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Originally Posted by Alexis06  My yorkie is 9 months and he eats the same food RC Yorkshire Terrier (that's what the breeder had him on) and he has bad breath.
Also, I can not get him to let me brush his teeth  . I've had him for 2 weeks tomorrow and he puts his head down to the ground. If I try to left it he just moves his head from left to right and tries to get away. I'm taking him to Petsmart tomorrow to see if they will be able to brush his teeth but I can't continue to do that it can get very expensive. If anyone has any advice on how to get him to allow me to brush his teeth, I'd really appreciate it.  |
I ditto the RC advice I gave above for your pup, Riley. My Cavalier's breeder also had him on RC. Its not the worst food, but there are so many better ones at the same price point.
Anyway, since Riley is so young, it shouldn't be a problem to train him to have his teeth brushed. It just takes patience! First, check that he doesn't have any retained baby teeth. It will look like a double row of teeth if he does. Food and bacteria becomes trapped between the teeth causing odor. If he has this issue, when he is neutered your vet will pull the extra baby teeth and that should resolve a portion of the odor.
To train him to have his teeth brushed, get an enzymatic toothpaste. Petsmart and Petco sell them. The enzymatic formulas foam up and assist you in getting places you can't scrub. Start by putting to paste on your finger and letting him lick it off. Do it twice a day for a week. Practice gently opening his mouth and rubbing his gums with your fingers during play - not with the paste. Use treats and lots of praise. Do this as much as possible.
Once he lets you poke around his mouth, try using your thumb and forefinger to apply the paste to his gums, quickly and in one move. Once he allows that, get one of the cheap finger brushes from the petstore. let him sniff it and introduce it outside of the realm of tooth brushing. Praise him if he tries to mouth at it.
When you think he has the hang of that, try brushing his teeth gently with the finger brush. He should start to allow that.
Be patient and remember that he is a puppy - it takes time. Good luck! Feel free to message me with any concerns!