Do Yorkies tend to have more health issues than some toy dogs?
 

As you probably know, I am new to your forum & I have been reading all the health issues that so many seem to have & I am wondering is this typical for Yorkies? I am familiar with some of the diseases they possibly could get but now I am beginning to get really scared after seeing so many posting with so many health issues. It is truly frightening. I realize anything can happen to anyone, any pupsters, but are health issues that prevalent in this breed? Is this possibly a breeding issue or just some unfortunate cases (well, it is unfortunate no matter what, but I hope you know what I mean)?

My heart goes out to all of you with suffering furbabies & you, the parent, that is taking such good care of them. It is heartbreaking I am sure.

One thing to keep in mind, is that in all likelihood we see here at YT a disproportionate number of Yorkies with health problems.
Do a google search on yorkie health problems, or yorkie anything, and this forum will come up time after time; so owners are directed here. And they join and post, and look for information and help/advice.

I truly wish that all YT breeders or would be breeders spent even one hour a day going through our sick and emergency thread.

I don't know that there is an authorative comparative health source out there, to look at all the diff health problems and their true prevalence throughout individual breeds.
How-ever a registry called CHIC has been started that reputable breeders will send in their health information to, and will receive a CHIC number once all the breed specific tests have been done. But for example in the YT breed last time I checked there were only 68 Yorkshire Terriers on the registry...and obviously there are a lot more YT out there breeding!. It does take time to get tests done, and data updated to registry.

The public can and should go there to see if the parents of a YT puppy have been listed and if not, why not?

Stats on YT's different health problems, at this point in time, need to be culled from different sources. For example Liver shunt; some sources say it has a prevalence of about 33% in this breed. Then bladder stones, pra, Luxating Patella, are unfortunately not rare at all in the breed, especially LP. Adding up all these diff problems a buyer could have as high as a one in five chance, of having a puppy with a health problem.

Sobering isn't it? That is why there is so much info here on "how to find a reputable breeder". And so much dismay about the volumne of Backyard Breeders that are doing their level best to ruin this wonderful breed.

I dont have any statistics to show you. But i have worked at a veterinary clinic for about 11 years, and we dont see very many yorkies with big issues. I know my yorkie is the healthiest of all 4 of my dogs. I think just like any breed, it matters where you get one. I was lucky, mine was given to me at 7 weeks old by a man who didnt want him anymore. And he has been very healthy. The things like luxating patellas, collapsing trachea, liver shunts, all of these are possible in most tiny breeds. SO do lots of research, but even from a good breeder, its possible to get a puppy with problems. But for all the yorkie puppies i have seen come in and out of our clinic, very few unhealthy yorkies. I can only remember one with a liver shunt that was life threatening.

Dental disease is really a problem with some of them. I brush Tibbe's teeth with regularity and he still is going to have to have a dental cleaning sooner than one year since his last! He's got an inflammed area over a tooth! You really have to keep their teeth/gums clean and watched by the vet.

I think LP is very common. I honestly don't know about many of the other issues. But, I do agree that when you are reading it can become overwhelming. Like gemy said many are coming here for advice and that is what we are seeing being posted.

I think many Yorkies deal with what I would consider minor issues that you might be seeing too. Such as the tummy issues. I know there are numerous that have the GI issues, allergies, and IBS. However, those are very minor compared to other issues.

Don't be scared by everything that you read. Yorkies are such wonder furbabies that will steal your heart the first time you set eyes on them. Give them lots of love because they will return the favor!

All Vets. have a book that lists all dog breeds and their problems. My Vet. loaned me that book once and each one of these dogs have some type of problem unique to them. Key is "knowing" the problems unique to what breed you choose and doing what you can to keep them as healthy as possible. The right diet, exercise they should or shouldn't do, activities and so on. You can also find this information on the web. ;)

With Yorkies being number 2 on the popularity charts (right under labs) I would think the reason, if there was one, that that are seen more in vets is because of their high numbers. Gizmo, for being a resuce, has been quite healthy. But, like with little kids, there have been a few sick days. But nothing a quick stop to the vet can't cure.