Too Paranoid?

[MikeB78]

So I am a new Yorkie owner and have been browsing this site and reading as much as I can to learn about my little man. He is just over 9 weeks now and about 1 1/2 lbs. His Mom was about 4 1/2 lbs. and Dad was about 4 lbs. so he isn't going to get very big. My issue is in reading this site every time I turn around somebody is talking about their Yorkie taking a small fall and dying from a head injury, or the ever possible liver shunt to the tune of about $4k. We love our little guy to death, I just feel like I am constantly worried sick about him. Are these dogs really that susceptible to sickness and injury or is that just what happens to get posted on here? Are these dogs really that much more sensitive compared to other breeds? Maybe I am just focusing in on the wrong stories but it just seems to be harder to find the happy stories than it is to run across the bad ones. I guess I have just been spoiled. We have had our Cocker Spaniel for 9 years now and she has never once been to the vet for anything other than regular vaccinations. Thanks for the help and support everybody. I wouldnt trade him for the world but I am just worrying myself sick about him 24/7 and over analyzing (according to my wife) every little thing he does!

[pink66]

I have always had dogs, mostly Sheltie sized and bigger. Six years ago I got a Cavalier King Charles and really liked the smallness and how portable he was (he's 25 lbs now and not as portable!). Two years ago I started falling in love with Yorkies, and my Puff is now 18 months old. If I had known everything I do now, chances are we never would have gotten her--and we would be missing out on so much.
With a Yorkie there is so much more to worry about. Their size, which makes them so attractive to lots of people, is also what can get them killed. I worry about predatory birds carrying my baby off for breakfast, wild animals thinking she looks like a chicken nugget, thieves thinking she looks like $$$, and kids thinking she looks like target practice. So...she is never outside without her harness and some kind of leash. Even in our fenced backyard she wears a light 30 ft lead. She can run and play and have fun, but I have a way to quickly get ahold of her. You do have to be careful of jumping and falling, of diet, of somebody stepping on them. At times it seems like I spend the day keeping Puff safe from herself, because she thinks she's the biggest, toughest member of the family. Again, the very things that make us want them (size and attitude) also make them fragile. As a Yorkie parent, your job is keeping them safe. Anticipate the problems and correct the situation just like if you have a toddler.
Puff makes all of us laugh every day. No amount of money would make me give her up. As long as you take the time to know the dangers and minimize or eliminate them, then you can start enjoying all the cute, silly, goofy things your baby will do. Enjoy!!!

[Maximo]

You are not paranoid. Yorkies, especially very small ones like yours, are at greater risk for injury and illness than a lot of other dogs.

I was surprised by the difference between Max, my first Yorkie, and previous dogs my family had -- the work that is required to keep Max safe. The first year was the hardest for me in terms of worrying. Max will be 5 this month.

Don't let worrying get in the way of enjoying your pup.

[theporkieyorkie]

Nope...not paranoid at all. I just wrote a post the other day about my little guy being a daredevil. I am so afraid he's going to hurt himself!!

I had no idea all of the health problems that run through the yorkie line, until I got a yorkie and started reading. When I was growing up, our dogs went to the vets for vaccinations etc, but I never really remember them getting sick or having problems.. Both my mom and I have spent lots of money on vet bills for our yorkies because of their illness/injuries.

With any breed, esp a purebred, there are risks but with yorkies, the risk of illness or injury seem to run higher than most. Sadly, I contribute a lot of the illnesses on their popularity and overbreeding by irresponsible breeder(BYBs, puppy mills etc). People breed dogs that are riddled with health problems and it gets passed to their puppies and right on down the line.

I have a small fry(4 lbs) and I am going to be getting him health insurance. I still am not sure if it's more economical than not having it...but for me personally, it's much easier for me to pay $35 a month and pay a $250-$500 deposit if my dog gets sick than it is to shell out thousands of dollars at once. Also...the peace of mind will be priceless.

I am fairly certain that I will get my use out of the insurance. Yorkies are so prone to problems...allergies and dermatological problems, LP's, Liver problems, teeth problems, stomach problems etc....that I am sure I will end up using the insurance. For me, in order to give him the kind of healthcare I want to give him, it's necessary. I know myself....and when it comes to my pets, there's no limit when it comes to taking care of them. I'd spend my last dollar trying to give them the best care possible...so health insurance is my best option.

I think you'll find that lots of us worry about our yorkies...maybe more than most....but it's just because we love them and want to give them the best quality of life we can.

