Question:
We own a 9-year-old, 12-pound female schipperke. She eats Science Diet Adult Small Bites and has good, consistent healthcare with a qualified local vet. We think a great deal of this doctor, and he has given her the best of care over the years, which includes bringing her through a life-threatening bout of canine lupus two years ago, for which he still monitors her closely.
To all outward appearances, she seems like a normal healthy schipperke -- active, curious, stubborn, has a thick, shiny black coat and is sometimes friendly toward people. Her one obvious problem is extremely bad breath. We think it must come from her stomach and is caused by the illness because she has sparkling teeth regularly cleaned by our veterinarian. In addition, her teeth are brushed nightly with Virbac's CET toothpaste.
Are you familiar with this foul-smelling breath caused by dogs with canine lupus? If so, is there anything at all we can do for it? She has a good appetite, tolerates food and treats well (maybe a little too well), and is regular in her bowel behavior.
D.W., Naples, FL May 01, 2011
Answer:
Considering that your dog has a clean and healthy mouth but still has nasty halitosis, I would first explore changing her diet to a non-processed, whole-food formula free of additives and food-and-beverage industry byproducts. Many readers have told me how, in just a few weeks, transitioning their dogs onto my home-prepared dog-food recipe got rid of halitosis, bad body odor, dull coats, poor appetite and lacking zest for life.
Providing her with a daily supplement of probiotics or a tablespoon or two of plain live yogurt or kefir between meals may prove beneficial, improving digestion and even immune-system function. The supplement SAM-e (S-Adenosylmethionine) may also prove beneficial when given daily; many veterinarians recommend it for older dogs with chronic liver, joint and other health problems.
Cut out all treats except natural, freeze-dried beef, chicken or wild salmon. You can also try my buckwheat-based cookie recipe found on my website, along with my basic home-prepared dog food at TwoBitDog.com/DrFox/.
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