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Allergies

Yorkie Allergies

Overview

Allergies are not uncommon with dogs, and when you have a tiny toy breed like the Yorkshire Terrier, this type of long-term issue can really take a toll.

There are different types that may come and go with the seasons, or stay year-round. In addition, canines can grow into or out of allergies, so this can be a troubling issue for Yorkies of all ages.

Fortunately, while it does take some effort and time, allergies can be significantly reduced or eliminated. This section will cover everything you need to know to help your Yorkshire Terrier be on the road to feeling better.

Types of Allergies a Yorkshire Terrier May Have

While there are almost endless allergens that can trigger symptoms with dogs, these can be placed into 3 main categories:

Contact Allergies - There will be sensitivity to something that dog is physically coming into contact with. This includes items that were laundered with certain detergents, carpeting, cleaning products such as carpet cleaners, shampoos, and other grooming products that are used on the coat or skin.

Environmental Allergies- Also known as seasonal or inhaled allergies, this is a reaction to something in the environment, and often in the air. Pollen, weeds, and grasses are at the top of this list. Other top concerns include dust and accompanying dust mites, mold, and also smoke or other air contaminants.

Food Allergies - This encompasses a response to a certain food, or more commonly an additive. Top on the list of this are chemical preservatives. Grains, soy, corn, wheat, by-products, or even eggs or certain proteins may also cause issues.

Maximus, 10 months old

Photo courtesy of Angel Y.

Symptoms

If you looked to two dogs that were both allergic to the same trigger, their symptoms could present differently. This said, each is marked to show which type of allergy the symptoms are most commonly associated with; 'C' for contact, 'E' for environmental, and 'F' for food. Also, note that your Yorkshire Terrier may have just one, some, or all of the following:

Skin issues including dry skin, irritated skin, rash, hot spots, hives, skin sores, itching, skin inflammation, hair loss, and/or atopy (chronic skin disease) (C, E, F)

Reoccurring ear infections (E, F)

Digestive issues including upset stomach and/or vomiting (F)

Breathing issues including wheezing ,congestion, and/or coughing (E, F)

Eye irritation including bloodshot eyes and/or teary eyes (C, E, F)

Behaviors due to itching or discomfort including scratching, licking, and chewing (C, E, F)

The 3 Steps to Resolving Allergies

It's fairly easy to somewhat cure allergies, or to use remedies to temporarily relieve a dog of symptoms. However, if you want to resolve your Yorkie's allergies effectively and permanently, you'll need to carefully and thoroughly follow all 3 of these steps:

Adorable Yorkshire Terrier puppy, paws up

Maple, at 9 months old,

photo courtesy of Raequel Pratt

1. Significantly reduce or completely eliminate allergy triggers.

Even if you do not know what is specifically causing your Yorkie to have allergy issues, it is possible to successfully achieve this. Anything less will only lead to partial or temporary results.

2. Treat for immediate relief of symptoms.

While remedies such as those that stop itching, resolve hot spots, and/or allow the digestive system to rest will not cure allergies, this is an important step to helping a Yorkie feel better right away.

3. Continue maintenance.

Once you have addressed the culprits and have treated your Yorkie to resolve symptoms, you'll need to be be on guard for new allergies that may develop, and be very diligent in keeping up certain care and grooming techniques.

Veterinary Care Versus At-Home Care

You may be wondering if you need to take your Yorkie to the veterinarian in order to truly fix allergies for good. This will depend on a couple of different factors. Let's take a look:

Testing - There are allergy tests that can be done at the vet's office to help pinpoint allergy triggers. However, these do have their pros and cons.

This includes blood testing (ELISA), which typically works best in identifying airborne allergens such as pollen or weeds, than it does for food or contact triggers.

Because the design of this test was based on human biology, it is not entirely accurate for canines. It may produce false positives or false negatives. In addition, whether or not you know the exact airborne allergen, action will be the same: limit exposure and treat symptoms. So, this testing is typically reserved for those wishing to additionally follow up with immunotherapy, which does have risks (more ahead).

Another type of testing is intradermal skin testing. For this, a dog needs to be sedated, and this is not something to rush into when you have a tiny toy breed like the Yorkshire Terrier. This is, at the most, approximately 75% accurate. A main reason for its lack of complete reliability is that this involves injecting very small amounts of allergens under the skin to see if a reaction occurs, and if a reaction is borderline, this may be interpreted in different ways.

