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11-05-2020, 05:02 AM | #1 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa.
Posts: 67,957
| Tea cups PART 2 PART 2 Increased Risk of Fractures For a dog as small as a Teacup Yorkie, the structure and strength of their bones will become smaller and weaker the smaller the Yorkie gets. When a dog weighs less than four pounds, they are at a high risk of fractures, especially from even short falls like from the couch. Ligaments and tendons will also be prone to injury, too. If your Yorkie wants to join you on the couch, pick them up and place them next to you without letting them try to jump up themselves. Don’t leave a Teacup Yorkie somewhere like a sofa where they will try to jump off to follow you. When left to their own devices while you’re not available to supervise, it may be a good idea to keep your pup in a playpen like this IRIS playpen. Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is quite common in Yorkshire Terriers and other toy breeds. Due to their reduced amount of muscle mass when compared to larger dogs, their bodies are less able to store much glucose, and what reserves they do have tend to diminish rather quickly. As you can imagine, making an already tiny Yorkie even smaller will only exacerbate this condition. Yorkies can also experience a delay in teething, resulting in them being unable to chew most foods. This will result in the release of less sugar into the body. When combined with the lack of muscle mass, this can only worsen the risks of hypoglycemia. Signs that your mini Yorkie may be hypoglycemic include: Lack of attention Lethargy Unfocused looking eyes Drooling Trembling Limping Seizures Pale or greyish sticky gums Drowsiness Weakness Shivering Fainting Hypoglycemia can lead to seizures or even brain damage. It may cause lower body temperatures, a serious risk as a Teacup Yorkie is already at risk of hypothermia and can’t regulate his body temperature well. When left untreated, hypoglycemia can cause death. The good news is hypoglycemia can be managed. You’ll need to monitor your Yorkie carefully and make sure their blood sugar stays high enough with regular meals and snacks. Don’t let your Yorkie go too long without eating. To keep their blood sugar high enough, add a nutritional supplement to their food and use it as a treat or snack between meals. NutriCal by Vetoquinol is a good choice. Hip Dysplasia The hip joint is comprised of two parts: the socket and the ball. Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joints fail to develop properly, and over time gradually deteriorate, resulting in a loss of function of the hip joints. A mix of genetic and environmental factors commonly determines the development of hip dysplasia, although inheritance can play a dominant role. Factors such as rapid weight gain or obesity can further influence the development and progression of hip dysplasia. While most known for affecting very large dogs, the small Yorkshire Terrier is also susceptible to hip dysplasia and teacups may be at a higher risk. Your Yorkie will show several signs that they are developing hip dysplasia: Difficulty rising A decrease in activity A reluctance to run or jump A persistent or intermittent hind limb lameness, often following exercise The hind legs seemingly being unnaturally close together A “bunny hopping” sway to their walk Pain in the hip joints A reluctance to climb stairs Decreased range of motion in the hip joints A loss of muscle mass in the thighs You may also notice an enlargement of the shoulder muscles. This is due to the front legs bearing more weight as a result of the Yorkie trying to avoid placing their weight on their hips. This leads to extra work for the shoulder muscles. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common of all skeletal diseases seen in all dogs, not just Yorkshire Terriers, and once again, due to the decreased size of a teacup Yorkie, the risks of developing hip dysplasia are higher. Luxating Patella This condition happens when the dog’s kneecap pops out of its proper alignment after an injury or due to inherited traits. A floating kneecap or luxating patella is a common issue among Yorkshire Terriers. The problem can be even more common in Teacup Yorkies, however. According to one major study following Yorkshire Terriers for several decades, about 1 out of every 4 Yorkies had luxating patella. Signs and symptoms of luxating patella can vary a great deal. Some Yorkies only have luxating patellas on the hind legs, for example, and the condition can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms of luxating patella in a Yorkie include: Lameness and trouble walking An abnormal gait Carrying the hind legs in a strange way A bowlegged stance A skip in his step while running Pain when walking or having the affected legs touched There are four grades of luxating patella. At grade I, the patella can be luxated manually but it returns to its correct position in the groove. By grade II, the manually luxated patella will not move back to its normal position on its own. At grade III, the patella remains in the luxated position most of the time but it can be pushed back into the groove. By the time a Yorkie progresses to grade IV the patella stays luxated and can’t be manually pushed back into the groove. To help treat a luxating patella, it’s a good idea to give your Teacup Yorkie glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. These nutrients form the structure of cartilage that cushions your pup’s joints. Supplements might keep the luxating patella from getting worse over time by fortifying the cartilage. For dogs under 10 pounds, you’ll want to give 125 mg of glucosamine and 100 mg of chondroitin for about a month then switch to a maintenance dose daily of 62.5 mg glucosamine and 50 mg chondroitin. These soft chew multivitamins are a good choice for giving your Yorkie the supplements they need without much fuss. Behavioral Problems As a general rule, smaller dogs tend to have more problematic behavior. Things like begging for food, hyperactivity, barking, and urinating in the house are all common behavioral seen with Teacup Yorkshire Terriers and other tiny dogs. Studies have also found that Teacup Yorkshire Terriers will be more prone to psychological problems such as “Napoleon Syndrome” (i.e. being little and bossy) and aggressiveness, along with suffering from chronic stress, which can over time affect the Yorkie’s immune system, leaving them prone to contracting any number of diseases.
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