First time miniature Yorkie Mom

[Hynie]

Hello. I'm glad to find this forum as I will be having many questions.

I will be getting my baby in the latter part of May. She is only 1 weeks old right now. She is tiny and will be tiny - parents are 3# each.

Today I spoke to my vet regarding care for the puppy and asking if she had any concerns regarding spaying her when the time is right. Oh my! She gave me a whole negative lecture about how she would never have a dog that weighed less than 6# when full grown and proceeded to tell me several reasons why.

First she said these small Yorkies often have problems with their portal circulation and when that's the case they can never undergo anesthesia. She said it would require multiple blood tests and an ultra sound to determine this. Also that these small dogs don't usually live very long because their organs are so small. I was so upset and disappointed in her because I've always trusted her care of my other dogs in the past. Right now I have a Maltese who weighs 9.5#.

Now I'm really upset and wondering what the rest of you have found with your miniature Yorkies regarding health and specifically spaying/neutering where anesthesia is required.

[Yorkiemom1]

#1) This "breeder" you are getting this baby from, is letting the baby go WAY to young.
#2) A respectable breeder would never sell such a tiny baby to anyone that has NO experience in raising a tiny. Your vet is correct, they CAN have a multitude of problems.
3) NO responsible breeder breeds a female that weigh 3 lbs. This person is deliberately breeding tiny dogs strictly because she can make a ton of money off them. You are certainly going to get a ton of opinions about what you are about to get suckered into.....but I am telling you not to touch this with a ten foot pole. You are setting yourself up for nothing but heartache and possibly a huge amount of vet bills. Let me say this....just because a puppy is tiny, does NOT mean it is automatically going to be a health disaster. But I think with your inexperience, you are not equipped to deal with this puppy. Tinys require soooooooooooo much more care and they are fragile...drop one or accidentally kick ne with your foot, and it is all over but the hole digging. And this lady is deliberately breeding tiny tiny females....cruel, simply cruel as well as unethical and irresponsible.

[Lovetodream88]

Well I would not buy from the breeder you are buying from because a reputable breeder will not breed a female under 5 pounds because it's extremely dangerous and the fact that she is breeding a female under 5 pounds shows she has no care for her dogs and just wants small puppies she can charge a lot of money for. A puppy should also not come home until 12 weeks especially if there very small. Check out the ytca.org for breeders.

[Hynie]

Thank you for your input. I am experienced with small dogs (Maltese) but not with anything this tiny. I appreciate your comments.

[chachi]

Tinys can live a long healthy life but they can be injured easily and require special care. I dont think all households are proper for tinys especially households with children

[Lovetodream88]

If the breeder is already doing two things wrong they probably don't care if there lines have illnesses and genetic problems. So getting a pup from this breeder could eventually cost you thousands and thousands as well as heart break. Supporting these bad breeders by buying a pup from them keeps them in business when they shouldn't be. We the people are the only ones who can stop these bad breeders by not buying from them.

[Hynie]

I do understand what you're saying, but I know these breeders and they don't over breed and a friend has one of their pups who is now 9 yrs old, very healthy and a darling pet. Thanks for your input.

[chachi]

Are there children in your house because a reputable breeder would never place a tiny with children

[Hynie]

No children in my house. I'm a retired RN - just have a little Maltese.

[chachi]

Oh I think its helpful you are a RN. Just acquaint yourself with the signs of hypoglycemia because it is common to happen with the smaller ones have some nutrical or karo syrup on hand to give if you see signs of it then follow it up by giving a protein to eat

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Hynie

Hello. I'm glad to find this forum as I will be having many questions.

I will be getting my baby in the latter part of May. She is only 1 weeks old right now. She is tiny and will be tiny - parents are 3# each.

Today I spoke to my vet regarding care for the puppy and asking if she had any concerns regarding spaying her when the time is right. Oh my! She gave me a whole negative lecture about how she would never have a dog that weighed less than 6# when full grown and proceeded to tell me several reasons why.

First she said these small Yorkies often have problems with their portal circulation and when that's the case they can never undergo anesthesia. She said it would require multiple blood tests and an ultra sound to determine this. Also that these small dogs don't usually live very long because their organs are so small. I was so upset and disappointed in her because I've always trusted her care of my other dogs in the past. Right now I have a Maltese who weighs 9.5#.

