New Member looking for information

[ragincajun]

Hi all, new member here on the boards. Found quite a few Yorkie sites and this seemed to be the most in depth so I thought I'd join up.

I don't have a Yorkie...yet. However I am looking to rescue one from a regional shelter about an hour away. There are a few things I am a bit concerned about; however in reading up on Yorkies (and similar breeds) it appears these are mostly just "those things you have to deal with in this breed class".

The actual dog is a "Silky", although they (the shelter believes it's either a pure breed Silky or a mix with Yorkie). Anyway, we've done the home visit last weekend and then finally got to go to a PetSmart today to meet her for the first time. She seemed to have a good personality and wasn't aggressive with my other dogs (we brought them to meet her as well); although my Sheltie/Terrier mix wasn't keen on introducing herself today.

The primary issues that I'm concerned with are:
1. Kneecap dislocation: The foster said she does have this in her left hind leg. I have discussed with my vet and he said this is common in the breed, doesn't cause discomfort although it could lead to arthritis in later years.
2. "Hot Spots": She has several sores on her body and was constantly scratching. The foster said they have gotten her a cortizone shot which worked for a short time and then have her on Benadryl which doesn't appear to be working. They are also starting with their vet on looking into allergies (such as corn) to see if food may be an issue. I'm guessing this is something we'll have to continue with our vet; just wondering if it's common in the breed(s) or if anyone else has seen similar flare ups and what they have experienced as a reason. I did a thorough check and she didn't appear to have fleas.
3. Collapsed tracheas: Not particularly on this dog, but in the breed. Is this common? Is a harness the best solution to help avoid? Anything else I should worry about here?
4. Coat: I have looked at tons of posts about coats. Her coat today appeared very thin and stringy. The foster had done a "self groom" which I'm not worried about but the coat was very thin. This would be my first pet with a single coat and no undercoat so I'm not sure if this is normal.

I'm attaching two photos. The first (with the topknot) is the initial picture when the shelter took her in. The second is the best I could get today in the pet store just for comparison sake.


Any feedback on the above issues would be greatly appreciated. I fell in love with her just from her first photo and when I can finally take her home in another week or so I want to make sure I can do right by her and give her a forever home.

[SophieKatesMom]

Hi, I found your post after I welcomed you on another thread.

Regarding the hot spot, it sounds like food allergies but a Vet would be better to advise as it could be a lot things (this is my experience from having a cat with hot spots).

My Yorkie has a minor collapsed trachea, hers is all managed through me- meaning she NEVER is walked with her collar, she gets exercise and I keep her weight down. My Vet checks her everytime I go in and she said what I am doing is working so far.

I am sure so of the more experienced members will have information for you also.

As far as the thin coat, I am not familiar with Silky's but with Yorkies you see all different types of coats. My Yorkie has a very silky coat but it is very thick.

Good luck, she is very cute and sounds like you really like her.

[gidget529]

Hi. Welcome. The rescue looks like a real cutie in the pics! I had a yorkie with the luxating patellas (knee cap issue). She also had a milder case that did not give her too much problem. As she became an elderly gal, she did get arthritis. She was put on Glucosamine Chondroitin when she was older, and in her last year of life pain meds to help w the arthritis. The are things you can do to help this problem. No jumping on furniture and get her some stairs to go up and down with. Keep her weight down.

You are right, bc this breed is prone to collapsing tracheas you need to use a harness when you walk her instead of a collar.

Wish you well on the adoption. Please let us know how everything works out.

[Lovetodream88]

Hi and welcome! She looks like a cutie! Kneecap dislocation is called Luxating Patella mine has that and it comes in 4 different grades, 4 being the worse. It depends the grade they have and how they handle it some times surgery is necessary. I'm sorry I dont know any thing about hot spots. Its is best to use a harness on small dogs always when hooking them to the leash, I use a harness when I walk mine but all the time she wears a collar with id tags on it but I never pull or hook a leash to the collar. There are different types of coats mine has thick hair and my moms has thin hair she might just have thin hair or maybe need a bath in a nice shampoo and conditioner. Another thing to remember about single coated dogs is they normally get colder then other dogs so you may need to get a few sweaters and a jacket. Also wanted to say how awesome it is you are going to rescue a doggie

[ragincajun]

She'll be our third rescue pup. Ginger (Golden retriever) and Ta-Tudie (terrier/sheltie) are lo g time family members. Studies wasn't real excited at the meeting yesterday. Ginger said hi but way to many other dogs for her to focus on Fergie...lol.

