A Yorkie Terrier’s Diet Influences Oral Health
Your Yorkie is your very best friend. Every single time you walk through the door your Yorkie is so happy to see you that he wags his tail and practically smiles at you. How can you show your pet how much they mean to you? Well, one way is to take care of that smile for your pet. Did you know that your Yorkie’s diet can influence their oral health?
Humans need to brush and floss their teeth regularly to keep their teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition.
Yorkie’s are very prone to early tooth decay, much more so than many other dog breeds. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.
Research has recently shown a link between good oral health in humans and a lower risk of heart disease. If good oral health can have such a profound affect on people, then it only makes sense to consider the impact it can have on man’s best friend.
It is important to brush your Yorkie’s teeth frequently to keep plaque and tartar from becoming an issue. Even wiping his gums with a clean, damp cloth can be beneficial.
Your Yorkie’s diet also plays a role in your pet’s oral health. Do you typically feed your Yorkie canned or dry Yorkie food? What kind of treats and toys do you provide for your pet? All of these things can affect the likelihood of trouble with your pet’s teeth.
When your Yorkie’s diet is nutritionally sound, containing essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes, your pet’s oral health will be at its very best. Feeding dry Yorkie food rather than a moist canned variety is best for your Yorkie. The tiny kibbles’ hard surface rubs against the teeth to remove and reduce plaque. The simple act of moistening the dry Yorkie food with water or gravy eliminates this property from dry Yorkie food.
The treats you give your pet are part of your Yorkie’s diet just like snacks are part of a person’s diet. As humans, we tend to want to overlook our snacking habits, so it can be easy to overlook the treats you give your Yorkie. This is not a good idea. Carefully consider any and all items your Yorkie will consume.
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Do you give your Yorkie bones, rawhides, jerky treats, or Yorkie biscuits? Maybe your pet prefers greenies or corn starch chews. You may not have considered it, but tossing Spot a rawhide chew is like giving him a candy bar. The rawhide, for example, contains calories and is often provided between meals.
Many of the treats and snacks you provide in your Yorkie’s diet can be just empty wasted calories. Some treats, alternatively, provide excellent opportunity to improve oral health. Greenies, rawhides, bones, and hard Yorkie biscuits all help to keep tartar at bay. The softer snacks, such as jerky treats, do not provide much relief from plaque. The healthy treat, on occasion, will also prevent your Yorkie from having bad breath.
Your Yorkie’s diet must be healthy to ensure excellent oral health. Dry Yorkie food is best whenever possible. Don’t forget to select treats for your pet that will enhance your Yorkie’s diet. Consciously monitoring your Yorkie’s diet will positively influence your best friend’s oral health.
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