Questions about newly adopted Yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

katielove · 05-24-2008, 02:50 PM

A little over a week ago, I adopted a female Yorkie who is almost 2 years old. The information I received from the breeder (whom I purchased her from) was that she is a completely healthy dog but since she had complications with her 1st and only pregnancy the breeder had her spayed and no longer wanted her.

Willow is adjusting wonderfully in her new home and is also loving all of the attention she now receives on a daily basis. I don't think she had a very good life before, I think she lived in the garage with the other dogs and wasn't around people very often.

In the short time that shes lived here, I've already had her to the vet to get her up to date on her shots and checked out. At the vets office we ran into some concerns that he had about her. Willows teeth are horrible and he questioned her actually age. He also mentioned that she still had a puppy tooth in there as well. When I asked the breeder about this she told me that "her" vet didn't mention her teeth being bad at all and didn't think a cleaning was necessary. Willow was just spayed in February. Before I get back in touch with her, I wanted the opinions of others who might be a little more informed about this kind of stuff. Willow is staying and will be loved regardless of her age or teeth but I'm upset that I even have to think about this kind of stuff.

My concerns are this:

1. Should a dog this young need her teeth cleaned?

2. Is it possible that Willow is older than I was originally told?

3. Isn't it common for a vet to remove puppy teeth that haven't fallen out yet at the time of being spayed?

Since writing all of this information down, I'm now questioning some things even more. Willow was born in November 2006 then spayed in February 2008. Her first year shots clearly should have been done in Nov. 2007. I love Willow and don't want her to have additional pain/problems down the road. I'm sorry if this is confusing and I'll answer any additional questions the best that I can to help make sense of this whole situation and to get some much needed advice!!

Thanks, Kate and Willow

yoyo27 · 05-24-2008, 02:59 PM

Well Kate welcome to the yorkie world. They are bad about having problems with teeth. That is why around here everyone talks about brushing there teeth. Its not unusual for them not to loose all there teeth then would need them pulled. But your vet should have instructed you about that and what he thinks. Usually they say they should come out by the first bday. About the age thing someone else will need to advise you there. Sounds like the lady you got her from didn't really pay much attention to the health and care of the dog. Might have been just in for the puppies and not the dog. Its really hard to believe that people can do that to dogs but they do. Hang in there and if you don't get answers you like change vets. Do you have the same vet as the breeder? That could also be your problem.

Juliealfies mum · 05-24-2008, 03:01 PM

Welldone for getting this little one .

She is now in a home where she will be loved .

If she has never had her teeth cleaned ie brushed dailly yes by the age of 2 she may have some staining and calculus present.

It is normal for the vet to remove baby teeth when spaying, but only if the owner is willing to pay for the extra expence.....which they might not have been.

As for age......your vet should be a

ble to give you a ballpark figure on that.

katelin · 05-24-2008, 03:12 PM

Yes, all true. I wouldn't be too upset. If your vet thinks she is healthy, then just take it from here, and you'll know that she is a very lucky little girl to have found you.

Best wishes.

katielove · 05-24-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyo27

Well Kate welcome to the yorkie world. They are bad about having problems with teeth. That is why around here everyone talks about brushing there teeth. Its not unusual for them not to loose all there teeth then would need them pulled. But your vet should have instructed you about that and what he thinks. Usually they say they should come out by the first bday. About the age thing someone else will need to advise you there. Sounds like the lady you got her from didn't really pay much attention to the health and care of the dog. Might have been just in for the puppies and not the dog. Its really hard to believe that people can do that to dogs but they do. Hang in there and if you don't get answers you like change vets. Do you have the same vet as the breeder? That could also be your problem.

Willow's current vet and the one the breeder took her to are different. I trust the vet that I took her to see, as he has also taken care of my 17 year old cat for her entire life and that was his 1st time meeting Willow. My vet was the one to question her age, point out the puppy tooth, and suggest the cleaning. I agree with the vet, her teeth do look horrible and need attention.

Thank you so much for you thoughts on this, your advice matches to I've been researching and reading! It seems the problem is with the breeder which is what I suspected.

katielove · 05-24-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katelin

Yes, all true. I wouldn't be too upset. If your vet thinks she is healthy, then just take it from here, and you'll know that she is a very lucky little girl to have found you.

Best wishes.

Maybe I should explain a little more, before I adopted Willow I asked many questions about her health, her parents health, and things along those lines. When I asked the breeder about her teeth after taking her to the vet, she just said that it wasn't an emergency and that it could be done in a couple of months. I wanted the breeder to take responsibility for Willow's teeth. So I'm feeling a little lied to and that upsets me. The breeder stated that she was healthy and also gave me 2 weeks to "make sure she works out in our home". I wouldn't even consider giving her back, thats not even a thought. But if I'm being honest, I paid a lot of money for what I was told a healthy dog and for her to come with a preexisting problem that wasn't brought to my attention just frustrates me.

