Dog and Periodontitis

I have a chihuahua that has a periodontal condition and throws up intermittently. She is healthy otherwise. Do you have recommendations for improving her health?

Periodontal conditions occur infrequently when animals are placed on a good, homemade diet. Please see this website (www.richters) for the posting, "Aging Dog with Arthritis" for recipe resources. If her gums are inflamed and sore, you can also try a mixture of equal parts Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Myrrh (Commifora molmol) tinctures; very little will be required. Dip a cotton swab into this mixture and brush it across her gums one to two times a day. These herbs will help to reduce infection and heal tissue but they will not get rid of any calculus build-up on her teeth; she will require a trip to the veterinarian for that. I would also warn you that these herbs are very bitter tasting so your dog may not take to this treatment without some encouragement.