Donna,
I also like what you posted here!!! sounds like you are right on track to a great breeding program. More breeders should strive for this in there
program and maybe we would have more healthy sound yorkshire terriers.
and if all of the breeders would get on the same page we could preserve the breed before it is too late.
Kathy

Thank you Kathy! This breed is my passion and I wish all would do it the right way but unfortunately that doesn't happen only in a perfect world. I believe once you place a puppy that puppy should always be backed by the breeder. I know maybe I can't do anything 5 to 6 years down the road if God forbid something happened to a puppy I placed I would do everything in my power to guide and possibly help because that baby is still considered a part of my family! Breeders can only do so much after a certain length of time but if you study pedigrees and the health issues of those lines and breed correctly you shouldn't have to worry and again your puppies are only as good as the breeder ( I hope that made sense).

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

That makes perfect sense. And yes when you have puppys you should be the new owners support system for how every long the puupy is around
They are your family forever!!!!!
Kathy

Question about LP
 

How do you all specifically test your breeding dogs for LP? Does your vet just feel the joint and okay it? Do you have x-rays done? Would like more info about testing for LP

Exactly, but I know of a case where the breeder was a show breeder and did not care less. not all show breeders do what they should do neither.. there show dogs are important to them, but not always the pet quality.

Whether it be a show dog or pet I care about all my puppies....I treat my show dogs the same way I treat my pets...HEALTHY! I breed for show dogs but unfortunately not every puppy born is of show quality but if you breed correctly your pet puppies should be in the same health catagory as your show dog you breed for...
Donna

donna, please do not take offence in my post.. I was not talking about any show breeder on YT..
But of an experience I had.. I live for my yorkies, and they are my life.. when I got a girl from this show breeder and she got parvo, and was so aggressive she just wanted to kill my other two yorkies, a tiny, and an old girl. she just called me an idiot and I placed that dog with my daughter.. she does not take the dog for walks,. but she has calmed down over years.. this show breeder has a huge huge attitude.. you do not call a person an idot because you do not like that fact they spoke honestly with you about a behaviour of one of your yorkies.. I in face sent this email to yet another show breeder that is very big,, I deleted the name and left nothing for anyone to know who she was.. this breeder came back and told me exactly who the breeder was as she said she would be the only one I know that would talk down like that to anyone..
So when I speak, I do so from my experience..
I love reading from you show breeders that know more then I do.. absolutely love it.. I am just a blunt person, but mean no harm to any of you..

Show or pet they all should be part of your family. We brought them into the world!! they are all our responsibilty no matter what.

I certainly agree with you.. the puppy's I have sold I keep in contact with all the new parents.. I would not have it any other way...I had a stud, was not genitically good, the minute I knew, he was no longer used as a stud.. but my best friend was given this dog to love and I get the best of both worlds.. I get to see him all the time also.. just because he was not good enough for what I wanted, that does not mean I care less about him..

No offense taken :) As I've stated before in other posts <grin> not all show breeders are ethical either I am just stating how I feel and how I do my breeding and showing practices as a show breeder :)

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

Donna,
You are so right about that. You can only take responsibilty for
what is yours! And lead by example. Like the old saying goes you can lead
a horse to water but you cannot make them drink!!!!!

If you get your puppy vaccinated and then get a blood panel done
it will show adnormality that is a none fact. That is why before I
send my pups home anywhere from 12-14 wks I get the blood
panel first then the shots my vet who is a holistic vet would nerver do
anything different. This test does not show if there is a liver shunt but will tell you if there is any adnormilties going
on and if there is further your testing.
jwid.

Michelle, you are so knowledgeable about the Yorkshire Terrier breed. You would make a wonderful breeder. Have you considered breeding? You are the only one I have seen that actually asked questions about testing and the details on it... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

More new owners should ask questions. You need to know about who
and where and what the breeder believes in testing ect. before
you purchase your baby. Don't buy first and be heart broken
down the line to find out it is sick or has a crippling gentic problem.
You will be attached then what?
Michelle more people should be like you!!!
Kathy
About LP I have my vet check my puppys before they leave my hoome
anywhere from 12-14 wks. they can tell if there is a problem
and if they find it will recomend a xray. I am going
to have any breeding dogs get ofa just for my piece of mind.
Hips are not a issue in yorkies at this time but other problems
can be detected.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

No, I'm not considering breeding. I just want to know what to ask and what to look for in any breeders I'm considering buying from in the future. Yorkies have so many health issues...I want to try to make sure none of my future dogs have any major health issues. I've always been fascinated with showing...I think it sounds like so much fun...but I don't really want to breed. I might be interested in showing one day, but I'd have a lot to learn...so for now I just want to focus on buying the best pets I can and making sure they are healthy.

