Q: Our pup, Mikey, has bad breath. It isn’t because of anything
he ate, because he never eats anything off the ground. He is an
inside dog.
Q: Our pup, Mikey, has bad breath. It isn’t because of anything he ate, because he never eats anything off the ground. He is an inside dog. Our last poodle had the same bad breath and it ended up being a problem with his teeth that never got better. It was a very expensive problem. My husband says we can’t afford another dog like the last one. Should we take Mikey back to the breeder and get another puppy?
A: Halitosis (bad breath) can be a symptom of serious dental disease, but it can also be caused by other more benign problems. You didn’t say how old Mikey is, but if he’s 4-6 months old, his breath may be due to the eruption of permanent teeth.
Many people don’t realize that dogs, cats and other mammals have baby teeth that remain in their mouths until the permanent teeth come in. In dogs, this occurs at about 4-6 months of age, although some small dogs seem to lose their baby teeth a little later. As the teeth loosen, they develop pockets of bacteria along their small roots. These bacteria produce an odor that can be pretty raunchy.
Since Mikey is a pup, I’ll bet that he likes to chew on things. And we all know that puppies aren’t particularly careful about what they chew. So maybe he injured his mouth while gnawing on a sharp or hard object. Damage to the lining of the mouth can allow these same smelly bacteria to accumulate, leading to trenchmouth.
The bottom line is that without an exam, no one can tell you exactly why Mikey has bad breath. Ask your veterinarian to look him over and see why he has halitosis before you decide to take him back to the breeder. You might get a nice surprise.
Q: Ralph, our terrible terrier is itchy. He scratches all the time. Our vet tells us he might have a food allergy that could cause his problem. When I got home, I started to wonder about this diagnosis. Don’t food allergies cause indigestion? Ralphy never seems to show signs of an upset stomach. How can food make a dog itch?
A: Allergies are a very complex problem in pets (and in people, too!). They account for many of the itchy dermatitis conditions in dogs and cats. This itch results from a series of antibody reactions that cause changes to the skin, and for some dogs, the itch can be intense.
Like people, canines can be allergic to almost anything, and food is one item that causes problems for some. Sensitivity to beef is perhaps the most common food allergy, but dogs can be allergic to almost any food.
According Douglas DeBoer, a veterinary dermatologist at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison, Wis., food allergies are not as common as allergies to fleas, pollen, and other environmental items such as house dust mites.
But for those dogs that do have food allergies, roughly one-third suffer from itchy skin, one-third show signs of indigestion, and about one-third have both sets of these symptoms. So, not all dogs with food allergies have upset tummies.
There are no laboratory tests that can diagnose this condition. The only way to diagnose food allergy is to feed your dog a special diet for two to four months as a therapeutic trial. If your veterinarian sent home a special food for Ralphy, follow the rules carefully. He must eat only that hypoallergenic diet for a few months to see if his condition improves. You cannot feed him anything else or the treatment won’t be effective.
If, after all this, he still is itchy, you might want to have his skin evaluated by a veterinary dermatologist. There are several excellent ones within a short distance of our area. Your terrible terrier would be a lot happier if he didn’t have his terrible itch.
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The West Nile virus has now progressed into Ventura County north of Los Angeles. According to state officials, there have been 11 confirmed human cases and at least four equine infections in Southern California. Experts believe that West Nile could appear in Northern California later this summer or fall.
Officials are warning people to take proper precautions to avoid mosquitoes, the principle vectors for this disease. Use insect repellent when possible and remember to wear protective clothing when out in mosquito areas, especially during early morning and late evening hours.
Horse owners should make sure their animals are vaccinated for the virus. There is no vaccine available for other animals or people, but it appears dogs and cats are relatively resistant to it.
Birds are the most susceptible, and dead birds (especially crows, jays or ravens) in any given area may indicate the virus’ presence. Anyone finding dead birds should contact the California West Nile Virus Hotline. The phone number is 1-877-WNV-BIRD.
