Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladymom  Any purebred dog will be prone to certain genetic health issues because there is a small gene pool.
Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined!
The Orthopedic Foundation of America ranks Yorkies #4 is cases of luxating patellas (slipped knee caps).
They are also prone to Legg-Calve-Perthes, pancreatitis, and collapsed tracheas.
In order to get a puppy who will grow up to be a healthy adult, you must get a puppy from a breeder who is very knowledgeable about genetics and health tests all the dogs she breeds. By health testing, I don't mean a simple physical from a vet. Yorkies should have bile acids tests to make sure they don't have liver disease, have their knees manipulated, CERF eye exams, etc. A breeder should be able to show you proof that these tests were done.
Unfortunately, the popularity of Yorkies have made them a favorite among breeders who are breeding Yorkies with unknown backgrounds that are not good representatives of the Yorkie standard. They don't get the proper health testing done so they produce puppies who grow up to look very different from what Yorkies are supposed to and full of health problems. |
Awesome, thank you for the information