Prescribed treatment - If allergies are moderate to severe, prescribed medications may indeed be warranted. This includes prescribed antihistamines, and anti-inflammatory medicines including corticosteroids. While strong antihistamines can cause drowsiness and other side effects, and corticosteroids should not be used long-term, these can be very helpful for Yorkies that are having serious reactions.

Immunotherapy, also known as hyposensitization, or simply as allergy shots (though it can be done via oral tablets as well), is an option. This refers to a gradual exposure to specific allergens that a dog is allergic to, and may help the body build up a tolerance. However, this is only partially effective for 75% of dogs, and fully effective for fewer, can be expensive (up to $1000 per year), involves dedication, may take years to work, may need to be continued for life in some cases, and carries the risk of serious allergic reaction including anaphylaxis.

Keeping all this in mind, there are some very effective over-the-counter remedies. Therefore, seeking prescribed treatments will depend on the severity of your Yorkie's symptoms and/or your dog's response to at-home treatments, if you choose to try those first.

Fixing Allergies, Step #1: Reducing or Eliminating Allergens

Note that this section is extensive, because if you want to truly cure a Yorkie's allergies, every one of these possible triggers needs to be assessed. Skipping over just one allergen may lead to no changes at all, or very limited success. It will be your dedication to the process that makes a huge difference in how your Yorkshire Terrier responds.

In addition, while remedies for itching and other troublesome reactions can be extremely beneficial (see Step 2: Treating Allergy Symptoms), if your puppy or dog is still exposed to the irritant, that also will be limited.

1) Eliminating Contact Allergens

Mina, at 2 years old,

photo courtesy of Silvia

Here are the top materials and elements to assess:

Flooring - Most notably carpeting, which can be made from allergy-inducing fibers, but also have an irritating texture that only exacerbates things. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, consider placing linoleum cut-outs in certain areas, place down a cotton blanket that has been washed in hypo-allergenic detergent, and/or encourage your Yorkie to rest and sleep up in his dog bed.

Cleaning products - This includes carpet freshening powder or any other cleanser that is routinely applied to areas where your Yorkie spends time.

Dog bed cover, clothing, linens, etc. - If these types of items are washed with heavily perfumed detergent, this may be the trigger. Use a 'free and clear' detergent.

Toys - Cheap plastic or rubber toys, or those made with heavy coloring dyes (often those manufactured overseas and/or purchased at dollar stores) may cause a reaction, most often seen around the mouth. Be sure your Yorkie's collection contains only high quality toys.

Plastic bowls - Any sort of plastic, including those labeled as BPA, phthalate, and/or PVC free and/or human-grade can cause on-going contact allergies. The most common signs of allergic contact reaction to plastic bowls includes a gradual fading of nose color and/or itching around the face.

Stainless steel bowls, like the Bonza Stainless Steel Double Dog Bowl Set are always a good choice. Ceramic works well too; however, these can crack, so do use care.

Coat products - There are many elements that can make a shampoo or coat product detrimental to a Yorkie, but in regard to allergies, top culprits include heavy perfumes, certain preservatives including 1-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (may also be listed as b-Bromo-b-nitrotrimethyleneglycol), cetyl alcohol, and foam boosters like cocamide DEA or MEA,

Always use only top-quality, superior shampoos like the line of Earthbath All Natural Shampoo and Conditioner which are made with only natural and organic ingredients and contain no harsh ingredients.

2) Eliminating Food Allergens

Overview: There are several scenarios that can lead to a Yorkie being fed a food with good intentions, but that is the cause for quite terrible allergies.

In some cases, owners may decide on a brand by name recognition; however, many of the bags of kibble that are stocked in pet stores and supermarkets, and/or those that are advertised on TV are some of the worst offenders.

Winnie Bear, at 2 years old,

photo courtesy of Denise Lemke

Alternatively, you may be feeding your Yorkie a kibble that you fed to a previous dog without issue. Some owners may not be aware of the allergens found in the majority of dog foods. And, the allergy may be to a seemingly innocent ingredient such as eggs or poultry, which are often very well tolerated by canines.

Finally, a huge part of this is that snacks may be overlooked; however, every allergen that can be in kibble can be in dog treats. So, snacks must be chosen carefully at as well.

Signs: Most often, food allergies will cause skin reactions (itching, rashes, sores, hot spots, etc.), note that this may only be apparent on the paws which are easily accessible for a dog to lick at, and/or stomach distress including bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and/or vomiting.