Now I'm really upset and wondering what the rest of you have found with your miniature Yorkies regarding health and specifically spaying/neutering where anesthesia is required.

Your vet is correct and trying to save you from buying a pup that could have multiple very expensive conditions. Some could actually kill her at a young age. When she was talking about the portal circulation and blood work and all she was referring to liver shunts.

Yes, sometimes a small yorkie can be healthy; but the breeders who intentionally breed "tinies" or "teacups" as people refer to them are disgusting in my opinion and are doing it for money even though the pups will often suffer as a result. They don't care! There are SO many stories of these pups on this forum if you take the time to search for threads on liver shunt, teacups, backyard breeders and other such titles.

[ladyjane]

BTW, there is no such thing as a "miniature yorkie" . Breeders who take advantage of people use all sorts of terminology, including "teacup" yorkies. Just a marketing ploy. Here is a link to read all about yorkies:

The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America


Here is a link about some of the genetic conditions that are prevalent in yorkies...there are a couple missing, in my opinion, but it is a good link:

Genetic Disorders Yorkshire Terrier

[CouversMom]

If I were you, I'd do some research on reputable breeders of Yorkshire Terriers. I would definitely not purchase from the breeder you are talking about. Your vet is right, you could potentially be purchasing a very expensive "miniature" yorkie (quotes because there is not such thing as a mini/teacup/miniature yorkie). I am really glad you came here for advice first. That is a great sign that you are interested in learning. I would recommend you check the YTCA site for reputable breeders. Good luck!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Hynie

I do understand what you're saying, but I know these breeders and they don't over breed and a friend has one of their pups who is now 9 yrs old, very healthy and a darling pet. Thanks for your input.

Just because one of your friends got lucky doesn't mean there good breeders. It's a fact a good reputable breeder will not breed a female under 5 pounds it's very wrong. A good reputable breeder will also not let pups go before 12 weeks. It's not just over breeding that makes a breeder good or bad. It's about age they let the pups go home, genetic and health testing, breeding females that are not under 5 pounds and so on. Everyone gets lucky every now and then like your friend but it's not the norm and this is not a good breeder. Not only are they risking there females lives they obviously know nothing about yorkies and breeding them unless they just want money. Are they referring to this pups as teacups, micros or minis? I beg you to do research and see what good and reputable breeders do and don't do.

[Yorkiemom1]

If you buy a car from a "shade tree mechanic", and it does not run after a week, you knew what youwere getting into.....especially if you had many people telling you the dangers you were possibly exposing yourself to. "You buys your ticket, you takes your chances".... All breeders will have outliers in some litters....a pup may be exceptionally tiny or a throwback to a 15 pound yourkie. But to delibertally breed Yorkies outside the breed standard, is not ethical or responsible. If you choose to buy from someone that does this, it is on you. Responsible breeders will hold onto tiny babies and these only go to people that have extensive knowledge on how to care for a TINY dog....NOT a "small" 9.5# dog.....or they keep them....I have 3 tiny girls that I will never sell, because of the extra care they require. These tiny dogs can not play with other dogs in the house, as they can be EASILY injured or even killed, with a 9.5# paw that comes down across their neck. There again, that is your problem to deal with....You say you trust and respect your vet....I suggest you listen to her. She is telling you the truth, and she has NOTHING to gain from educating you on the problems you could be facing. (I guess since this "breeder" is letting this baby go so young, she has not started her vaccinations.....they would be totally ineffective and totally against protocol,,,,,that means you will be getting a very tiny puppy, that is too young to even be away from its momma, and has no protection from vaccinations.) I would advise you to research Yorkies, their stages of development and why it is suggested for the benefit of the emotional development of the puppy, that the puppy be allowed to stay with the momma. I suggest you research vaccination protocols....as an RN, you can connect the dots and see that this person you are considering lining their pockets with a purchase of this tiny puppy, is not in the least concerned about the baby....all they want to do is dump the pup as quickly as possible, with as little expense to them as possible in order to not get into their profit margin. I am hopeful you will not provide them the opportunity to do this. If you do go there, best of luck with your tiny baby....praying for the little soul. You had better get an airtight contract on this pup, with an extensive health guarantee.