[peachbongi]

Hi welcome to YT and congrats on your new baby. I have a baby with very sensitive skin when it comes to topical products. Fergie with get blisters from certain shampoos. The only shampoo that hasn't bothered her is Mink Sheen. MinkSheen Pet Shampoo -

It is a shampoo, conditioner, antibacterial agent and natural insect repellent. I'm not to crazy about the smell, but others love it.

I know you will find all the answers to your questions and more here on YT.

[ladyjane]

Welcome to YT!

As for the skin issues, many people jump the gun and automatically assume it is corn. I would advise you to follow up with your vet and perhaps follow up with a dermatologist. My vet likes to rule out environmental allergies before going with the idea of food allergies. A blood test can help with the environmental allergies, but is not really good for food allergies. For that they do a food elimination diet. She also could have just had fleas and it got out of control. Once they start with the scratching and biting it is difficult to stop.

Luxating patella is indeed very common and many of them live with it without any issues. Just be aware that she can have problems in the future with it. She could end up with a torn cruciate ligament since luxating patella is a knee joint that is slipping and that puts a strain on the ligaments. The surgery can be around $3,000 for one knee. Just so you know.

Collapsing trachea is awful to deal with if it is bad. Sounds like she does not have it and you are just asking. Yes, you should walk her on a harness.

All coats are different. She looks to be pretty and the coat does not look horribly thin. I have found that many pups in rescue come in with coats in ill repair; and that they improve dramatically with good nutrition and grooming.

It is wonderful that you are wanting to rescue...there are so many yorkies in TX looking for homes. They make wonderful companions....they know that someone is saving them and they are so appreciative. I love my little rescues.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

She is certainly a cutie pie! Look at her adorable face!! Mikki has LP and she has it pretty bad (Grade 4). But honestly, you wouldn't know it because it does not seem to bother her at all. My vet is not recommending surgery because it is not bothering her at this point. He did say in her older years we may have some issues. He also said it was very common in Yorkies. She has stairs to use to get on our bed and we pick her up instead of letting her jump up on chairs and stuff.

On the Hot Spots, my mom has a Shih Tzu that battles with hot spots. She is buying some shampoo from Petco that has really helped her dog. I like Minksheen as someone else posted. The smell doesn't bother me. Not as "girly" as I like but it does the job.

Collapsed tracheas I have no experience with but I can tell you to use the harness. No collars. And yes, I think it is seen often in Yorkies.

Now on to coats, both of my girls have different coats. Rosie has the fine stringy but beautiful hair. Mikki came to us in a little different situation. Her hair is really thin in some areas. However, I am noticing a huge difference in hers since I got her. I don't know if it is the Minksheen or the diet I am feeding her. Maybe the way she was groomed made her coat appear thin? I took Mikki to my regular groomer and she feels that Mikki was given a bad cut and her coat will grow some.

I think it is so great that you are looking at rescuing this baby. I am sure she will make you a wonderful pet. She is a beautiful girl and with the love and attention you will be giving her she will blossom for you. You have found a wonderful site where we have so many members that are very knowledgeable and willing to help. So please don't hesitate to ask. And Welcome to Yorkie Talk!!!!

[Roxiesmama]

Welcome to YT! Your prospective pooch sure looks like a cutie pie!

You certainly came to the right place for getting info on these little guys. YT has been the single most valuable resource for info and advice for me since I got my Roxie almost 2 years ago.

Best of luck with your new little one, and bless you for taking in a rescue!

[Teresa Ford]

So happy you found YT. This is a great place to get information about almost anything Yorkie. I think ladyjane gave you some good answers.
From the picture your baby looks very cute.
Most of the dogs I deal with have behavior problems, not health issues. Think about walking into a room of huge basketball players and everyone is staring at you. You don't know the language, don't know where the bathroom is, and have no money to buy a meal. That may be somewhat how a rescue feels when we get them. Try to keep everything low key. First show the pottie place, praise if she goes. Take her to the same spot about every 2 hours until you establish a routine. Second show her where her water is round the clock. At first feed her what she is used to and wean her slowly onto the better food if you want her to eat something different. I suggest feeding her in her crate. This encourages a sense of safety and ownership her crate her food, her special toy. Everything outside the crate belongs to the pack leader, you. Allow her a little space and some time to feel safe, in her new forever home.
I am so glad you chose to get a rescue. She will be a blessing to you and you will be a blessing to her.