Willow will be taken care and receive the proper care and love as she is innocent in all of this!!

margaritaville · 05-24-2008, 05:30 PM

Congratulations on adopting Willow. I have two, a 2yr old and a 3yr old. The male (3yrs) had his baby teeth removed when he was neutered and has just recently had another tooth appear in his top gum?. The female (2yrs) had baby teeth removed when she was spayed. She just had her check up and the vet said she needs her teeth cleaned. I have not been neglecting her teeth-I use PetzLife on both of them and she is constantly chewing on bully sticks and bones but seems to have tartar on her teeth.

spr377 · 05-24-2008, 05:40 PM

If the dog is in overall good health, I wouldn't consider her teeth needing to be cleaned a "health problem". Some dogs, like people, just have more tartar build-up than others. If it were me, I would get her teeth cleaned now to avoid problems down the road. Also, I am quite sure that most breeders don't have dental cleaning in their health guarantees. Good luck with your new little girl, so glad that she has a caring owner like you!!

05-24-2008, 02:50 PM	#1
katielove YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7	Questions about newly adopted Yorkie A little over a week ago, I adopted a female Yorkie who is almost 2 years old. The information I received from the breeder (whom I purchased her from) was that she is a completely healthy dog but since she had complications with her 1st and only pregnancy the breeder had her spayed and no longer wanted her. Willow is adjusting wonderfully in her new home and is also loving all of the attention she now receives on a daily basis. I don't think she had a very good life before, I think she lived in the garage with the other dogs and wasn't around people very often. In the short time that shes lived here, I've already had her to the vet to get her up to date on her shots and checked out. At the vets office we ran into some concerns that he had about her. Willows teeth are horrible and he questioned her actually age. He also mentioned that she still had a puppy tooth in there as well. When I asked the breeder about this she told me that "her" vet didn't mention her teeth being bad at all and didn't think a cleaning was necessary. Willow was just spayed in February. Before I get back in touch with her, I wanted the opinions of others who might be a little more informed about this kind of stuff. Willow is staying and will be loved regardless of her age or teeth but I'm upset that I even have to think about this kind of stuff. My concerns are this: 1. Should a dog this young need her teeth cleaned? 2. Is it possible that Willow is older than I was originally told? 3. Isn't it common for a vet to remove puppy teeth that haven't fallen out yet at the time of being spayed? Since writing all of this information down, I'm now questioning some things even more. Willow was born in November 2006 then spayed in February 2008. Her first year shots clearly should have been done in Nov. 2007. I love Willow and don't want her to have additional pain/problems down the road. I'm sorry if this is confusing and I'll answer any additional questions the best that I can to help make sense of this whole situation and to get some much needed advice!! Thanks, Kate and Willow

05-24-2008, 02:59 PM	#2
yoyo27 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,741	Well Kate welcome to the yorkie world. They are bad about having problems with teeth. That is why around here everyone talks about brushing there teeth. Its not unusual for them not to loose all there teeth then would need them pulled. But your vet should have instructed you about that and what he thinks. Usually they say they should come out by the first bday. About the age thing someone else will need to advise you there. Sounds like the lady you got her from didn't really pay much attention to the health and care of the dog. Might have been just in for the puppies and not the dog. Its really hard to believe that people can do that to dogs but they do. Hang in there and if you don't get answers you like change vets. Do you have the same vet as the breeder? That could also be your problem. __________________ " Santa's on his Way! From: Cali, Cinnamon, and Zoie.

05-24-2008, 03:01 PM	#3
Juliealfies mum YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland Posts: 2,224	well done Welldone for getting this little one . She is now in a home where she will be loved . If she has never had her teeth cleaned ie brushed dailly yes by the age of 2 she may have some staining and calculus present. It is normal for the vet to remove baby teeth when spaying, but only if the owner is willing to pay for the extra expence.....which they might not have been. As for age......your vet should be able to give you a ballpark figure on that. __________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie

05-24-2008, 03:12 PM	#4
katelin YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,778	Yes, all true. I wouldn't be too upset. If your vet thinks she is healthy, then just take it from here, and you'll know that she is a very lucky little girl to have found you. Best wishes. __________________ *LaVail Yorkshire Terriers*

05-24-2008, 05:30 PM	#7
margaritaville Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: west long branch, n.j. Posts: 4,457	Congratulations on adopting Willow. I have two, a 2yr old and a 3yr old. The male (3yrs) had his baby teeth removed when he was neutered and has just recently had another tooth appear in his top gum?. The female (2yrs) had baby teeth removed when she was spayed. She just had her check up and the vet said she needs her teeth cleaned. I have not been neglecting her teeth-I use PetzLife on both of them and she is constantly chewing on bully sticks and bones but seems to have tartar on her teeth. __________________ Joan, Bubba and Sissy-BEWARE OF PUPPY MILLS breathe in, breathe out, move on -jb

05-24-2008, 05:40 PM	#8
spr377 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 2,015	If the dog is in overall good health, I wouldn't consider her teeth needing to be cleaned a "health problem". Some dogs, like people, just have more tartar build-up than others. If it were me, I would get her teeth cleaned now to avoid problems down the road. Also, I am quite sure that most breeders don't have dental cleaning in their health guarantees. Good luck with your new little girl, so glad that she has a caring owner like you!!