New Owner with Question?
 

I too, am a new owner. Although I've had dogs all my life, I've never had a Yorkie. I got my new little girl, Annie from a rescue (4.5 months old - 3.5lbs). Someone was keeping her in a rabbit hutch to breed her and the 1st 3 months of her life she had very little human contact. I've now had her for a month and vet and groomer say she's it really good health for her experience. She can now run up and DOWN stairs. I'm pad training her and we're 95% there! Treats are a wonderful incentive! I doubt she'll ever be a "Jump in your lap and kiss your face" kind of dog but she is socializing much better than before. I only work 3 days a week and the boss lets me bring her to work! Everyone loves her and she has now started hanging in other people's offices instead of being always under my feet. We still have a way to go but we make progress daily!
I'm trying to learn all the ins and outs of Yorkies and the only problem I notice with Annie is the excessive tears from her eyes. She tears so much that it will actually drip off her chin..... I had the groomer do a puppy cut and trim all the hair from around her eyes but that didn't change anything. I wash her face and dry it every night but is there anything else I should be doing??
I'd appreciate any advise!

What does your vet say about that much tearing? Sounds very uncomfortable. I guess she doesn't have any nasal congestion along with it? I'd have the vet check her for eye or tear ducts conditions and allergies with that much flow. My Tibbe tears some since he's developed food and/or seasonal allergies but nothing like your little one is doing. I wash his eyes and face twice a day on the days he tears. Once or twice I've given him a dose of Benadryl with the vet's approval but it usually nauseates him so I'm not too quick to use it.

Congratulations on being a new Yorkie owner!!! Terriers have such attitude and spunk and care so much about everything that goes on in their world - such a fun dog. Welcome to YT - hope you enjoy it and learn as much as I have here.

No congestion and Vet is taking a wait and see attitude as he sees nothing wrong with her eyes. Said to just keep them clean and dry. They do dry out when she sleeps and seems to be worse when she's upset (as in "I want to ride to work in your lap not in this carrier so I'm going to whine alot!"). It might be some allergies too.

It could be allergies (it's that time of year). I would definitely keep an eye (no pun intended) on it. If the tears are so copious that they are running down her chin, there may be a problem with a blocked tear duct.

I don't know what would cause it, but because of her background I would highly recommend you getting a health insurance policy, at the moment the vet says he see's nothing wrong so you would be able to get insurance with no pre existing conditions. That seems like an awful amount of tearing to have nothing wrong.

Thanks for the info. I'll check into the insurance.

I would use ultra- sensitive shampoo too. If there is any residue of grooming products on my little girls face, even a tiny bit, she tears like crazy...

Hi and welcome to YT, sorry, I have no suggestion or advise for teary eyes, None of my 4 girls (all now past) ever had teary eyes, my new lil adopted boy doesn't either. I was shocked to read they kept this lil baby in a rabbit cage to breed. You got her just in time, she is young, she'll come around, it's awesome you can take her to work with you. The more ppl she can socialize with is the best thing for her. Sounds like you have her spoiled already lol, wanting to sit in mommy's lap while driving. So hard to not spoil them, all they need is to work them lil eyes of theirs, and it's theirs. Enjoy that lil baby, and thank you for rescuing her.

You never know! You are off to a great start. One of my favorite rescue stories is Lane, of Doggie Debutantes. She was a breeder dog whose feet never touched the ground/grass for I think 2 years, was also kept in a horrible, squalid hutch. Now she lives an amazing life of activity and adventure, and a luxury wardrobe, lol. She has learned to play fetch, give kisses, cuddle with her parents and dog sister, play at doggie birthday parties, and more.

Check out the Doggie Debutantes Facebook page (Lane is the blondie):
https://www.facebook.com/DoggieDebutantes

Regarding Annie's eye problems, I agree with MissPixi about being careful what kind of grooming products you use. My Max had eye problems for awhile, corneal ulcers, and I only use SPA facial cleanser in the bath on his face. I don't use any saline -- and definitely no over the counter eye drops with him. He is allergic and will scratch his eyes.

I use lukewarm tap water on a cotton ball if I need to rinse anything out of his eye. Tap water is what goes in his eyes in the bath and he has been great with this for 2 years.

I would be inclined to take Annie to an ophthalmologist because that much watering is not normal. Most regular vets are not advanced enough to detect certain eye problems. Could be something that just requires special drops -- again, do not try over the counter drops -- they often make small problems worse.

More on grooming products -- we once tried a top brand shampoo and conditioner for the body and the scent was so strong that my boys' eyes were watering -- but not streaking all the way down the cheek.

Keep the hair products to light scents.

I'm new here and our little girl comes home Saturday. I'm reading that a lot of you have pet insurance and I'm curious as to who you go through and what is covered.

There are lots of great threads in the Yorkie Talk Library. Here is one on insurance:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...rifaj-dvm.html

I would start a new thread if you want more people to respond with their personal experience with various insurance plans.

You can also do a site search for more threads on the topic. Here is one:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...your-pups.html

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Since I have skin allergies myself, nothing in my house has perfumes or dyes. Don't even use scented candles. The Vet gave me AllerGroom shampoo for Annie. it is very mild with no scents or soaps. Maybe I'll just try baby shampoo instead. I notice the tearing is worse on work days. Maybe there is something at my office that is bothering her eyes. This may just be a process of elimination of irritants. Today they seem to be better and not tearing since we are at home. I feel like a detective but will keep working on it. She has another Vet appt in a month and if they are not getting better, I'll check into an eye Dr.

I would not use baby shampoo if I were you. There is a difference in the pH of a dog's skin versus a human's. Products meant for people can irritate a dog. Tap water on a cotton ball or small wash cloth should suffice. A small plastic flea comb also does wonders for getting the goop out of the hair. Drying the area completely after washing might also help, because prolonged contact with wet hair can irritate the skin and cause a secondary infection.

Good luck.

OK... No baby Shampoo! Got it. Thanks

Great thread on pet insurance! Do you think it's worth getting one that covers spaying and vaccinations? There's quite a difference in cost.

OK... Took Annie back to the vet and he believes her excessive tears are from allergies. He cut the hair around her eyes and shaved her face! Pollen, dust, etc cling to the hair and irritate the eyes!
I think he's right. She's pretty much stopped the tears and it has only bee 5 days! He did say that she may outgrow the tearing and to keep the hair cut, at least through the summer. He'll double check her eyes when she gets spayed in 2 weeks.
Thanks so much for everyone's input!