Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog is losing teeth and has bad breath, but I can't afford a vet.

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | spayed | 7 years and 11 months old | 9.6 lbs

hi! my dog charlotte has lost many of her teeth but i’ve never seen one fall out or in her mouth or pen or anything. her mouth doesn’t seem to bother her but i’m worried! i don’t know if i have enough money to visit the vet and i don’t want anything to happen to her. please help! someone was very helpful and answered a very similar question for me but i don’t think i provided enough info. her breath is all very bad.:(

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 18th, 2018

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!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs breath has gotton really bad and he whine for 3 days when i would pet him on one side of his face i see no swelling amd I looked at his teeth he has some white stuff above his front back teeth is there anything i can do to help him at home ca
You can start brushing his teeth with a dog safe toothpaste and brush, and adding doggy mouthwash to his water. Make sure it's a dog approved one, which you can get from the pet store. You can also get the toothpaste and brush from the pet store. Buddy Bear's teeth should be brushed daily. He may need to see a vet at some point to make sure his teeth are ok, and I will give you some resources that may help you afford a vet. 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/fina
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has tartar is there any way to help get rid of it without going to vet as I do not have the money to go to the vet. I have been brushing his teeth
Honestly the only way to get it away completely is with the vet and a dental cleaning. If paying for a vet is an issue, 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. You can also see if you can borrow money from family and friends to afford the vet. 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/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs teeth look really bad. I feel horrible because I never thought of dog dental. What can I do? I know that I can take her to the vet. But what can I do if I can't afford it? :(
It's great that you are thinking about Charlottes dental health. Your vet will examine Charlotte and then give you a plan to do the dental cleaning. Care credit is a good option for things like dental care that allow you to pay it off over time, often with no interest. Otherwise there are low cost clinics in many cities that often will do dental cleanings at a lower rate or based on your income.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog suddenly is not eating, when she does eat sometimes she whines like it hurts to chew. I know she's always has had really bad breath & problems with her teeth. I bought her softer food but she's still not eating. She's lost weight & is not her
Poor Bella! Having "bad teeth" can certainly be uncomfortable and lead to a decreased appetite and weight loss. She may also have a low grade infection which could compound the problem. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian for confirmation or to diagnose any other underlying conditions. If she does have periodontal disease, a complete dental cleaning may be indicated. Extractions may also be required. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options such as CareCredit (CareCredit.com) with your veterinarian. You may also be able to secure financial assistance through local charities or Red Rover (redrover.org).
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I think my dog has lost most of her teeth. what can i do?
That's not good that Charlotte has lost most of her teeth! This is a sign of severe dental disease, as her teeth should not be falling out. I would make an appointment with her vet tomorrow to discuss having a dental procedure done. The vet can examine her remaining teeth, extract those that are diseased, and can clean her remaining teeth. It's very important to have this done because leaving dental disease untreated leads to further health problems such as liver abscesses and endocarditis from the bacteria from the teeth traveling through the bloodstream. The vet can also discuss an appropriate diet for her now that she is missing teeth. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What should I do? My dog had bad breath and one of her teeth fell out and some of the other ones are loose
Have her examined by your veterinarian. She may have significant periodontal disease if teeth are falling out or loose and she has bad breath. A complete dental cleaning (under anesthesia) may be necessary it is possible she will lose more teeth. Once that is done, she will likely be healthier and more comfortable.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How can you tell if a Chiweenie has an infection caused by bad teeth? Her breath stinks all the time an on one side of her top it's kinda greenish yellowish with a loose tooth and on the other side it's more yellowish than anything with a loose tooth
These are all signs of a pretty severe dental disease and infection. Pus in the mouth and foul odor are usually the tell-tale signs. I would suggest getting financial assistance b/c this can be a huge undertaking to get a pets teeth cleaned and diseased teeth extracted, but this is the only way to correct it once the teeth are this far gone. Here are some financial resources I am hopeful can help here--> i would first start with carecredit listed at the very bottom. Red Rover: https://redrover.org/find-financial-assistance-veterinary-care Best friends: http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets AVMA: https://www.avma.org/public/YourVet/Pages/Financial-assistance-for-veterinary-care-costs.aspx HSUS: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html PAWS: https://www.paws.org/cats-and-dogs/other-services/help-with-veterinary-bills/ Your dogs friend: http://yourdogsfriend.org/we-recommend/need-help-paying-vet-bills/ AFRP: https://www.an
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Grooming
Bella recently had a visit with her veterinarian and they said that she was perfectly fine, including her teeth. Recently, we noticed that every now and then she has bad breath, and were concerned about these particular back teeth. Do these loo
Unfortunately without dental xrays it is difficult to say whether or not she has an infected tooth. I will say that she definitely has some tartar build up and some gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) which could also be causing her bad breath. I would talk to your vet about doing a dental on her or you could get a referral to a veterinary dentist in your area if you have one. They will be able to clean her teeth making her gums better and they should be able to tell whether or not the tooth itself is healthy. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! I think my dog's teeth are cracking and on the big tooth in the front there is some greenish stuff at the top...i don't have the finances to take her to the vet. Is any stuff online good or do i need to do research? And how long will it take for
By your description, it is possible your dog has significant tartar build up and possibly periodontal disease. Daily brushing with a pet approved tooth paste/brush can slow the progression. It will not remove existing tartar or clean effectively under the gums. What your dog likely needs is a complete physical exam including oral exam followed by a dental cleaning and dental x-rays under anesthesia. She may need extractions if the periodontal disease is severe. Without treatment, she can have a chronic low grade infection which has the potential to spread to other organs. Eating may become difficult which can further complicate the condition. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing such as CareCredit with your veterinarian. You may also be able to secure financial assistance through Red Rover (www.redrover.org).
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
This is not my dog, my friend has little money, her dog has high liver enzymes, decaying teeth, in order to get rid of the decaying teeth, she needs to get approved by a cardiologist. What are some organization or really anything that can give her mo
If paying for a vet is an issue, 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/
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes Dog Dental Care Dog Treats & Chews Cat Breath Fresheners Dog Health & Wellness Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Toothbrushes & Toothpaste Dog Dental Wipes & Brushless Cleaning Dental Dog Chews PetAlive Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes Natural Remedies Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes VetSmart Formulas Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes HomeoPet Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes Pet Honesty Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes Fresh Breath Dog Dental Care Fresh Breath Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes Fresh Breath Dog Health & Wellness Well & Good Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes PlaqueOff Dog Breath Fresheners & Mouthwashes
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored