I rescued another dog!

 Congratulations on the new pup, he's adorable

Thanks Jennie...I didn't think Shredded Wheat would be ideal for a dog. I'll try the wings..I'll try anything to help with that stinky breath because I want to cuddle with him alot but I really can't stand him breathing on me!  The rest of him smells wonderful....I never had a dog with hair as opposed to fur! lol

My goodness - he looks like he weighs about as much as the snap bolt on his leash! 

When we got Gus it took a year to get the stink out of his mouth.  He still gets icky breath if he gets into some kibble. 

Lynn's teeth, on the other hand, cleaned up right away even though her breath smelled like something had crawled into her mouth and died.     I'll never forget the vet saying, "There's no way she's four months old - look at her teeth!"  Well, a four month old pup can have some nasty teeth if they apparently live on garbage (that's all I can figure - she ate poop and trash, her first few months).  Her teeth got shiny and pretty within a couple weeks of bone chewing - and guess what - they fell out and were replaced by her real teeth within a couple months!  No doubt of her age, even if she hadn't doubled in size since then.  The vet at the time guessed her age to be nine months, judging by her teeth, and she's just now a bit over nine months old - five months later - still growing, too!

I agree with the chicken wings. 

Another thing I recommend now for dogs that have been malnourished:  Use a really good probiotic (something with 1 billion live cultures guaranteed or more), and I also like colostrum.  I'm not sure what the colostrum does exactly, but it sure puts a spring in the step of ill, underweight, and young dogs.  Look for a product that's actually made of first milking colostrum, and I like hormone-free. The good stuff it does for their digestion will help with the breath.  That's what Gus' problem is - he does terrible on food with corn but he likes to snack on sheep feed and duck feed.  It's like it hits his tummy and explodes into a horrible noxious breath bomb.
 

caveninit

I was thinking about getting him a raw bone. I have a big marrow bone in the freezer but it's about a year old....lol...do you think that would be ok to give if I take the marrow out?

It would probably be fine, but a consumable bone like chicken wings or rib bones might be better.  That can get between teeth.

Hold on to the chicken wings to make sure he gets the idea that he needs to chew - instead of swallowing it whole.  Swallowing it wouldn't hurt him, but it wouldn't help his teeth. 

he is IMO, as someone who isn't always about hairy little dogs..a BEAUTIFUL boy.

ETA: It's a real shame they didn't clean his teeth while he was out...that would have been ideal!

Teenie was 11 1/2 lbs. Ena is my smallest dog EVER, and she's almost 9 lbs (but not grown, yet). The tiny ones are so different, even from my 20ish lb PRT. Emma acts like a regular dog, but toy dogs are different, for sure!  They have such different needs, as far as food and exersize go.  I don't even usually admit it, but I have a dog bag that I carry Ena around in.... She just can't handle what atheletic Emma can. She gets exhausted on outings, and needs to be carried, so... I stick her in my dog purse. She can't eat much, either. It's very amusing to measure her 2 oz of food out.

Premade raw is super cheap for a tiny dog. A couple of ounces is literally all they need. A premade meal in the morning and a RMB in the evening would probably clear up his breath SUPER fast. 

lol Jennie!! I was actually thinking of getting a little doggy bag for my 'lil foo-foo doggy! My hubby laughed when I told him that..he said dog bags are fine...but he no way will he let me put little ponytails and ribbons on him! He's no fun at all!

I was thinking of doing a super slow switch to Wellness Core with this dog, like I did with my other 2. He is currently on Vets Choice Holistic food...which has great ingredients...but the kibble smells funky to me...kinda like his breath. I am going to start with the chicken wings first and start switching his food in a few weeks since I just bought a bag of his current food. I want to get him on some probiotics as Becca suggested and hopefully nothing will upset his little tummy. I really dont know why the vet didn't clean his teeth while he was under for the eye surgery and again for the neuter. It was the vet who did the surgery that told me,as I was leaving with the dog, that he would be needing a cleaning within the next 6 months and that his breath was awful. When I asked for suggestions on oral hygene that I could do at home in the meantime, he told me not to bother...that all the dog needed was a cleaning from the vet and nothing I do at home would make much difference! His exact words! They didn't even test him for heartworm...yet they charged me $200 to adopt him. Go figure.

lol!!! Funny thing is, we just got a brand new Thomasville Furniture couch, and brand new carpet installed a few days ago....I was so worried about Willie "marking" up the new room....I totally forgot about my Buster....5 year old neutered male BC mix...HE marked the new couch! I just can't win!

When I first got Ena, she was almost 6 lbs, at 4 months old. I bought her the smallest bag of Innova, because she was going back to a kibble feeding home. It lasted a MONTH! I've never seen dog food last that long, LOL.

What a weirdo, that vet. My vet LOVES doing dentals, but he sells CET chews and toothpaste and encourages home care regimens. He told me to get Ena a Kong, to help with her bite, and give the dogs something soft to chew every day.

And Buster, you naughty boy! Don't teach your new brother bad tricks! 

Jennie..what are CET chews?

CET chews are thin rawhides treated with some sort of enzyme that helps with breaking down tartar. They're supposed to be very good, but they upset my dogs' stomachs. Usually just give mine bully sticks and recreational bones. 

I really need to give him something to break down some of that tartar. His back teeth are pretty bad..I finally got a look at them today.I can't get him a cleaning yet....I'm still kinda short on funds after paying for Callie's knee surgery, and she has to go back to the surgeon in 2 weeks for xrays...that's another $500..plus the $200 adoption fee I just paid for Willie. These dogs are killing me! So, I need to find something to help his teeth and breath until we can get a cleaning..probably by next month.I tried for the past 2 days to give him raw chicken wing, but he wouldn't touch it. He seems to like chews, maybe it was the raw meat that turned him off..I don't know...are bully sticks safe for a small dog? I can't stand the smell of those either...but I'll try anything at this point. Are they alot calories? I don't want to overfeed this guy...I'm so used to feeding big dogs.

Thanks Jennie

Janet

caveninit

I tried for the past 2 days to give him raw chicken wing, but he wouldn't touch it. He seems to like chews, maybe it was the raw meat that turned him off..I don't know... 

Try just lightly searing some small chunks of chicken (nothing with bone) leaving the middle raw.  Give him a couple of pieces; then offer him the chicken wing.  If that doesn't work try putting some barbecue sauce on the chicken wing.

caveninit

are bully sticks safe for a small dog? I can't stand the smell of those either...but I'll try anything at this point. Are they alot calories?

Yes, bully sticks are safe for a small dog.  Can't tell you about the calories.