Hi folks -
Our beagle puppy is six months old and was spayed two weeks ago. Her
surgery went well and she is back to normal. However, since the
surgery, and I suspect this is coincidental, but I don't know, her
breath, after sleeping, is awful. It smells stale and very bad, if that
makes any sense.

We brush her teeth and it smells better until she next sleeps. She
isn't eating anything she shouldn't.

She currently eats Wellness Puppy, but started transitioning her to
California Natural Puppy today with the hopes that a change in diet
will help the problem.
Has anyone heard of this type of problem? Any ideas?

Thanks,
--Dan

In rec.pets.dogs.behavior wrote:
breath, after sleeping, is awful. It smells stale and very bad, if that
makes any sense.
She currently eats Wellness Puppy, but started transitioning her to
California Natural Puppy today with the hopes that a change in diet
will help the problem.


She's probably teething, which introduces blood into the mouth and just
generally causes some really bad breath for a month or so. I would keep
her on Wellness, actually, and save the California Natural for if/when she
has a problem with mixed ingredient foods. Give her lots of stuff to chew
on, and just get through the rest of teething as best you can. You can
look into her mouth to see how many more molars are going to come out or
if the new teeth are pushing up. My dog's breath was mind-numbingly bad
when he was teething, because he bled a *lot*. There was blood smeared
over all of his toys for weeks, literally.

natalie

--

What fresh hell is this?
--- Dorothy Parker

Hi there -
Thanks for the response! Teething sounds like a good possibility. We
thought she was done, but in looking at her mouth this morning, it does
look like some are still coming in.

We are switching to the California Natural in an effort to cut down on
her skin dryness/irritation. She itches horribly in the mornings, and
the vet thought it might be the food. Is California Natural not as good
as Wellness?

Thanks!

--Dan

In rec.pets.dogs.behavior wrote:
We are switching to the California Natural in an effort to cut down on
her skin dryness/irritation. She itches horribly in the mornings, and
the vet thought it might be the food. Is California Natural not as good
as Wellness?

No, it's a good food. In your first post, it sounded like you were
switching because of bad breath that was likely due to teething. With
foods like California Natural, that have limited ingredients, you tend to
want to save that food for any potential problems that might come up. And
the extreme itchiness is one such problem, and a good reason to switch.

Allergic reactions can happen when a dog is exposed more and more times to
whatever is causing the reaction. So by saving the limited ingredient
food until there is a problem, you have the ability to limit the
allergens.

natalie

--

What fresh hell is this?
--- Dorothy Parker