[Mclainc]

I just had my Yorky in for her 1st dental cleaning and it turns out some of her teeth came in crooked leaving pockets where, even if I brushed her teeth on a regular basis, I will not be able to reach these areas, and food can get down into these pockets and cause abscesses. The vet told me had removed food from these pockets when he cleaned her teeth. If this is left untreated he told me that she will develop abscesses. He also said when dogs have abscesses, unlike people, that they don't seem to show pain, and the only way you can tell I have an abscess is they develop bad breath, and it can actually eventually go into to the jawbone and be quite serious, and as you know, cause heart disease. He told me that he just had to put down a dog because the abscess was so severe it broke the jaw bone! So sad! So it looks like even with regular brushing on my part, she will probably have to have her teeth cleaned every 1 to 2 years! She also had three baby teeth pulled it never came out. He also said at some point she could lose her molars! I am so upset by this news! She is only 2 1/2 years old! So I have to look forward to dental plans for her on a very regular basis from now on. Poor baby. She seemed in pain the first 24 hours after this last visit and was traumatized for a few days, so I am not looking forward to future dental cleanings with her, even though I know it is necessary. We'll just have to give her extra loving care after each dental cleaning.