Common food triggers include:

• Synthetic preservatives, which are common in many brands because these are cheaper to add in instead of using natural preservatives such as vitamin blends.

• Artificial flavoring or enhancer like MSG, or coloring including the troubling FD&C Blue No. 2 AND FD&C Red No. 40.

• Grain, corn, soy, or wheat. Note that rice, which is a grain, is often very well tolerated, however, this does not entirely rule this out.

Less common, but possible are:

• Any certain protein. Though rare, canines can be allergic to chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, rabbit, bison, duck, or fish.

• Eggs

• Dairy (though technically this is an intolerance, because canines have trouble digesting milk products)

What to do:

1. First, note that when a dog is suffering from a food allergy, and a switch is made, it can take 8 to 12 weeks to see significant improvement. So, choose wisely, do not veer off course, and be patient for those 2 to 3 months. As your Yorkie is making his way to be free of the allergens, you can also be treating symptoms (and we'll cover that ahead in Step 2).

2. If food allergies have caused your Yorkie to have vomiting and/or diarrhea, it can help to withhold food for 12 hours (making sure that your dog stays hydrated), then place your puppy or dog on a bland diet of just 1 protein and 1 starch for 3 days before changing to a new, regular diet.

The most gentle proteins are lean beef or white skinless chicken. Good choices for the starch include plain white rice or sweet potato.

Boomer, at 3 years old,

photo courtesy of Denise Lemke

3. If you are looking to avoid the top culprits, choose a high-quality, all-natural kibble and 100% all-natural treats.

One of our top recommended kibbles is Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free for Small Breeds, which meets every single requirement of what you would want in a completely wholesome food. This has only natural preservatives made from vitamins (will be labeled as tocopherols), and has no grain, corn, soy, or wheat. There are also no by-products.

It contains added extras including omega-3 fatty acids which are fantastic for good skin and coat health. This is specially formulated for small dogs (as tiny as 2 pounds, for the adult formula), and is made in the USA.

For all-natural, super-healthy treats, there are a few good options. One is the line of Zuke's Mini Naturals Dog Treats. These grain-free treats also have no soy or corn, and are made in the USA. These are training treats, so you'll find that they are perfectly sized for Yorkshire Terriers.

Wellness also makes all-natural treats, most notably their Wellbites and their Grain-Free Soft Puppy Bites which come in soft lamb & salmon or chicken & carrots.

And for some healthy fruity treats, Fruitables are always a fantastic choice.

These have no wheat, corn, soy, or synthetic preservatives, and the options are packed with flavor. Just a few of the tempting ones are pumpkin & apple, pumpkin & blueberry, pumpkin & cranberry, pumpkin & banana, sweet potato & pecan, and even strawberry Greek yogurt.

4. If you are looking for a chicken alternative, there are other protein bases that are very healthy. A fish recipe is a good choice since the natural omega will be a boost for skin health, and can work to relieve itching. A top quality fish based recipe is Merrick Lil Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Salmon Recipe. This contains salmon, sweet potatoes, and peas, and is grain-free. This also has excellent levels glucosamine and antioxidants.

5. Home cooking is another option that gives you complete control over every ingredient that your Yorkie is ingesting. Good bases include chicken, lean beef, turkey, and fish. Added to this should be vegetables including carrots, sweet potatoes, and peas. You'll want to add some rice or pasta, for dogs that are okay with grains. And round things off with some fruit such as blueberries and/or raspberries. Adding a daily vitamin and mineral supplement is a must, as these are added to even the very best kibbles.

The Healthy Home Cooking for the Yorkie eBook offers 60+ recipes, if you wish to try making homemade meals.

3) Reducing environmental allergens

Overview: While you may feel that mother nature is too powerful of adversary for you to go up against in regard to shielding your Yorkshire Terrier from airborne allergens, think again! There is actually quite a bit that you can do; the 2 main goals will be to reduce allergens in your home, and to keep them off of or being inhaled by your puppy or dog.

The main culprits are:

• Seasonal pollen, trees, weeds, molds, and grasses, which are present in every season, but will vary depending on where you live. Most trees start releasing pollen in early spring, yet in some areas (like Texas) trees like the Mountain Cedar (Juniperus ashei) releases pollen in the winter. All of these allergens are present in the summer, ragweed is a top trigger in the fall, and mold, mostly saprophytes, which digests dead plant-life, spikes in the spring and late fall.