I'd really like more info about testing for LP in breeding dogs...how it's specifically tested for. This is really of interest to me because Lacy has LP and it is so so common in yorkies. I can understand breeders not wanting to have a guarantee against it because of the possibility of injuries causing it, but I'd like to try an minimize my chances as much as possible of getting another yorkie with LP. So I'm wondering how most breeders guarantee that their breeding dogs don't have it....do you just have a vet feel the joint...do you have x-rays done...do you see an orthopedic specialist to clear patellas?? I'm just curious how most of you test for LP in your breeding dogs.

Oooh... showing sounds wonderful also. I just thought u would make a good breeder because you know so much and willing to learn even more. Yeah, would be great to show huh? I'm sorry Lacy has LP. I had no idea she has it. I'm pretty sure it has been taken care of. I'm glad you are researching as much as you can to minimize your chances :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:. I know it's not anytime soon, but good luck to you with your newest addition. I guess Lacy won't be the only child anymore.

You know? That's a good point. I think vets can tell whether the LP was caused by injury or is genetic...correct? If a person came back to me and said that one of my pups had it, I would want he/she to be checked by a vet to determine as much as possible. I would most likely offer to replace the dog or to give a partial refund in the end, because I'm not sure it's something that shows up until later. Although, the only thing I know is that it's NOT in the lines of my dogs. I have checked back at the pedigrees, and I know the medical history of each of them. I suppose that's the best that can be done. :)

What does your vet do to check for LP in your dogs? I'm just curious what most breeders do to check for it

Mine feel the joint in the younger dogs, but I had him xray the adult girls when I got them. It was at the same time I got them blood tested and bile acid checked.

I also wanted to ask...do vets recommend surgery if it's only in stage II? Or do they generally wait until stage III?

Even stage III doesn't always need surgery....stage I and II rarely (from what I have read and been told by vets). However, I can see how it would really be an individual thing. Many dogs with grade I-III live their entire lives with no real problem, many more with mild arthritis as they age. Others, of course, do have more problems with it. Also, one thing I notice is that many vets are not actually knowledgeable enough about the grades to grade it correctly.

I have 2 yorkies with LP both are a grade 2 and I'm not even considering surgery at this point. Both are my spayed and neutered pets. LP showed up in adult stage of life and I'm almost sure it was from an injury I never knew about because all my dogs jump and run on concrete flooring in my home, run in and out the doggy door full blast and the two with LP are both overweight. So to say it's genetic in these two dogs is probably not the case. I won't consider surgery unless they are limping and continue to limp. If they show no signs of pain or lameness no need for surgery. JMHO!
The other dogs that are my breeding show dogs have been checked for LP and they do not have it. LP is just so common in toy dogs but again I firmly believe if it shows up in a puppy to a young adult probably genetic and should be eliminated from a breeding program again JMHO.

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

Interestingly, I have heard that LP can be reduced in young puppies by having them on a hard surface like concrete. (Not having them jump hard all the time, but just walking and playing) Apparently it strengthens the joints/muscles that are often weak with LP.

I never let my puppies jump on my concrete flooring! That is so dangerous and concrete is also more slippery than per se tile. But of course that is my experience anyway.

So would it be safe to say that most breeders just have a vet examine the dogs for LP but xrays are not normally done? I'm still unclear on that question.....

You can do a search of the OFA records by breed and see just how many Yorkie breeders have had their dog's patellas certified:

http://www.offa.org/search.html

I wouldn't say all breeders don't xray because a lot do I just haven't because LP again as I stated is just too common when you let them be dogs and jump and play.
I don't Xray yet. I am, however, going to start OFA'ing my show/breeding yorkies because I want to make sure LP is not going to show up in my lines. However, again, LP can show up if there is an injury. An injury can occur and you never know about it until LP shows up. It's always safe to not let your yorkies jump up and down on furniture but in my house it's almost totally unavoidable with the ones I have now. I'm teaching my 7 month old not to jump. I have several that are jumpers and try telling them they can't jump just isn't going to happen they are hard headed! LOL. I do however, like them being dogs and being able to run, jump and play.

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

No, of course not. Perhaps I didn't make myself clear...I said not jumping hard, but instead walking and playing on a hard surface like concrete. As opposed to soft carpeting all the time. Like letting them walk and play (again, not jumping up and down) on the patio. BTW, my tile is much more slippery than concrete! Concrete usually has a bit rougher texture, unless one of the textured tiles. But as far as the surface, I would think they would be about the same hardness. I can certainly see how this would strengthen their leg muscles and joints in a safe way, as long as they weren't jumping on it.