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Originally Posted by dlafave  In the wake of losing a beautiful 4 lb , 6 yr old otherwise healthy yorkie to tracheal collapse I am trying to find information on genetic links to his terrible condition before I acquire another yorkie. Does anyone have information that would help someone looking to acquire a puppy choose one that is least likely to develop this? She suffered a horrible death. I can't even begin to tell you what it did to me. Thank you for any info. I have searched the internet but all I find is general information. Not too helpful. |
Reading your post is so distressing. I just recently learned that it is not uncommon for Yorkies to die during a collapsed trachea episode. My Edward has a serious collapsed trachea - daily episodes. I thought if I kept him calm that would prevent serious problems. He can swallow his drinking water the wrong way to trigger an episode. I have an agility course that he worked every day as a puppy. We quickly realized he had a problem. Now he cannot even do the easiest sections for fear of triggering an episode. He suffered through a grade 3 & 4 patellas, both requiring surgery. He has anxiety issues that can trigger an episode. He just turned 6 so your post is not easy to read. I have to work with him up to 15-20 minutes during each episode to calm him down and clear his breathing. I have a good routine that calms him but it still takes a while for his breathing to normalize.
Breeders will pull a dog with a bad bite from their breeding program because bad bites affect show results but the same breeder will continue to breed a dog with a collapsed trachea. Breeders pull a dog from breeding with a bad coat but continue to breed a dog with bad patellas. In the Yorkie FB groups there are breeders very proud to say they will breed Yorkie with a known liver shunt. Of course, they are careful to breed to a Yorkie free of liver issues. My mind just cannot comprehend that kind of thinking. I would like to know how a person has absolute certainty that a Yorkie does not have a liver issue.
Maybe the show judges should grade patellas, trachea and liver issues. That would reduce some of these conditions although it is a shame that it would take something that severe to make a change. A BIS winner at a show I attended had parents that were both diagnosed with MVD, the sire died and the dam was still in treatment. I have always wondered if that BIS winner was put into someone's breeding program.
To address your question about a collapsed trachea genetic marker - I agree with the group. Moreover, I would agree that you have the right to ask a lot of questions and include a request for copies of the sire and dam's vet records before selecting another Yorkie. I had to provide my vet's endorsement in writing and 4 personal references before the breeder would allow me to take Edward. The policy should go both ways.
All in all I am glad that we have Edward. I know that he will never breed even though he was sold as a breeder and we will take care of all of his needs. It sounds like your little guy was also lucky to have you.