• Dust mites. These microscopic spider-like creatures are a top cause of allergies and asthma for both people and canines. They can live on surfaces but also burrow into materials (bed, pillows, sofas, carpeting, etc.).

It is their droppings that cause allergies. Not sure if you have any dust mites in your home? According to the American Lung Association, 4 out of 5 homes have detectable levels of dust mites. And, just 1 gram (1/2 teaspoon) of dust contains up to 1,000 mites and 25,000 fecal pellets.

Chiqui, at 2 years old,

photo courtesy of Keith Canlapan

You can help reduce these allergens in your Yorkie's home environment by doing all of the following:

1. Vacuum the entire house (all types of flooring), and furniture on a regular basis with a quality vacuum with HEPA filtration. A HEPA filter will be able to trap both pollen and dust mites.

One like the VonHaus 2 in 1 Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filtration also has a hand-held option that allows you to get into the tiny crevices where dust mites like to hide out, and is surprisingly affordable.

2. Clean the air. HEPA filters will also be effective for this. If you have a central air system, run the fan while using HEPA filters. Note that when cleansing the air of allergens, you will want to replace your central air filters as often as every 30 days.

If you do not have central air, portable air purifiers with HEPA filters like the GermGuardian 3-in-1 Air Cleaning System will aid in clearing the air of allergens, including pollen, dust, and mold, and even viruses and bacteria. With this one, the filter only needs to be switched out once every 6 months.

3. Dust the house using a damp dust cloth. Dry-dusting only serves to move dust mites around.

4. New mattresses should be covered in allergy-proof protectors. Older mattress not being used should be tossed out.

5. Wash your bed linens, your Yorkie's dog bed cover, toss pillows, washable stuffed toys, and any other washables that you can find every 1 to 2 weeks; note that only hot water (140 F or higher) will kill dust mites.

6. Have everyone remove their footwear upon entering the house. These should be kept up high off of the floor.

7. Once your house has been cleared of as many allergens as possible, keep windows closed.

You can help keep allergens off of your Yorkie by doing all of the following:

Roxy, at 8 months old,

photo courtesy of Erika V.

1. Apply a quality paw wax every 7 days to help the paws repel outside allergens at ground level. As an added bonus, a good one like Musher's Secret Paw Wax will help soothe itching and heal drying or cracking.

2. Every single time that your Yorkie enters back into the house (regardless of whether it was a super-quick jot outside for bathroom needs or a daily walk around the neighborhood), wipe the entire coat down with a hypo-allergenic wipe. Earthbath All Natural Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes is an excellent choice.

First, wipe down the face, then down the chest, over the back, down each leg, round the belly, and a final swipe over the tail.

3. Pick up your Yorkie to then carry him to the sink to rinse off the paws.

4. Keep your Yorkie inside when pollen counts are high. You can find this information alongside your local weather report.

On days that are deemed 'moderate' or 'high' for allergy sufferers, avoid long walks during the middle part of the day when pollen is normally at peak levels. Instead, head out with your puppy or dog early in the morning or later in the evening.

Note that pollen is typically higher directly after rainfall, but then can be dramatically lower several hours afterward.

Fixing Allergies, Step #2: Treating Symptoms

Marley, photo courtesy of Donna Poole

At the same time that you are working to reduce allergens, you can be using certain remedies to immediately help your Yorkie with common yet troublesome allergy symptoms.

Issues that you may be trying to resolve include:

Teary eyes
Wheezing
Coughing
Sneezing
Itching, sometimes severe; this can be full-body, or localized to just one area like the paws.
Hot spots
Rash
Thinning coat (often seen secondary to allergy-related skin issues)

Remember that if any of these or other symptoms are severe, there may be a need for strong, prescribed medications; and for this reason, do not hesitate to bring your Yorkie to the veterinarian, if you believe that it is warranted.

Here are some at-home treatments that can help:

1. Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

This will help itching to some degree, and can help with eye irritations, coughing, sneezing, and minor wheezing due to allergies. This can also work to reduce sudden hives. Note that this should only be given with vet approval and supervision, and needs to be used with caution for quite a few reasons:

Dosing is just 1 mg for each pound of body weight, 2 to 3 times per day. With tablets being either 12.5 or 25 mg each, this is easy to accomplish with larger dogs. But, since most Yorkshire Terriers are under 8 pounds, you'll have to be exceedingly careful with giving the right dose.
This can cause drowsiness.
This should not be given to dogs that have glaucoma, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease.
This can interfere with other medications.
Some types of Benadryl have added medications; care must be given to avoid those combination formulas and give only diphenhydramine.
This may not help with a severe allergic reaction.
This has proven effective for only about 30% of dogs.
This will not cure skin issues such as hot spots, will not heal damaged skin (dried, peeling, cracked, inflamed, etc.), and will not help the coat grow back; therefore, if the veterinarian gives approval for you to give Benadryl to your Yorkie, other treatments should be used in conjunction with this.

