There’s something about your Yorkies teeth
Oh yorkie teeth issues, when they are bad – they are terrible! Yorkies are very prone to teeth issues and the easiest way of identifying them is by observing the behavior of your dog. In most cases, the Yorkie will not eat as usual and this poses a great danger to your pet’s health. This breed of dog is known to be playful and high energy and so failure to indulge in food could leave them weakened and lethargic.
Four Types of Yorkie Teeth
Yorkies have four unique types of teeth; molars, premolars, canines and incisors. Each type of tooth has its own specific role. The molars are designed for chewing food. While the premolars are very strong and this is why their role is to break food into manageable sizes. The canines are used for shredding food into particles and lastly, the incisors are used for “digging” into food.
Common Problems
It is common for Yorkies to experience teeth problems due to excessive accumulation of tarter and at times, the problems are caused by teeth that have been lost prematurely or by gum disease. This implies that Yorkies share the same dental problems as humans. For dogs with these issues, it will eventually to digestive disorders.
The Best Remedies
Yorkie teeth issues can be prevented by brushing the teeth of your pet regularly to avoid the accumulation of disease-causing bacteria on the gums. You can brush their teeth either in the morning or in the evening. However, evenings are preferred because the Yorkie is less likely to be active or eat during the night. Another excellent time for brushing your dog’s teeth is right after exercise because they are going to be tired and less likely to put up a fight.
Brush Yorkie Teeth Regularly
Brushing should commence at an early age so that the Yorkie gets used to it. Otherwise trying to start brushing at a later age may not bear anything except resistance and possibly biting. It is best to brush every day but you are ahead of most dog owners if you brush your dog’s teeth twice a week. You should also make a habit of taking your Yorkie to your vet for a regular dental examination. This way if there are any dental issues, they will be detected early enough so that no real damage has time to occur.
Dental Chews
Just like the name suggests, dental chews are an alternative solution to brushing and will keep your Yorkie busy during the day. The movement of chewing on dental chews, helps work off the tarter that builds up on the dogs teeth. You can find dental chews at pet stores. Yorkies love to chew things and can go through dental chews rather quickly. A rawhide chew is harder and will keep your Yorkie engaged for a longer period of time. Rawhide chews are made from the hides of horses or cows and help reduce plaque and tartar. They can be purchased at your local pet store and even the local butchery.
Dental Sprays
Dental sprays are another option for teeth cleaning because they help fight harmful bacteria in the mouth. While it doesn’t directly hit gum disease under the dog’s gum line, dental sprays help loosen the plaque and tartar build up on the teeth.
Buy a Brush for Yorkie
Never share your toothpaste with your Yorkie because there is a variance in its composition which makes it not to be ideal for dogs. There are various brands of dogs’ toothpaste that are available in most pet outlets and online stores. You can either use a small dog toothbrush or a finger toothbrush. The recommended toothbrush for dogs is small enough to fit on your fingers which makes it easy to use. Do not make the mistake of using an ordinary brush because you will irritate the dog’s gums due to its intense texture.
Toothpaste for Yorkies
There are a few things to look for when you are shopping for the best toothpaste for Yorkies:
Quality
Yorkies are prone to dental problems, Rosie’s teeth were so bad she only has one left. The quality of the toothpaste aka its ability to guard against tooth decay and other oral diseases is important to look into.
Flavor
Is your Yorkie a picky eater? Well, this could also transfer to your Yorkie liking the toothpaste flavor or not!
Why is this important? The thing is that many times when dogs do not like the taste/flavor of the toothpaste they give you a hard time.
It is recommended that you use that toothpaste that is your Yorkie’s favorite flavor. If your dog is loving the flavor of the toothpaste, it makes it really easy for you to use it and helps in keeping your dog away from oral diseases.
Here are some toothpaste options that have solid reviews:
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste is one of the most popular toothpaste for Yorkies. It helps guard against tooth decay and other gum diseases as well. It not only protects from oral diseases but the Yorkies also love its taste which makes it more usable as well.
Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste Dog Poultry Flavor works great and is a cheaper alternative. Many Yorkie parents have great things to say about it and if Yorkies could speak themselves they would not say anything else either.
Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste is made from natural extracts from neem and aloe, it provides good basic protection by antibacterial, anti-fungal action and inhibiting plaque formation. It is soothing for the dog, freshens its breath and the cleaning is very effective. It has a variety of different flavors available.
Invest On Home Based Remedies
You can minimize your trips to the vets by investing in over-the-counter dental care solutions such as the ones mentioned in this article. Do not compromise on the health of your dog like some people do by assuming that dogs do not need dental treatments.
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