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Originally Posted by amandawash  Dee, did you mean the belly bands and diapers will NOTwork? I sure would be scared to try!
To the OP- I hope you really consider all of the variables when thinking of breeding your pets. I hope you get the hundreds of dollars of genetic testing necessary for the parents, although positive results do not ensure congentital defect-free puppies. I also hope you consider the surplus of unwanted dogs, including pure-bred yorkies, as well as the fact you may lose puppies and/or mom. I hope you consider the hundreds or possible thousands of potential dollars in vet bills from emergencies with the mom or pups, and the fact you may not regain these costs selling the puppies, especially if the mother has a singleton. |
Please read through threads in the Health and Sick & Injured section. You will see all the health issues that today's Yorkies are dealing with as a result of careless breeding by inexperienced owners. It seems almost daily we have a newbie with a Yorkie who has just been diagnosed with liver disease. The breed's current popularity has cost them dearly.
Did you know that Yorkies are now 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt
than all other breeds combined according to a study done at the University of Tennessee? That Yorkies are ranked #4 in cases of luxating patellas by the Orthopedic Foundation of America?
A reputable breeder will offer at least a one year health guarantee on genetic defects. Should you produce any puppies with either of these conditions, you could be responsible for thousands of dollars in vet bills. As of now, there is no genetic marker for liver shunts so unless you know the background of your Yorkies many generations back, you are playing Russian Roulette with their future health.