Yorkshire Terriers are extremely susceptible to both hereditary and non-hereditary health problems, including birth defects that may go undetected for a long time.
Other common problems may include, but are not limited to, diarrhea, vomiting, along with extra and expensive tests prior to routine teeth cleanings and surgeries. Small ones are more likely to have poor reactions to anesthesia and die from it. Tiny dogs are more easily injured by falls, being stepped on and being attacked by other dogs. These health problems nearly always result in large veterinary bills.
Please take this into consideration and make purchasing a healthy pet your top priority, not size. The "novelty" is certainly not worth the pain, heartbreak, or extra expense. Remember, all Yorkies are comparatively small.
The most important thing is finding a healthy puppy that will grow into a healthy adult, especially since you looking at an 11 to 15 year commitment with your Yorkie. This information was obtained from the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America's website.
Health Issues: - Yorkshire Terriers are quite sensitive to many medications. They don't like cold or rain and should wear a sweater in cold weather. Most common health issues include:
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Portosystemic Shunt
Patellar Luxation
Tracheal Collapse
Retinal Dysplasia
For more info on Liver Shunts, click the banner below.
For more info on Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease, click the banner below.
Northwoods Yorkies also proudly endorses Petzlife Oral Care Gel to help maintain heathly teeth and gums. We use this product on all our dogs to protect and help prevent oral disease. According to the AVDS, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, often indicated by bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth, and depression. Besides causing receding gums and tooth loss, the infection may enter the blood stream, potentially infecting the heart, liver, and kidneys. (Reprinted with permission from Happy Dog Place.)