Many senior Chihuahuas must have at least some, if not all, of their teeth removed. Dental disease can be painful and while treatment may reduce or eliminate pain, the removal of teeth is often necessary. There are many ways to help Chihuahuas with no teeth and this article will guide you in how to feed them, what treats they can have, and special care considerations.
Are Chihuahuas Prone to Dental Problems?
Although Chihuahuas are a relatively healthy and hardy breed overall, they are considered prone to dental disease according to the American Kennel Club. This means that most Chihuahuas will suffer from teeth problems, especially later in life.
Most frequently, Chihuahua teeth problems occur when dogs are rescued from neglectful situations, such as puppy mills or hoarding. These Chihuahua teeth issues happen at a much earlier age than with dogs who are cared for in a loving home.
Preventative care is crucial for maintaining good oral health and Chihuahuas in these situations are often never provided any preventative veterinary care or even any veterinary care at all.
Puppy mills frequently use water bottles that you might see in a small animal cage to water the dogs as well. This type of bottle is often associated with dental disease.
Even Chihuahuas who have been raised in loving homes may lose teeth as they age as a result of poor genetics or lack of regular dental care, combined with their long life span.
Generally, dogs do not make brushing their teeth easy. Tiny mouths are already more difficult to clean, and most dogs struggle against tooth brushings. As wrestling a dog to brush their teeth, especially a small breed, could result in injury, most owners are deterred from brushing their dog’s teeth.
Their tiny mouths, their genetic predisposition to dental disease, and their long life spans make Chihuahuas one of the most common breeds to suffer from extreme cases of dental disease.
Do Chihuahuas Lose Their Teeth?
Senior Chihuahuas will most likely need to have some teeth removed. Some can end up with no teeth at all. Losing teeth changes some parts of life, but thankfully, it does not greatly impact their overall quality of life.
When Chihuahuas lose teeth they can no longer eat hard kibble and chewy treats. Chewing sharp bones becomes impossible, as it would injure their gums.
Many Chihuahuas losing teeth will hang their tongue outside of their mouths, often to one side, because they have no teeth to keep it in their mouths. As a result, they may drool a bit more than a dog with teeth.
This look often creates an even sweeter and more endearing face than they had before. Here is more information about why do dogs stick their tongues out.
Due to this lazy tongue, they might not have the best “table manners” when they eat, but they will still eat with gusto.
Chihuahuas missing teeth can still carry soft toys in their mouths, but they should not be given hard toys or toys with sharp edges, as they could sustain injury to their gums playing with sharp or hard toys.
Best Food for Chihuahuas With No Teeth
Chihuahuas without teeth are still able to feast like little kings; their menu just requires simple modifications:
- Wet food. Wet or canned foods will be the most ideal, as this is very easy to mash up with their gums and swallow.
- Dry food. If your Chihuahua is very picky and only likes a specific type of dry food, do not worry, you may continue to serve it by soaking the kibble in warm water and mashing it up with a fork or spoon to make it the right consistency for your dog to be able to eat it.
- Freeze-dried food. Brands like Stella and Chewy make freeze-dried foods that may be broken into tiny bite-sized pieces. These foods are easier to chew to begin with and may be wet to make them softer.
- Homemade diets. Should you prefer to serve a homemade diet, work with your veterinarian to find nutritionally whole recipes made of easy-to-eat ingredients. For example, rice is a common ingredient in dog food, and it would be simple for a dog without teeth to eat it. The risk of choking on rice is also quite low due to the size of the grains of rice.
Treats For Dogs With No Teeth
Even though hard treats and chew bones are now off the menu, many delicious options remain!
- Try freeze-dried meats, as they nearly dissolve in dogs’ mouths and they may be broken into tiny bite-sized pieces easily. Freeze-dried treats are available at most pet stores.
- Shredded cheese or plain yogurt are also good options; just be sure to keep these servings small, as a large amount of dairy has the potential to cause digestive upset.
- Peanut butter is another great choice and can be put in a toy for entertainment, just check the label for Xylitol (or birch sugar) before serving.
- Small pieces of bananas may also be offered.