2. Topical Sprays

Certain sprays can be very effective in treating itching, hot spots, and inflamed skin. One of the leading benefits of a spray is that it can offer immediate relief directly to troubled areas, but without needing to touch what may be very sore skin. This is best for a Yorkie that has certain problem areas. If you're looking for all-over body relief, a lotion will be best (covered ahead).

There are several types of allergy sprays, depending on exactly what is happening with your Yorkie:

Hot Spot Spray

Hot spots are lesions on the body that are highly irritated, swollen, and red. Typically, these are moist and very itchy. Dogs often lick or chew at hot spots, which can worsen the condition very quickly.

Since skin is often cracked and broken, a spray with non-stinging, natural ingredients may be best. We recommend Vet's Best Hot Spot Spray for Dogs (also see image below), which works to stop itching and heal the sores with a soothing blend of tea tree oil, aloe vera, and chamomile.

Anti-itch Spray - Medicated

If your Yorkshire Terrier's main symptom is painful, severe itching, you'll want to use a spray specifically designed to immediately stop the itch, and calm the skin down.

One option is a medicated spray; this is a good choice if the itching is not on areas that your dog will be licking or chewing at, or if you decide to use a protection collar to prevent your Yorkie from licking or chewing the areas that have been sprayed.

A powerful combination is hydrocortisone, which is very effective in stopping severe itch, and lidocaine which is a topical numbing agent to reduce painful irritation. Our top recommended medicated anti-itch spray with both hydrocortisone and lidocaine is SynergyLabs Dr. Gold's Itch Relief (also see image below).

If you feel that your Yorkie would benefit from hydrocortisone to stop itching, but that there is no need for the lidocaine, a terrific choice is Pet King's Zymox Pet Spray (also see image below).

Anti-itch Spray - All Natural

There are some organic compounds that are highly effective for itching, irritation, inflamed skin, rash, and other common allergy-related issues that are completely non-toxic. An all-natural spray is a smart choice if your Yorkie's problem areas are those that are licked or chewed at, but you do not want to have to place a protection collar on your puppy or dog.

A terrific all-natural, organic and plant based spray is Bodhi Dog's Anti Itch Oatmeal Spray (also see below). This works with a super-effective blend of oatmeal, baking soda, and wheat germ (all which work to stop itching and soothe inflamed skin), and vitamin A (which fortifies skin cells), vitamin D (which helps repair skin), and vitamin E (which has antioxidant properties).

Below are the sprays that we have covered. On mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

And next, we will cover lotions, shampoos, and omega 3 fish oil.

3. Lotions

A lotion is another great option for offering immediate relief for skin issues seen with allergies. This can be very helpful to stop excessive itching, heal hot spots, moisturize dry damaged skin, heal cracking, heal sores, and reduce swelling. It is ideal to use on paws as well.

A lotion may be best if your Yorkshire Terrier has eruptions of itch and other issues over the majority of the body. One of our top recommended allergy lotions is ResQ Organics Pet Skin Treatment (also see below); this is 100% all-natural and non-toxic, and helps in a multitude of ways with some extremely effective ingredients.

There is soothing Manuka honey, aloe vera, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil, and shea butter, all which work to relieve itch, soothe swelling, and restore skin health. There is vitamin A to fortify skin cells, vitamin B which strengthens the epidermis (outer layer of skin), vitamin C which promotes the production of collagen, and vitamin E which has antioxidant properties.

4. Allergy Shampoo

While sprays and lotions can be great for treating itch and other issues, certain shampoos can be a powerful tool in combating issues.

The main benefit of a specialty allergy shampoo is that bathing your Yorkshire Terrier offers the chance to reach every single area on the body, and allow it to soak in a restorative blend of helpful, soothing ingredients. When working to fix issues and restore skin back to health, baths can be given twice per week.

There are two types of allergy shampoos; medicated and organic, and which one is best for your Yorkie will depend on your puppy or dog's exact issues.

