Yorkies, like all purebred dogs, are prone to certain genetic conditions. It is essential to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder who does genetic screening and health tests all her dogs before breeding them. By health testing, I don't mean a routine physical by the vet, but specific testing to make sure the dogs aren't carriers of conditions like luxating patellas or a liver shunt. A breeder should be able to show you proof that the puppy's parents had their knees checked and had bile acids tests for liver liver disease.
Liver shunts are an epidemic in today's Yorkies. Yorkies are now thirty-six times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined. Surgery to correct shunts runs into the thousands and that does not include the cost of test to make the diagnosis.
All prospective Yorkie parents should insist to see the results of bile acids tests on both parents and have the puppy bile acid tested at 20 weeks. Make sure your contract is clear about the breeder's responsibility if the puppy does have a shunt. Will she pay the vet bills up to the cost of the puppy? |