If you like to bake for your dog, there are recipes for soft treats too:
- Pumpkin, Peanut butter and oats
- Banana Bread
- Green Smoothie
- Chicken Jello Treats
- Salmon Jello Treats
- Mini Turkey Meat Loaf
What Other Special Care Does My Toothless Chihuahua Need?
Even though your dog doesn’t have teeth to brush anymore, it is important to keep their mouth clean. Be sure to work with your dog’s veterinarian on ways to help your dog be healthier in the future.
No matter what type of food makes up your Chihuahua’s meals, be sure to always offer fresh water. Daily hydration is critical for overall health and to help keep a dog’s mouth clean.
If your Chihuahua does not like to drink very much, try by providing water via a fountain, as fresh moving water may entice your little princess to drink more.
We use this water fountain and the dogs LOVE it. I kept their old water bowl around for a while just in case they might be scared of the fountain but they only want to drink from the fountain now and it’s better for them.
You will need to be aware of the size of the pieces of food your dog is served at mealtimes. Chihuahuas with no teeth can not chew food into appropriate size pieces to swallow, so it is crucial that you feed him extra small pieces to prevent choking, similar to how you would prepare food for a human baby just learning to eat.
It would also be wise to learn doggy first aid in case your dog tries to eat something too big and chokes on it.
Chihuahua teeth problems are a common result of dental disease, but your dog can go on to live a happy life after receiving proper veterinary care. While food is a passion of many small dogs, with some modifications, your Chihuahua can still enjoy a variety of delicious and nutritious foods.
ALSO READ:
Taking care of your senior chihuahua
What you need for your elderly chihuahua
Dr. Sara Ochoa
DVM
This article has been fact-checked and approved by Dr. Sara Ochoa DVM. You can read more about her on our About page.
P.S. LARSON
Thursday 1st of June 2023
I FORGOT TO SAY IN MY COMMENT THAT I WROTE ABOUT A MINUTE AGO, THAT MY SWEET CHIHUAHUA, LITTLMAN, IS A RESCUE THAT I ADOPTED IN 2014. EVEN THE DOCTORS DIDN'T KNOW HOW OLD HE WAS BECAUSE HE WAS IN BAD SHAPE, ESPECIALLY HIS TEETH. THE SPECIALISTS I TOOK HIM TO ABOUT 50 MILES FROM ME WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST. THEY REMOVED ALL EXCEPT ABOUT 3 OR 4 OF HIS TEETH, AND SAID HE WAS ABOUT 19 YRS OLD. WELL, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE HE IS NOT AT THIS TIME 27 YEARS OLD!!! I'M THINKING 15 OR 16 TO 20. HE ALSO HAD A BROKEN JAW FROM BEING KICKED, BUT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP THIS BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SO LONG AGO. THIS IS ALSO WHY HIS LITTLE TONGUE ALWAYS STICKS OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. HIS TEETH WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN SUCH TERRIBLE CONDITION HAD I MET HIM WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER, BECAUSE I WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE HIM HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE, AND KEEP HIM WITH ME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!!!!
AS I SAID IN THE OTHER COMMENT, I'M LOOKING FOR THE NAME OF THE HEALTHIEST SOFT DOGFOOD FOR VERY OLD SENIOR CHIHUAHUAS. HE IS EATING SOME OF THE HILLS SPECIAL DIET BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TOO SOFT FOR HIM, AND HE NEEDS SOMETHING MORE "SUBSTANTIAL" IN ORDER TO GET IT INTO HIS MOUTH.
I ALSO TOLD ABOUT A LEG PROBLEM THAT JUST CAME TO NOTICE TODAY.
ANYTHING PERTINENT TO EITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I WISH EVERY ANIMAL OWNER: DOG OR KITTY OR PIGGY OR RABBIT OR WHATEVER SWEET LITTLE BEING (OR BIG BEING) THAT IT MIGHT BE, ALL THE BEST DURING THEIR WONDERFUL LIVES WITH THEIR WONDERFUL BBF. HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE THAT THE LORD GIVES US THESE PRECIOUS BUNDLES OF PURE LOVE AND LOYALTY.
