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Originally Posted by Yorkieluv  The key to getting a healthy yorkie is buying from a reputable breeder. I can't stress that enough.
My yorkie came from a puppymill, and yes, he has very serious liver problems. He needs to be on a special diet, lactulose, and supplements for the rest of his life.
I was tricked by a woman who pretended to be a reputable breeder...She had all the right answers to my questions, and I was naive at the time...I found out later when my yorkie started having all of his health problems that she was actually a broker for puppymills!!
Yorkies are wonderful little dogs!!  There's nothing wrong with buying a purebred Just make sure whatever dog you buy comes from a reputable breeder who does health testing. |
Make sure you only deal with a breeder who does genetic screening and health testing of all her breeding dogs. Doing your homework now to find a good breeder can save you heartbreak and money in the future.
Liver shunts are a terrible problem in Yorkies. According to a recent study by Dr. Tobias at the University of Tennessee,
Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have liver shunts than all other breeds combined.
http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/faq.shtml
Dr. Tobias and Dr. Center (Cornell) are considered the authorities on liver disease. Dr. Center recommends that all puppies get a bile acids test before going to their new home. According to Dr. Center, sixteen weeks is the ideal time, but have your breeder do it as close to departure time as possible.
A reputable breeder will know what genetic problems can occur in her breed and be able to discuss the subject with you. Ask her what steps she has taken to make sure they don't occur in her puppies. A reputable breeder will welcome your questions. If she has no idea what you are talking about or is evasive, run!
You can look up the inherited problems in Yorkies here:
http://www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/lida/index.php?Pg=2