Why is my senior Shih Tzu struggling to chew her soft treats?

I would recommend a wet food like Purina Pro Plan, Nutro or Natural Balance. I would choose a senior formula (small dog if available). If his teeth fell out naturally you may want to have a dental done to ensure that there are no retained roots that could cause him pain or infection! I hope this helps and I am glad you are looking out for Charlie!

Hello, and thank you for using PetCoach. It's great that you're thinking about Teddy's oral health! It is best to brush Teddy's teeth daily using a toothpaste formulated for dogs. There are lots of good options, so try a few out and see what flavors Teddy likes, but I recommend an enzymatic toothpaste. Here's an example: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/sentry-petrodex-enzymatic-toothpaste-for-dogs-5000644--1 It's also beneficial for Teddy to chew on things that are meant to massage his gums and help work tarter off his teeth. I prefer rawhides that are coated in enzymes to help combat tarter, such as these: VIP-_-92700027187667220&kwid=p27187667220&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2PLt-eSv1wIViLrACh0JkwyJEAQYASABEgLS3PD_BwE My own opinion is that providing good products for dogs to chew on does the most to help their teeth - but the combination of chewing and regular tooth brushing will benefit Teddy's oral health the most. Also, some dogs are less enthusiastic about chewing, which makes brushing the teeth even more important. Of course, all of these are measures to help slow tarter production - but nothing completely replaces regular dental care from your veterinarian. Just as we humans brush daily and still need regular dental care, our pets need the same. Hope this helps!

Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. Thank you for the photo, it is helpful. I agree with you and am also concerned Shilo has dental disease (and potentially periodontal disease). I can't know for sure the full extent until the plaque is removed but it looks like there is some gingival recession affecting both of the smaller teeth behind her upper canine tooth. It also looks like there is a far amount of plaque or potentially infection around the base of those teeth. Depending on severity, there may be a pocket of infection under the gum line. Plus exposure of the tooth roots can be uncomfortable and this could make Shilo not eat well. Here is a link about Periodontal Disease: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ Here is a link with general information about pet dental care: https://www.petcoach.co/article/periodontal-disease/ I recommend to make an appointment this week with Shilo's veterinarian for an exam. They can give her a thorough exam and then discuss with you appropriate therapy. If they find that those teeth are in bad shape, they will most likely recommend to remove them. This is the best course of action long term and Shilo will still be able to eat, chew and play normally after they are healed. I hope this helps and that things get figured out quickly!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. It sounds like Mickey may be dealing with severe dental disease and may have an infected tooth that is bothering him. If you are unable to afford veterinary care, I would recommend switching him from dry to canned food to make it easier for him to eat. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. If you are able to in the near future, I would have this assessed by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

It sounds like there could be a potential problem. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. In the meantime I would try blending her food into an oatmeal type consistency to see if she is able to eat more comfortably if she doesnt have to chew. Jaw pain, tooth pain, or swallowing difficulties could all be possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

It could be dental disease that is below the gum line. I would recommend that you have Lacy examined by a vet to see if this could be the issue, since there is clearly something going on. Until then, I would not offer her bones or very hard things to chew on.

I'm sorry to hear that Abby isn't eating! I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as a first step, since there are many medical issues that can cause a loss of appetite in older dogs. Many of these issues can be treated once a diagnosis is made, so there's a good chance your veterinarian will be able to help. He/she will likely recommend blood work and possibly x-rays of her abdomen as a starting point, and will advise you on further testing and treatment options from there depending on what is found.