I HAVE NEVER MET A BAD ANIMAL. ANY ANIMAL THAT MIGHT "APPEAR TO BE BAD" WAS MADE THAT WAY BY A HORRIBLE HUMAN WITHOUT A HEART OR A BRAIN, WHO TAUGHT THEM TO BE BAD AND USUALLY BEAT THEM WHEN THEY THEY WERE GOOD DOGGIES! WHATEVER THIS ANIMAL WAS TAUGHT TO DO THAT IS HARMFUL IS NOT HIS OR HER FAULT!!!! THEY ARE LOYAL BEINGS AND WERE DOING WHAT ORDINARILY A GOOD DOG IS SUPPOSED TO DO: THAT WHICH THE ONE WHO OWNS THEM TEACHES THEM TO DO! THEY ARE SMART DOGS, BUT THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECIDE RIGHT AND WRONG AND THE PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER OF THE ONE WHO FEEDS IT!
THESE ANIMALS SHOULD NEVER BE PUNISHED OR HARMED! THEY SHOULD BE REHABILITATED AND TAUGHT GOODNESS; AND BEFORE YOU CAN REALIZE IT, THEY WILL BE THE BEST, MOST LOVING AND LOYAL FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE EVER MET. AND THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN. THE DOG RING OF THAT ATHLETE, CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO AND GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION BECAUSE OF HIS FAME AND WHAT HE AND THOSE OTHER HORRIBLE HUMANS HAD DONE TO SO MANY BEAUTIFUL AND SMART DOGS, WHO SUFFERED AND DIED FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF PURE EVIL AND GREED!
WAS THIS MAN AND HIS CO-HORTS PUNISHED ENOUGH FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE BEAUTIFUL DOGS THAT WERE TAUGHT TO FIGHT AND HARM AND KILL THEIR DOGGIE ALS IN THAT KILLING DOG RING? NO, I DON'T THINK SO! BAD PEOPLE HAVE TO RECEIVE ENOUGH PUNISHMENT SO THAT THEY NEVER EVEN CONSIDER HARMING ANOTHER ANIMAL FOR THE REST OF THEIR MISERABLE LIVES! I HAVE HELPED IN ANIMAL RESCUE BY DEED AND BY DONATION. I SAW THE STORIES OF THE MOST WONDERFUL REHABILITATIONS OF THESE WONDERFUL DOGS THAT HAD SO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF MAN. ONE DOG, GEORGIA, ALWAYS COMES TO MIND. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GIRL.... AND EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD WHO EVER MET GEORGIA COULD NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL AND LOVING AND PERFECT SHE WAS! SHE LOVED BOTH HUMANS AND ANIMALS, AND REPRESENTED THE OTHER PRECIOUS DOGS THAT WERE RECUED AT THE SAME TIME FROM THESE HORRID DOG-RING BRAINLESS THUGS! I CAN'T EVEN CALL THEM HUMANS OR MEN! WHEN GEORGIA DIED, HER PICTURE WAS ON THE FRONT OF A WELL-KNOWN ANIMAL MAGAZINE THAT COMES OUT MONTHLY FOR THEIR MANY, MANY MEMBERS. THE STORY OF HER LIFE WAS WITHIN THAT MAGAZINE FOR US TO READ AND CRY. I CRIED HOURS FOR THIS SPECIAL BABY (ALTHOUGH I ALREADY KNEW HER STORY), AND ALSO FOR THE OTHER HERO DOGS WHO HAD SURVIVED THAT SAME EVIL..... AND HAD ALSO BECOME THE EPITOME OF THE WORDS LOVE, KINDNESS, LOYALTY, AND FORGIVENESS.
TO GEORGIA AND HER VERY SPECIAL DOGGIE FRIENDS, HOW I LOVE EACH OF YOU! I KNOW THAT YOUALL HAVE FORGIVEN THE DEMONS WHO HARMED YOU SO.... HOWEVER, I DON'T HAVE THOSE SAME GOODNESS AND FORGIVENESS ABILITIES THAT YOUALL POSSESS. I WISH I DID, AND I KNOW GOD WANTS ME TO BE MORE LIKE EACH OF YOU.... BUT I HATE CRUELTY, ESPECIALLY TO INNOCENT ANIMALS, SO MUCH THAT THUS FAR, I STILL CAN'T FORGIVE. PERHAPS ONE DAY I WILL LEARN TO BE AS GOOD AS EACH OF YOU IS!
