Is heavy shedding common for Yorkies around this time of the year?
 

Once again, I have to say that this is my FIRST puppy. But anyway, my Yorkie Maddy has been shedding a lot lately. Like, her coat seems to be come out in little pieces that are all over the house & in her brush. I know that dogs shed, but should so much be coming out? Some people say that it may be because we brush her so much, but if we don't brush her at least twice a day, she becomes very matted.

Also, the fur at the top of her head has begun to change colors from brown & black to gray? What is this about? We've been to the vet a lot (about other issues) so maybe it's not a big deal. I just want to be sure.

Maddy is currently taking heartworm medicine & she just had her rabies shot a little while ago, could these be the sources?

The color change is very common. Usually the hair on the head will turn silvery white...... all 3 of mine have done this.... once they get a little older it is suppose to turn a tan color.
As far as shedding.... I don't think so. My dogs shed very little. You may consider asking the vet if you are noticing too much hairloss. It could be something that needs attention..... Yorkies seldom shed.

If she is changing color & had her rabies shot a little while ago, I'm assuming she's around 5 months old, like my puppy. She is probably just blowing her puppy coat and starting to get her adult coat. I've had yorkies before and never knew they did this, but sure enough, my puppy has lost alot of her puppy hair and has new hair growth coming in. She's shed alot of the black on her head & has tiny tan growth about 1/4 inch long coming in. She's also lost black hair on her ears & has new tan growth there too.

Good answer, Karan. I would have said the shedding was odd. I don't recall my Yorkies shedding like that. Then again, I clipped them pretty short as pups. I'd be interested to know how common shedding is.

Here is what I found in Wikipedia...

Hypoallergenic coats

The typical fine, straight, and silky Yorkshire terriercoat has also been listed by many popular dog information websites as being hypoallergenic. In comparison with many other breeds, Yorkies do not shed to the same degree, only losing small amounts when bathed or brushed. All dogs shed, and it is the dog's dander and saliva that trigger most allergic reactions. Allergists do recognise that at times a particular allergy patient will be able to tolerate a particular dog, but they agree that "the luck of the few with their pets cannot be stretched to fit all allergic people and entire breeds of dogs. The Yorkshire terrier coat is said to fall out only when brushed or broken, or just said to not shed. Although neither of those statements agree with what biologists, veterinarians, and allergists know about dog fur, allergists "think there really are differences in protein production between dogs that may help one patient and not another", meaning that some allergic people may not have allergic reactions to a specific dog, like the Yorkie.

More info form the same site: Yorkshire Terrier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeah, Maddy is about to be 5 months old. Most of her shedding & color changing has been on her head. Thank you!

The color changing on the head is normal. I think that is the first place a pup starts changing colors. As far as the shedding in large amounts , to me that sounds unusal. When I ever brush Suzi a little bit of hair comes out on the brush, and her hair is long right now. I have never had large shedding with her though. not certain what could cause this, other then the poster who said it was her adult hair coming in.

There are timews when you will notice a little more hair loss with yorkies -- not really shedding as much as hair loss just as we do. As Kazzy already identified, when the puppy coat is being lost to the adult coat is one of those times. Hormonal changes can also result in more hair loss -- female & thyroid hormonal changes are big hair loss triggers. Hypothyroidism can cause a GREAT DEAL of hair loss. So, if you see a lot, ask the vet about running a thyroid panel to include TSH, T4 and T3. You may also notice a little more hair loss when they go into heat, especially the first time. They may do it again, later in life. In general, if you notice a lot of hair loss in a yorkie, ask your vet about it.

The color changes of the hair on top of a yorkies head are amazing! It can come at any time and may change more than once or twice! My girl is 9 months old and her hair on top of her head has still not fully "broke" as they call the change in color. They go from black to silvery, almost white, to tan. Hopefully it will end on tan! :) Yorkies hair color is one of the great entertainment and mysteries they hold for us. We watch for it, we speculate over it, we wish, hope, dread, and celebrate these changes in hair color -- ultimately wanting the blue and tan of breed perfection! :)