Rare disease in my Yorkie Puppies
 

We had a litter of puppies this past Saturday, both males were born bald. Our vet had never seen anything like it. His research led him to a vet that tells him it is a rare disease called hypo trichosis. Puppies should be healthy, but will remain bald. Both mom and dad are ours and both are AKC registered. They are very strange looking little boys. Hadn't planned on keeping all 3, but no one seems interested in bald yorkies! I am now a 5 Yorkie household! My husband says we have to name one "Kojak". Anyone out there every encountered this?

I've never heard of this but I looked it up. Here's an article I found about it. It does list yorkies as one of the breeds this can occur in so maybe one of the breeders on here can give you some more info. The article does say it usually occurs in male dogs but the mom is still a carrier so parents of pups born w/ this shouldn't be bred any more and the pups themselves shouldn't be bred. Good luck. Guess you'll just be buying hats to keep their little heads warm. Can you post some pics? I bet their still cute, they're just unique and will need unique names. Kojak will be cute.
http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/der...otrichosis.htm

rare disease
 

I'll try to get some pictures posted. We will, of course, never think of breeding the mom or any of the puppies. Thanks so much for posting the article. Our vet is supposed to be sending some info also. The vet said they should be healthy otherwise, but the article does say their may be other problems. Will just have to take this day by day. Thanks again!

Wow, I've never heard of this disease until today. Was it evident that they had it when they were born.:confused:

I found the same article as posted below... but I did also find a picture on another site of one of these little naked beauties!!
Posted as being for sale - listed as a "true hairless yorkie" - of course, they don't mention the fact that this baby is (and I don't mean this as an insult) a genetic mutation - nor does he or will he have any health problems... nor that the pup should not be bred... he's being sold for 1550.00 with a "lifetime guarantee"!!! <<shaking head>>
Regardless, I think the little guy is adorable and all the best with your new babies.... looking forward to seeing pictures!!

I have never heard of this before, but i bet they are still adorable, Im sure someone will give them a wonderful home:) the pic of the baby posted needs a sweater:p she is very cute:) good luck to you and i hope your babies stay healthy.

Congratulations on your puppies. Even though they will be bald, from the
picture posted from another site, they certainly are cuties. If they
are healthy life will be good to all of you. Finger's crossed no other
problems arise.

Good luck with your babies...I am sure you can find someone who will love to adopt these precious babies..I cant wait to see pictures!!

Dawn

I had read an article about this once. It had a picture of the one hairless puppy with one or two others (with hair) from the same litter. If I remember right they were about 10-12 weeks old..and absolutely adorable. I just can't seem to find it. I'm also thinking I saw it on a show on Animal Planet...I hate not being able to remember details....sorry.

Wow! That Looks So Much Like My Puppy Sophie. Do Your Puppies Just Lack Hair On There Body Or Is It All Over?

I hope I didn't offend you, I wasn't implying that you would breed them. I was just rattling off some of the info from the article in case some people didn't want to open it and read it. You sound very responsible, some people would try to sell these little pups for additional money because they are rare yet you are planning to keep them yourselves. Bravo! I'm sure they'll bring you much joy. When I read your post about them being bald and then the article I read mentioned some dogs have no hair on their heads I was picturing these guys being bald in a "human" sense which is why I said to buy them some hats.:D lol Can you clarify, where exactly are they bald...head, bodies, etc? I can't wait to see pics. I'm sure they're adorable. I always say I learn something new on YT every day and this just goes to prove it.

The pup in this picture is adorable! Ples, I am anxious to see pics of your puppies. Good luck with them and since they are bald...keep them warm. The pup in this photo looks cold (but probably really isn't) Good luck and thanks for the new information on Yorkies. Always something new to learn.

Rare Disease
 

You people are wonderful!! I found this site while looking for information on my puppies. Thanks so much for all the info and good wishes! My puppies were born bald, that way as they came from the mom. The female is fine, the 2 boys are bald only from the top of their forehead to their nose. They look like they have on little face masks. When I took them to the vet at 3 days old to have their tails docked, the vet caught it then. As long as they are healthy otherwise, we plan on keeping them. In all good conscious I could never give, let alone sell, them to anyone. We plan on taking them to the breeder we bought our female from over the weekend. I don't want any legal recourse, but I wish there was someway I could keep her from selling to anyone else, or at least make her tell them what is wrong. The lady that is selling them for $1,500.00 should be stopped somehow!! Although they could be healthy, there is no guarantee. I have no idea how she can guarantee them!! Again, thanks to everyone, I'll get pictures posted, hopefully over the weekend. I am so glad I found this site. Everything is interesting and informative. I plan on being here alot!!!!

i think someone will give each other your pups a good home. but i do think they should be sold for cheaper. I also think they should be kept a little longer than normal just for health. But its seems like your a great person and know this!! Im just saying all babies can find forever homes :)

Oh, I certainly hope you can convince your breeder to stop breeding her dogs especially since you said they could have other problems. If she's an ethical breeder, she will be glad you told her and get them spayed and neutered.

I can afford to have another dog, I just can't afford the all at once hit of paying for the puppy....i would love to have one of the little guys....keep me in mind and when they are of age to go to a forever home, please let me know, I would love to take one if I can afford it when they are ready and you know how much you want for them.

???
 

They are only bald on the muzzles...I am confused. Do they have body hair?
If it is just their faces, that is not uncommon...I have had many with pink faces and at 2 weeks they were growing lots of hair...I have had some born with pink legs..and none grew up bald...it takes some time to grow hair, especially if they were concieved later then some others in the litter...I had a litter born at 55 days and all three were pink..but deveopled normally!

What are we talking about here.????

This is from the article linked in post #2..."The hairless (or alopecic) areas are commonly the head, ears and abdomen."

thanks
 

Thansk...but is she saying they are only pink on the muzzle..?

Wow, never heard of anything like that... Can you post pics? Very interested to see the pups...

Im sure they are all still darling, and I hope no other problems arise.

Very interesting. Pictures Please! :D

Oh yes pictures please. After reading YorkieRose's post it would be wonderful to find out they were perfectly normal.

i typed it in, in Google, and it ask if i was talking about hypertrichosis, the opposite... Almost spelled the same. Can that happen in yorkies or will it look like a regular yorkie because most people look for a lot of hair

Sorry to hear this happened, but the good news is that they should be healthy otherwise right? I think you will be able to find a loving home for them if you choose. It sounds like you are already doing your homework. As long as they are adopted by responsible people who understand the condition it should be ok. I would be concerned about letting them go without being spayed/neut. (Some people might try to capitalize on this mutation.) But if you screen the new owners carefully it can be a happy ending.:) Good luck to you and your bald babies!

I would love to see pictures of them. also would be interested in taking one if you are rehoming them.

Is it actually a sickness, or will they just be bald for life? I bet they're cute as can be.

This is taken from that page and I find it interesting...

Breeding advice

Do not breed affected dogs or their parents. Where the condition appears to be sex-linked (occurring only in males), the mothers are carriers of the trait and should not be used for breeding.

I would not breed your female again. JMO