Medicated Allergy Shampoo

Please take note that you need to be careful when searching for a medicated allergy shampoo, because there are a host of medicated pet shampoos that are meant for other issues such as mite infection or ringworm, and those can have strong ingredients that can be exceedingly harsh on the sensitive skin of dogs that are suffering from allergies.

What can help is a mediated allergy shampoo that contains the same helpful ingredients as the medicated spray that we previously covered, with both hydrocortisone for itch and lidocaine to help relieve painful skin. The one that we recommend, SynergyLabs Hot Spot & Itch Relief Medicated Shampoo (also see below), additionally contains wheat germ oil, colloidal oatmeal, and aloe vera, which are soothing natural ingredients.

Organic Allergy Shampoo

The right combination of organic and natural compounds can be absolutely fantastic in quickly stopping itchiness, healing sores and hot spots, and promoting the restoration of healthy skin.

The one that we recommend, Moosh Organic Shampoo (also see below), has gone above and beyond to offer a super-effective, all-encompassing formula. This all-natural shampoo has bentonite clay which pulls out irritants, and argan oil, neem oil, shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil, which all work together to soothe, moisturize, and help cure itch.

There is vetiver, which is a oil extracted from the root of an Indian grass, and is known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, nutmeg which offers cooling and soothing, and rosemary, which is great for skin circulation.

There are no chemicals, no preservatives, this is concentrated which means a little goes a long way, and it is made in the USA.

5. Omega 3 Fish Oil

Please note that offering omega 3 on its own, without any other remedies, will rarely cure skin issues related to allergies. However, when use in conjunction with other treatments, it can be just the boost your Yorkie needs to help restore skin, and promote hair growth for damaged areas.

You'll need to be a bit careful when choosing an omega; there are 3 different types. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is derived from cold water fish and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is derived from plants. While Omega 3 ALA has some benefits, EPA and DHA are the ones that are most beneficial.

In addition, omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA can be sourced from either wild fish or farmed fish. Farmed fish can contain up to 15% vegetable oil which can throw off the actual values of omega, so omega sourced from wild fish is the superior choice.

Finally, there are tablets, chews, and liquids. You may find that a liquid is the easiest type of offer. The one that we recommend, Zesty Paw's Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, comes in a very handy pump that allows you to add a 1/2 pump to one meal per day, mess-free. If you use this, be sure to stir the kibble up very well afterward; if not, your Yorkie may pick and choose just the pieces that have oil on them, since most canines find the taste of fish oil to be extra delicious.

Below is the lotion, allergy shampoo, and fish oil that we have covered. On mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

And next, we will go over some tips and guidelines to follow, moving forward.

Sadie, at 18 months old,

photo courtesy of Gadie Whitaker

Fixing Allergies, Step #3: Continued Maintenance

Now that you have worked very hard to reduce or remove as many allergy triggers as possible, and have found success in treating itching, rashes, hot spots, and other very troublesome issues, you'll never want to go back down that road again. So, it will be very important to be on guard moving forward.

Common mistakes include slipping in keeping allergens at bay; you may be vacuuming twice per week now, but that can slide down to just once a week or once a month later on. Or maybe you haven't changed those air filters in gosh knows how long.

It's also easy to forget to apply paw wax once your Yorkie's feeling better, or run out of all-natural snacks and fall back to something you can grab at the grocery store.

Finally, keeping your Yorkie's skin super healthy will help should a new allergy develop. So, here are the top 4 tips to remember as you move forward:

1. Have a firm schedule in regard to keeping your house free of allergens, and off of your Yorkie. Write down the chores that need to be done, and have this list on the fridge, and/or split up tasks among other family members to ensure that they are all completed on time, all throughout the year.

2. Keep a good supply of all allergy prevention and remedy items, so that you do not run out. This includes kibble, snacks, grooming wipes, paw wax, dusting tools, etc.

3. Keep your Yorkie's skin in tip-top shape so that is is not in a vulnerable state. This includes using top quality grooming products for an every-3 week-bath with a superior shampoo, and using a leave-in to help protect from contact friction.

During the winter when air is very arid, use humidifiers to keep moisture in the air. Brush the coat often, even short coats, to stimulate blood circulation and keep follicles healthy.

4. Keep an eye out for new irritants. This includes lawn care chemicals (take note of when dog parks apply these), new air freshener sprays you may be tempted to use, and possible new developing allergies as the seasons change.

Extra Information

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