[ragincajun]

Just curious, when it comes to crating...

I have a large crate (largest made I think) and my Golden and Terrier dogs (the two I currently have) share it with no problems. There is actually room for sleeping for the new dog, although I am going to buy another crate and then combine them to make it twice the length for even added room for sprawling.

Two questions for the crating:

1. Obviously I won't leave them alone in the crate for a while, so is it best to put her in the bathroom at night to give her room or keep the new crate separate? I want to avoid her getting the "high and mighty syndrome"...lol and am a bit concerned if giving her, her own space while the other two share a space may make her feel more entitled.

2. I noticed the other new post about fighting...will eventually crating all three together be any issue that you can think of? Keeping in mind I am going to combine two large crates.

[Ojai]

Hi and welcome! She sure looks cute to me; I thought her coat looked nice in the second picture. How old is she? As I'm sure your research has shown, Yorkies and their coats, as someone once posted, is like a box of chocolates. Some do not achieve their adult coats and colors until they are three years old. I worried when Cubby was about four to six months old, because his coat was so thin. He's 15 months old now, and has a gorgeous silky coat that never tangles, and appears to be close to breaking more blue (even though I like the black!). As for hot spots: I have had a horse and a German Shepard who both suffered from hot spots: the horse, according to the vet, because it was allergic to a certain type of gnat that lived on my property. Can you believe that? I could board him a couple of miles away and the hot spots would disappear! I finally gave him to a friend who was moving to Montana, so he could get some relief. The Shepard only had trouble in the summer, and it was easier to treat. Since she was outside a lot, it may have been the gnats as well, because when I kept her inside, she did not have trouble. So, definitely some sort of allergy, but I don't think it was food related. Maybe your potential pup had flea bites when she was rescued that really irritated her sensitive skin, as LadyJane suggested? The knees and collapsed trachea I don't have any experience with (knocks wood), but there is a lot of information on this site: good luck!

[Ojai]

PS: All three of my Yorkies have the "high and mighty" syndrome, the new baby Lily most of all! Discipline is not my strong suit. My oldest, Ruby, is 9 1/2, and the only grouchy one who has always been very serious, not fond of kids, sticks close to me, and does not like to play. She will sometimes growl and snap at the other two, but then she will also fly to their rescue if she thinks Cubby is being too rough with Lily, or that Jay the cat is even near Lily or Cubby (or even the coackatiel, Captain Jack Sparrow). But they never "fight."

[ragincajun]

Thanks for all the good info and the pleasant welcomes.

Fergie is estimated to be 18mo to 2yrs old now. They estimated her at 12-18 months back in May..so hard to pinpoint. She was found in a nice area of Houston with no tags. Ads from the shelter never found her old owner so they began looking for a permanant home for her a couple of months ago.

The photo doesn't show it but the coat is very thin and stringy. Almost like a balding older person with oily hair. She had just been bathed that day but was air dried. (I believe I read that you shouldn't air dry them, they should always be blow dried?)

You could see her skin through the coat and the hot spots were scabrous sores on her. She just couldn't stop scratching. Even my dogs when we get flea infested don't scratch that much. I hope we can figure out something to relieve her for that if nothing else.

I know Silky's are a different breed from Yorkies in the terrier family but they do appear similar. Is it normal for a Silky to have a shorter coat from a Yorkie? The first picture, from her initial arrival at the shelter, is the longest her hair has ever gotten and the new photo from yesterday is after a puppy style cut but the hair was left long on her back.

One thing the foster mentioned also is that she is squeamish with her face being messed with. I was able to scratch her ears with no problem, but she specifically noted she did not like her topknot being messed with so she (the foster) has cut her a little poofie visor to keep it out of her eyes. Any way to get her over the fears to let the facial/head hair grow out again?

[ladyjane]

Did you ask them if their vet did a skin scraping?