Check out these resources to see if one can help you, and please make an appointment for her with the vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps!

These symptoms indicate that your dog is very ill. She really should be seen by a vet asap for a full examination and potential bloodwork to find out the underlying cause of her symptoms. Especially since she won't take anything by mouth. Try offering her small amount of Pedialyte and Ensure using a small turkey baster or syringe for now, until you can get her in to the vet. If your dog isn't spayed, there's particular cause for concern. Shortly after un-spayed females have their menstrual cycle they are at high risk of developing an infected uterus causing a condition called pyometra, which can be life threatening if not treated. So it really is best for your pet's health to get a diagnosis quickly and treated by your vet.

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!