Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Permanent dental problems in young Yorkshire Terriers under 2 years
By Coelho, Joana Chambel et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistry·2025·Faculdade de Medicina Veteriná·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Longitudinal Evaluation of Permanent Dental Anomalies in a Group of Yorkshire Terriers Referred for Dental Consultation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Yorkshire Terriers under 2 years old were referred to a dental specialist due to various oral issues, including missing teeth and misaligned bites. The most common problems found were missing lower third molars and persistent baby teeth, which can lead to crowding and other dental issues. Some dogs also had unusual tooth shapes or fused roots. While these findings were specific to the dogs seen at the clinic, they highlight that small breeds like Yorkshire Terriers are prone to dental problems early in life. Regular dental check-ups are important for these dogs to catch any issues early.
People also search for: Yorkshire Terrier dental problems · puppy missing teeth · dog dental care tips
Abstract
Oral and dental diseases are among the most common problems observed in small-breed dogs. The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the breeds that most often exhibits oral disease at an early stage, namely, periodontal disease as well as persistent deciduous teeth. The present study aims to describe and analyze primary dental-skeletal anomalies in Yorkshire Terrier dogs aged <2 years, observed in referral dentistry practices, between 2015 and 2024. Dogs with full-mouth dental radiographs and charting were included. Dental agenesis, malocclusions and crowding, persistent deciduous teeth, and shape anomalies were the most frequent findings. Agenesis was mostly encountered in mandibular third molars (90% of dogs, 53 of 183 missing teeth) and was significantly associated with the presence of fused roots in the second molars (.0006). Shape abnormalities included microdontia, dilaceration, and fused roots. The previously described bilateral carnassial tooth malformations were observed in 10% of individuals. Eruption anomalies were significantly associated with malocclusion (= .008). Although these results were based on a convenience sample referred for dental consultation and cannot be extrapolated for the overall population, they show a tendency, which can be a reflection of the dogs' reduced size. Hypodontia and oligodontia in these breeds are possibly an advantage, which can decrease occurrence and severity of malocclusions.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40033759/