My 6 month old Yorkie x Chihuahua has really horrible breath lately. I think it has something to do with her teething at the mo. Some of her back teeth are very loose, some are almost sideways they're so loose, wish they'd hurry up and fall out. What's a good toothpaste over here in the UK? I'd prefer a minty one rather than a meaty one!

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!

Logic gel is good - Logic Oral Hygiene Gel Pet Toothpaste 70g - £5.94 You may prefer minty but your puppy won't! Logic is pretty neutral - doesn't smell strongly, neither minty nor meaty.

Providing suitable objects for the puppy to chew - such as frozen tied flannels, puppy kongs/nylabones, raw bones or suitably sized rawhide chews should help loosen the teeth and help them on their way out. Will sooth discomfort too - but as for the deathly breath, it's pretty normal through teething, and it just needs to be put up with I'm afraid, it soon goes afterwards!

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''Dogs are like chocolates, you can never have just one!''

I find the best teeth cleaner is chicken wings. Would you be happy to feed her these? If her breath is stinky, it may be her food that's making her smelly. Is she gulping it down or chewing? You could try small chicken wings if you like. It might help to get out the loose teeth, too. Frozen carrots are good for teething pups and low calorie/healthy!

I don't know if dogs like mint?! No idea.

Edit: cross posted with Sixstar.

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Transplanted Geordie
RIP Jake, my best dog. 10.8.10
RIP Boomerang, beautiful horse. 27.5.08

Thank you, she loves her puppy kong, and has raggy toys and nylabones etc. I used to feed my Staffy girl who we sadly lost in August, chicken wings twice a week, but Poppy being 2kg, I decided against it, I've kinda gone off the raw feeding. Poppy has Orijen puppy kibble, and I have great faith in this food. I have some Logic paste, but thought it was for if there was already a plaque problem. I worry about chemicals, as Poppy is sooooo tiny! I hope it's just the teething phase then!

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!

Orijen's blooming fabulous!

Frozen carrots? My lot love carrots.

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Transplanted Geordie
RIP Jake, my best dog. 10.8.10
RIP Boomerang, beautiful horse. 27.5.08

What are you feeding?

Bad breath is more often due to the bacteria that gets a foot hold in the tartar build up between tooth and gum, as this tartar grows the tooth root is exposed and is damaged by the bacteria. Then enters the blood stream and that is blood poisoning.

When a veterinary dentist tackles a bad set of teeth they will often put the dog on antibiotics to prime the system for the bacteria that is released.

The supermarket sold baked biscuit chew stix are IMO a waste of time as it's biscuit and jelly diets that cause such of these problems.

A diet that includes bones will probably help clean the tartar and keep it away.

If you don't fancy taking the step to BARF, try a few lamb ribs or chicken wings if you are being daring. Either way your dog's health will improve and he will no longer be a breath-monster.

HTH

Plaque off, works sytemically it softens tartar and stops plaque sticking to the teeth
This is only one place you can get it, only really used the link so you can see exatly what it is Plaque Off for cats and dogs

Ive personally used Logic Oral gel in the past that seemed good you dont have to brush just let them lick it and it sticks to the teeth and gums and the enzymes break down the bacteria and plaque
Again just a random site to read about it
Logic Oral Hygiene Gel Pet Toothpaste 70g - £5.94

In all honesty though I have found that if the dogs have chews every evening and bones, they dont need any of this at all, Mine have lived to 14 plus and I have one 13half now and they have never ever had a dental or problems so far.

To be honest at 6mths she really shouldnt have bad teeth, although I believe it is quite common in very small and toy breeds to have teeth problems but I would expect it much later then 6mths. If it persists I would perhaps get the vet to have a look net visit. It could even be her diet thats giving her bad breath.

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Thank you, her teeth do not look bad at all, they are just very loose as she's loosing her baby teeth, so maybe there are bits of food getting stuck in them. I have chicken wings in the freezer from my last dog, but they are the size of her lol! Is there anywhere I can buy chicken wings cut into bits for smaller dogs? Don't fancy doing it myself as I'm vegetarian.

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!