Thanks everyone for your responces! I really didnt intend to have a battle over a raw food or non raw diet....but never the less...debate can always be a healthy thing & I say trying something new can only help in the education department!! I will say that I did have Zoe on a raw diet for a while, until she decided that she wanted home cooked meals....LOL. On occassion I will give her canned...but shes not really crazy for it. As for my White Shepherd.....all she eats is the Raw diet & her teeth are Presteen!!! Im jealous of her teeth!! LOL! Ive considered the raw diet....kidding:p. Anyways, regarding Zoe & the up keep for her teeth- I tried brushing...but she wouldnt let me, I tried chew bones- she would only lick them...:rolleyes: so I came to learn that if I played with her chew Toys(bear, skunk, hippo, ect...) it definately helped. I noticed the odour in her mouth always got better. I still believe that Teeth can be a genetic thing, much like humans.....

Thank you Blessed....You have put my mind at ease....I believe my Vet will probably tell me the same thing you just did & I can accept that answer. I still think my Zoe.....teeth or no teeth is absolutely beautiful, brilliant, full of life, loves people & is truely loyal to her Mom .....so as long as she is healthy & happy & lives to be 30...wouldnt that be nice.....Im ok!!

Thanks everyone again for all your help & I will post after my vet appt in the afternoon tomorrow!! :animal-pa:animal36

:aimeeyork:p Well Im happy to report that Zoe is going to be fine!! Her tongue will hang out, but shes not in pain. We had an accupuncture session for upset belly that she had last night, but shes back to her Yorkie self, eating away this evening. Now Im off to enjoy this site & do a little shopping!!! LOL:D;)

Wonderful news! I'm sure Zoe will do just fine once her mouth is healed I had a cat who lived to be 20 and lost every tooth in her mouth, but you wouldn't know it! I never affected her appetite.

I use Vetz Life Spray on my dogs teeth as well as gum and teeth wipes. My dog is a kibble eater...though she is due today and has been eating wet as well as chicken and rice the past few weeks of her pregnancy. My vet said her teeth looked fantastic for her 2 year age....and to keep using the Vetz Life Spray.

I have had Yorkies for 35 years and have never had this problem. I do have teeth cleaned every year for the first four or five years and then twice a year after that if needed. It greatly reduces other problems linked as well. All so far they have lived at least 15 or better years.

I think you'll be alright. I did not have to start my Yorkies having their teeth cleaned until two to three years old. I do think the smaller size Yorkies have to sometimes start with cleanings much earlier. After, they turn around two to three years old and have their cleaning usually then it needs to be done yearly as they get older. If your vet said they are beautiful then you are alright. Just have them checked yearly and you can check yourself too. You'll see them getting some brown (tarter) and you'll know. Hard dog bisquits and dry food help in maintaining the teeth. I free feed mine dry food, and bully sticks to chew on and at night I give them some wet food but primarily they eat dry. Elaine.

At two years old MANY Yorkies do not yet need a dental cleaning. I think a better judge of this will be when the Yorkie is say 6 to 10 years old and teeth still in beautiful shape. From my experience (and I'm not arguing) ALL SMALL breed dogs need yearly dental cleanings starting usually at the age of two to three years of age. Some earlier then that and some a little later, but as they age then usually a yearly or atleast every other year a cleaning is needed to maintain teeth. The only reason I'm posting and believe me it's not to debate or stir the pot it's simply so that the OP and others see both opinions as I'd hate to see a person feed only raw and think that that dog will never need a cleaning. Elaine

yeah, I agree. This was very young for a Yorkie's teeth to have been in that kind of condition to have to all be pulled. My boy passed away at 10 and only lost one tooth and that was due to biting a bone. Like you I had them cleaned regularly. I really wish peope would realize that with small dogs this is so important. Really with any dog but small dogs especially.

Elaine

My boo boo Johann, had teeth cleaned two years ago and at that time was eight years old. I noticed lately his breath really fishy. I try to keep an eye on his teeth, he hates it:))) took him yesterday to my wonderful vet Dr. Woodward to have teeth taken care of. I knew blood work had to be done since he is 10 now and I feed him too much soft food , he likes it I want hi
To eat , eat , eat because he is always running around and very active ! So, I wasn't prepared to leave him over nite
I actually got watery eyed :) I picked Johann up this morning he was so cute and drugged still! He had 11 teeth pulled all the small front teeth and bottom ! All back teeth still ok.
The eyeteeth still there. When he got home he ate with no problem and Now, I'm sure he will be more comfy! His teeth were really loose and looked really Bad. Even though he still chewed his bones everyday Now I feel he will be much happier, I'll let you all know in a few days how is.
about the tongue hanging out! Johann's tongue hung out an inch even with perfect teeth! I'm sure it's fine:)

I have already read and my vets and breeders have always told me that Yorkies with smaller muzzles are predisposed to dental disease no matter the diet. I have brushed all my Yorkies teeth and had cleanings as the vet recommended but since I got Tibbe, I brush his teeth just about daily. Takes 2 minutes out of my day and has kept Tibbe from gum disease. And his breath smells sweet.

we rescued snickers a couple of years ago, he had an extra row of teeth that had been removed and left his remaining teeth loose. we were told all of his teeth would fall out eventually :eek:( he has 5 or 6 teeth left and is still very happy and active.he is going to be 7 December 1st and still acts like a puppy. we were told that his breed is prone to teeth issues and its most likely due to bad breeding. a raw food diet doesn't work for us, snickers seems to be allergic to just about all people food. he had seizures when we tried different brands of wet food (even vet recommended ones ). now the only food that he really seems to love and gives him no problems is beneful.