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Originally Posted by dwerten  I say get a reputable breeder for sure and have the odds in your favor as i did not know any better and i got a pet store yorkie dex who had severe pancreatitis and has ibd. My dee dee is a yorkie from a backyard breeder and she has mvd, hypothyroid, one luxating patella low grade and severe atopic dermatitis -basically a horrible immune system  and a maltese demi from petfinder.com rescue but she is from a show breeder and has been healthy for 4 1/2 years but just had 27 teeth removed due to periodontal disease as i was so fearful to put her under for a dental. I am on 55 dog groups now and educate myself thoroughly and have learned the hard way and have spent a ton of money but having said that i love the breed so much I will get another one but know the breeders i would get them from as after 4 1/2 years i realize that is very important and you will have the best odds. It is heartbreaking having the health issues but sometimes i feel like i got the unhealthy ones because i could afford it and because i do not have skin kids and maybe i am suppose to learn to be more healthy myself. I have learned alot from these 3 but have cried many tears over the health issues i have had to deal with |
Very thoughtful post, I became an advocate for good breeding practices after having had a terrible experience with with a very lovable bybs dog. I had small children at the time, and it was so hard to tell them that there was nothing we could do for the dog, and he was only 7 when it had to be put to sleep. I'll never forget the vets words when he told me about the condition, and added the words, "damn backyard breeders."