I KNOW THAT NOW YOUALL ARE PLAYING IN YOUR HUGE PLAY-YARD, HAVING SO MUCH FUN WITH ALL THE TOYS THAT JESUS BRINGS YOU. I HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU HAS HIS PEACE, WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING. AND LORD, PLEASE GIVE ME THAT SAME PEACE. BEFORE TOO LONG AFTER I CROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE WITH MY ANIMAL BABIES, I WANT TO HUG AND LOVE EACH OF YOU! IT WILL BE SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE DOGGIES THAT I LOVE SO MUCH BUT AS YET, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KNOW. BUT ONE DAY THAT WISH OF MINE WILL BE VIABLE, AND I HOPE THERE ARE LOTS OF SLURPY DOGGIE KISSES ALL OVER MY FACE! UNTIL THEN, MY SWEET FRIENDS, PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR MY BELOVED BABIES WHO ARE ALREADY UP THERE WITH YOU. WHAT A JOYOUS PLACE YOUALL ARE IN.... AND WHAT A JOYOUS DAY IT WILL BE WHEN WE MEET!
P.S. LARSON
Wednesday 31st of May 2023
I STILL DON'T SEE AN ANSWER TO WHICH FOOD IS THE BEST FOR A VERY OLD CHIHUAHUA WHO HAS ABOUT 4 TEETH. I WILL BUY ANYTHING FOR HIM, REGARDLESS OF COST. I'VE TRIED THE FAMOUS VETERINARIAN'S FOOD {HEALTHY FOR ALL DOGS), CAN'T RECALL HIS NAME RIGHT NOW BUT HE'S THE MOST FAMOUS ONE WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THE FOOD FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. I JUST TRIED FARMERS' DOG, WHICH CAUSED LITTLEMAN'S STOOLS TO BE COVERED WITH KIND OF A NO-COLOR SLATHER OF SLIME! THEIR SPOKESPERSON ADMITTED THEY HAD HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE! I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS... IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR BUYERS TO READ. I HAVE ABOUT 4 OR 5 PACKAGES OF FOOD THAT I HAVE TO THROW OUT BECAUSEE I WOULD NEVER GIVE THIS TO HIM AGAIN, NOR DOES THE VET RECCOMENT THAT HE EAT IT. I ASKED THEM FOR A REFUND, BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE IT, OR EVEN HEAR BACK FROM THEM FROM MY FIRST CALL TO THEM WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME THAT DAY. (NOW ABOUT 6 DAYS AGO!).
I WANT THE BEST FOR MY BABY.... HE IS SOMEWHERE, WE THINK, BETWEEN 15 AND 20 YEARS OLD. HE EATS ROYAL CANAN LITTLE DOG DRY FOOD FOR A SNACK, BECAUSE THE VET RECOMMENDS IT, BUT HE PREFERS A WET FOOD AND I WANT THE BEST. IT SEEMS THAT WILD EARTH IS GOOD, BUT I CAN'T FIND A WET FOOD BY THIS BRAND. MAYBE I'M LOOKING RIGHT OVER IT, BUT IF I AM, COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME, BECAUSE I NEED TO ORDER NEW FOOD RIGHT AWAY.
TODAY HE STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HIS BACK LEGS WHEN WE WERE WALKING. IT MADE HIM KIND OF STOP MOVING AND HIS BACK LEGS BENT JUST A BIT WHILE HIS FRONT LEGS RAISED UP FROM THE GROUND A LITTLE AND WENT TOWARD THE RIGHT. THIS HAPPENED IN JUST AN INSTANT..... IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM AND HE STARTED WALKING AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER GOING A FEW STEPS. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN ALL, BUT TOOK JUST A MINUTE OR SO. HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH ME ON THE KIND SIZED BED AND AFTER RESTING A BIT, I PUT HIM DOWN TO SEE IT WAS STILL HAPPENING, BUT I NOTICED NOTHING. I'M VERY WORRIED, AND AM TAKING HIM TO THE VET IN 3 DAYS. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANYONE? I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANY OF THE GIVEN FOODS CAUSED THIS.I'M JUST WONDERING IF SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG SOMEWHERE IN HIS SWEET LITTLE 8 LB. BODY.
