Why does my Yorkie have bad breath if I can't brush her teeth?

Yorkies notoriously have extremely bad teeth and brushing at this stage will very likely not any difference in the condition of Tabias' teeth. He will need a veterinary exam and likely a professional dental cleaning first before any brushing his teeth at home will help prevent or slow down tartar accumulation on his teeth. The bad breath is a sign of bacterial growth under the gum line and in tartar on your dog's teeth. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for a dental exam.

I'm wondering if Max has dental disease causing his bad breath. Even young dogs can develop dental problems, and Yorkies in particular are known for being prone to dental disease. I'd recommend making an appointment with your vet so they can examine Max's mouth.

How adorable! Often bad breat is related to dental disease. There may be gingivitis or she may have a tooth infection. Many times the teeth may look alright but a deeper exam under anesthesia often shows some problems. I recommend a dental exam by your veterinarian. If there is tartar or gum disease they will recommend a dental cleaning. Many veterinarians now take dental X-ray also to see pockets of infection around the tooth roots. After the teeth are cleaned then I recommend brushing the teeth or using an antibacterial mouth rinse. Small dogs tend to have more dental problems probably due to their smaller mouths compared to a big dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lela.

Lily could have dental disease causing foul breath - bacteria form plaque on the teeth and underneath the gumline and cause bad breath. She could have a mass or wound in her mouth if this is a sudden change, or occasionally dogs with gastrointestinal disease will also have bad breath. I'd recommend having your veterinanrian examin Lily's mouth -she may need a dental exam and cleaning under anesthesia.

If Tehya's teeth are fine, I would recommend getting blood work on her to make sure her kidneys are ok. Sometimes with kidney disease they can have a bad smell from their mouth. I would also discuss with your vet about potentially performing a dental procedure with x-rays to confirm there is no abscess we can see. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes dogs do need teeth cleaning! You can brush Layla's teeth with a specific dog toothbrush and paste you get from a pet store. Do NOT use human toothpaste. Denta sticks are fine. She also needs an exam from a vet. The bad breath could be due to severe gingivitis, tooth root abscess, or a broken tooth. That requires a dental cleaning, scaling, and polishing, it cannot be treated at home. Like humans, dogs need a dental cleaning yearly. Contact her vet on Monday to make her an appointment. I hope this helps!

It's odd that it improved when the [Giardia](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/giardia/) was treated. My first suspicion for the ongoing odor is that she may be licking at her anal glands or eating her own (or someone else's) poop. Ideally, have her examined by a veterinarian just to make sure there are no wounds, irritation, etc in her mouth or throat that maybe contributing. You r vet can also check her anal glands to see if they seem full or irritated which could lead t her having a tendency to lick at them a lot. If her anal glands are fine, and her mouth is fine, use a daily product for dental health. [CET products](https://us.virbac.com/cet-veggiedent-fr3sh-dental-chew-for-dogs) contain chlorhexadine which kills bad breath causing bacteria. [Water additives](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-oratene-water-additive) are great too. I hope thats helpful for you. Thanks for asking PetCoach! Good luck!