[Lovetodream88]

Any dog can jump and land wrong and hurt themselves but the smaller the dog the smaller the bones. The reason we have so many sick dogs is because we have way to many bad breeders and puppy mills who are breeding simply for the money and not doing available health testing/genetic testing and not knowing the generations and lines of there dogs to know if there are genetic illness in the lines to know not to breed that dog. Also just because the parents of your pup where 4 pounds doesn't mean your pup will be 4 pounds if say his grandfather was 12 pounds he could end up bigger it's not just about his mom and dad. Reputable breeders generally wait until a puppy is 12 weeks before letting them go to there new homes so because this puppy is so small and so young you do need to make sure he is eating every couple of hours and know the symptoms of hypoglycemia and have some nutrical on hand in case he experiences hypoglycemia and its also best not to leave him for more then an hour or so encase he has an episode because if no one is there to see it and get sugar in his system he can start having seizures which can turn into death. Also sense he is not with his mom until 12 weeks he could have potty training problems, biting problems and socialization problems so you will need to watch out for those. Otherwise enjoy the puppy stage is doesn't last long.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Any dog can jump and land wrong and hurt themselves but the smaller the dog the smaller the bones.

This is so true. Mine is 8 lbs, but I still watch him like a hawk. He is a daredevel that leaps off high furniture, runs down stairs so fast that he will jump over the last 2 or 3 and runs UP stairs so fast that he falls when he misses a step. I spend every day holding my breath at some point, praying that he doesn't hurt himself! My parents have 2 King Charles Cavaliers, both around 35lbs (not fat, just big for the breed) and each of them had an orthopedic injury caused by jumping and landing wrong within months of each other. One had just finished his post op physical therapy when they had to do it all again with the other one.
I recommend pet insurance-may parents didn't have any and spent thousands!
Do not let your fear prevent you from enjoying your baby, though. Freak accidents can happen no matter how careful you are. Yorkies are a ton of fun and have so much personality that you will wonder how you ever did without one!

[Magnus]

In a way, it's good you're getting educated about things that can go wrong. It'll prepare you IF something happens. Like having a human baby. What do parents do? "Baby proof" the home. Think of this as a similar situation. With your guy being so small (and stay small), there are dangers that can occur. So just do you best to puppy proof your home and whatever else you seem necessary.

I think balance is the key. It's good to worry b/c it'll keep you on your toes but like like Maximo said, don't let that keep you from enjoying having him in you life.

[Britster]

I don't think you should let paranoia take over having fun with your pup. Yes, it is our job to protect them, but honestly that comes with ANY dog. And while size can be a difference with some things, it's overall not THAT big of a deal. I am actually dogsitting right now, there is 5 yorkies here plus my own, all ranging from 3lbs-18lbs. None of them are honestly any different other than needing stairs to get on the bed. They all jump off the bed, they all go out in the fenced in yard together, they all play fine together, etc. I haven't found a difference in watching these dogs than dogsitting for bigger dogs, other than when they jump on me, it hurts worse! LOL... but overall, they're dogs.

Health issues get brought up on the forum a lot because usually when people go googling issues, they find this forum, join and ask a question, etc. I think more people go seeking a place like this when they have a problem vs. just wanting to talk. You can go on any other dog forum and find the same thing. Goldens and Labs are plagued by cancer and Hip Displaysia, etc.

You will have different issues with each size dog. But overall, even though they're all individuals, they're all dogs. And you have to let them BE that.

Do I worry on our walks about loose dogs? Of course I do. I honestly probably would still worry if I had a big dog. At least with a small dog, you can lift them up to safety easily. I only let him around bigger dogs that I know, or read the dogs body language first, etc. But again, honestly, this is probably a precaution I would take even with a big dog.

Enjoy your dog -- don't worry too much!! They're a whole heck of a lot of fun.

Frisbee & Summer Fun - YouTube

[Rainbows]

Everything is over exaggerated on the internet. Just be mindful of heights, and go to regular vet checks, take loving care of the pup, everything should be ok. This is a small corner on the internet, there are millions of yorkie owners so when a few people post about their sick puppies it can seem like it's more common than it really is. They are dogs after all, and dogs play rough with each other! Yorkies are pretty hardy little things, they may have small bones but the bones are strong. Unless they fall or are dropped from a substantial height or tumble down steep stairs or play with big rough dogs they probably aren't too at risk of broken bones. Liver shunt isn't all too common either, it happens but it's not like every tiny yorkie is going to have it...it's most commonly seen in very sickly inhumanely bred 'teacup' puppies, that come from puppy mills with unhealthily tiny mums and the signs are pretty obvious if you know what to look for. I got my girl at 9 1/2 weeks and she's just about 12 weeks now and only weighs about 1.7lbs but boy does she have long hair already...lots of padding there lol anyways when I first got her I was worried to death about hypoglycemia, the vet said it's pretty rare and they see maybe 10 cases a year with small dogs...She was extremely playful, a hardy eater and very affectionate from day 1, very social and happy to see people...also it's good to start training obedience and giving tasty treats lowers the risk much more and be sure to leave the food and water out for the puppy 24/7, they don't eat much anyways!

It's the same when you have a baby, you over worry and read about all the horror stories online and it can seem like bad things are so common when it's not. Think about it this way, for every person that posts their sad stories, there are probably 1000 more people that never post because they've never had any problems. If in doubt always consult your vet, don't be afraid to ask them questions and be inquisitive it will make you feel so much better trust me!