THANK YOU FOR ANY PERTINENT INFORMATION.
SHARON
Cathy Bendzunas
Thursday 1st of June 2023
Have you thought about making his food? I started making my dogs' food because one of them has severe allergies. It's pretty easy and I know exactly what is in it. It should be easy enough for him to eat with 4 teeth but if not, you can always use a mixer and mix it to a more fine consistency. Here's my recipe: 1 pound ground turkey 1 can tuna 4 eggs 1 bag mixed frozen mixed veggies 2 baked sweet potatoes with skins, cubed 1/2 cup beef bone broth dog vitamins and fish oil ( I add this sometimes to the large bowl but to be more precise, it’s better to add it to each dog bowl. I use Zesty Paws fish oil and Life Extension Dog Mix vitamins)
Cook up the turkey in a little olive oil if needed. Break up the turkey in tiny pieces. The last few minutes that the turkey is cooking, add the 4 eggs and mix in. In a large bowl, stir all ingredients together and store in a covered container in the fridge. For 4 dogs, this usually lasts around a week.
I give each dog 1/3 cup of this and it has completely taken away the eye staining of Lucy’s eyes. It has helped with Ziggy’s allergies but hasn’t gotten rid of them completely.
chi lover
Saturday 5th of November 2022
I’m heartbroken that my chi had to have almost all teeth extracted at age 5 today with problems in jaw and bone loss. I’ve tried to brush with dog paste and finger brush which never goes over well, bulky sticks, greenies, best raw organic food, purified water. I feel terrible that it is wasn’t enough. I genuinely try so hard to do everything right as my chi is everything to me. It’s confusing because I know other little dogs whose parents don’t do 1/4 of what I do but their teeth are better. The vet had a cruel bedside manner and was extremely judgmental and mentioned nothing about chi predisposition to these issues. No vet ever suggested we weren’t doing enough or that there were issues. How often can this be predominantly genetic?
Cathy
Saturday 5th of November 2022
Don't beat yourself up. Some dogs are just prone to having problems and I know people who have gone through similar situations as you and they brushed their dog's teeth everyday. Chihuahuas and small dogs in particular are more prone to having issues with their teeth and some are also genetically pre-dispositioned to it too.
RooZilla
Monday 1st of August 2022
I have two chihuahuas. Chuck is 14.5 w/zero teeth. Roo is 15.5 with two lower canines. They both eat Iams mini chunks as they have since puppies. They used to really enjoy bully sticks. It kept them busy and happy. Now Roo has developed a habit of licking. The bed spread, the sheets, the pillows, the carpet, my arm...the list goes on. He is deaf and I would like to give him something to do besides licking and getting long hairs that have fallen from my wife's head that eventually pass leaving a dingleberry hanging out his back side. I'm looking for a toy where he can use his front paws to hold it while chewing a soft rubber like bone with dog safe peanut butter or something in/on it. He has never liked to play with toys except the big plushes that he will eventually try to mount,nor fetch toys. It's been a few years since his extractions and I feel he is missing the chewing and has replaced it with licking.
Any suggestions would be well received.
The Kong things are not his style.
Cathy
Monday 1st of August 2022
This might help, you can fill it with broth and freeze it and he can lick to his heart's content: https://amzn.to/3zP7RIM
Katherine
Tuesday 30th of March 2021
My baby can no longer hold food in her mouth. Also She’s always coughing I took her to the doctor and she still is doing it.
Bob
Wednesday 24th of July 2024
@Natalie, My girl has an enlarged heart and was coughing a lot. We put her on heart meds, no more coughing
Natalie
Saturday 15th of October 2022
@Katherine, I am having the same problem. What happened? What did the vet suggest?
Cathy
Thursday 1st of April 2021
That's not good. What did the vet say it was?