[buffy512]

It really depends on the preventative matters you take. Also... what type of health issues are present in the genetics. You can never be too cautious. Good Luck && Welcome.!!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Marhcarter

This is so true. Mine is 8 lbs, but I still watch him like a hawk. He is a daredevel that leaps off high furniture, runs down stairs so fast that he will jump over the last 2 or 3 and runs UP stairs so fast that he falls when he misses a step. I spend every day holding my breath at some point, praying that he doesn't hurt himself! My parents have 2 King Charles Cavaliers, both around 35lbs (not fat, just big for the breed) and each of them had an orthopedic injury caused by jumping and landing wrong within months of each other. One had just finished his post op physical therapy when they had to do it all again with the other one.
I recommend pet insurance-may parents didn't have any and spent thousands!
Do not let your fear prevent you from enjoying your baby, though. Freak accidents can happen no matter how careful you are. Yorkies are a ton of fun and have so much personality that you will wonder how you ever did without one!

Yeah Callie at 17 pounds although this was like 4 years ago hurt her front leg one time jumping it ended up being an over extending front leg but she jumped at 2am in the morning and would not walk on it so we rushed her to the er vet and she started walking on it and the er vet was kind of a jerk but they did xrays and nothing showed up so we payed our million dollars and went home. Then the next day it was off to our vet who said that when dogs go to the vet they can get so excited and stuff they will walk on an injured leg and not feel the pain as much or ignore it and she really checked Callie out and felt around her shoulder and sure enough she found the spot and Callie screamed and we had to go to the orthopedic surgeon for them to sedate her and do xrays. She moves so darn fast and never slows down.

[Yorkieblues]

I'm a little worried also. Gideon is almost 6 months old now. He's almost 4 lbs and a sturdy little guy. I really want to socialize him now that he has had all his vaccinations. My problem is all my friends have large dogs. Pit bulls, ridgeback mix, lab and huskie. The closest to his age and size is an 8 month old beagle mix. We stop and see her on our walks but they are both so excited I'm afraid she will pounce on him and it will be all over.

I chose a Yorkie because they are absolutely adorable and because of the lower allergy issue for me. He is the smallest dog I have ever owned. On walks he eats everything in his path which makes for a more stressful walk. Lots of Geese (droppings) in my area. I want to let him have his fun but I seem to always be correcting him away from the dangers to his little life. I sure hope things get a easier after the toddler teething stage.

I think we just have to be the best, smartest, puppy parent we can be without stressing ourselves out or putting our puppies on a no touch pedestal. Hope your (and my) anxiety relaxes as our puppies get older.

[Rhetts_mama]

Size DOES matter when it comes to taking care of these guys. Something simple like jumping off a couch can be much more traumatic for a 5 pound dog versus a 15 pound one. Other things like toxins can affect them in much smaller quantities than a bigger dog. I've never had to worry about one of my dogs going through my deck railings until we brought Cali home! We will make adjustments and puppy proof the deck rather than denying her the pleasure of sunning herself on the deck with the rest of the pups.

I think the key is to be vigilant about what's around, but realize that at the end of the day they are dogs and will do dog things.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by MikeB78

So My issue is in reading this site every time I turn around somebody is talking about their Yorkie taking a small fall and dying from a head injury, or the ever possible liver shunt to the tune of about $4k. We love our little guy to death, I just feel like I am constantly worried sick about him. Are these dogs really that susceptible to sickness and injury or is that just what happens to get posted on here? Are these dogs really that much more sensitive compared to other breeds?

I think the health perspective gets skewed online, as many people initially go searching, when they have a problem. Add that to the tendency that humans have to tell 5 people when something good happens and 500 when something bad happens, and the overall picture gets distorted.

[gemy]

I think that there are real health issues with Yt's; how-ever probably not at the level or rate we see here. Folks who google health issues in YT's will likely land here, and then read and or post their question.

How-ever it is true that the incidence of LP is quite pre-dominant in this breed, along with other issues. See Health concerns for Yorkies in our library here.

Using halters is great for walking and training, and a collar to put the rabies tag and identification tag on. When your dog is better trained you can start to intersperse collar with halter, particularly if you are doing formal obedience training with your dog.

The structure and thickness of Yorkie bones can be quite different across the different lines of Yorkies. Also regular exercise and good weight control is important for lots of reasons and btw for all breeds.

I believe that very large and very small breeds of dogs have their own unique needs and concerns.

I am aware and guard against my YT jumping from high heights, but not off a low stool.

If your boy is only 1.5lbs now at 9wks I do have to wonder how much he weighed when you got him? Usually breeders don't let the pups go under 2lbs particularly to new Yorkie owners and pretty close or at least approximately 12wks old. So I would make sure he is fed at least three times a day, and maybe a snack before bedtime - a doggy snack that is.

You can do a BATS test at 16wks and another at 6months old to see how his liver is functioning. In terms of LP the vet can assess at any time how "loose" his knees might be.

If you do not have money put aside for medical care and or emergencies there are some great pet insurance plans out there that will cover even genetic defects.