Call us: 555-555-5555

Health

Yorkshire Terrier Health

 Overview

The Yorkshire Terrier is a relatively healthy breed, though prone to certain conditions, both breed-specific and those common to canines in general. 


This section takes a look at the most commonly reported health issues seen (based on large-scale survey of Yorkie owners), issues this breed is most genetically prone to, steps to keep your Yorkie healthy, and more. 

The Most Common Issues Seen with Yorkshire Terriers - Survey Results

To gain a good understanding of the health issues actually seen most often with Yorkshire Terriers, we conducted a large-scale survey of YorkieInfoCenter site members (sign-up is here and completely free). 


Health questions were part of an overall health, behavioral, and appearance study conducted in September of 2017 and involved 2,146 respondents of self-identifying Yorkshire Terrier owners. Location of the respondents were as follows: 72% in US, 8% in the UK, 8% in Canada, and the remaining in various other countries. 


In regard to gender of the Yorkies, there were 56% males to 44% females. The ages of the Yorkies were 3% young puppy (under 6-months-old), 10% puppy (6 to 12-months old), 51% young adult (1 to 3-years-old), 26% adult (4 to 8-years-old), 10% senior (9+ years). 


We asked, “Has your Yorkie had any of these health issues?” and listed the following. Respondents could check off as many as were applicable, there was an ‘Other’ option, and a comment box. The results were as follows: 


  • Allergies 21%
  • Joint related (Legg-Calve-Perthes, patella, hip, etc.) 18%
  • Other 12%
  • Issues related to breathing (collapsed trachea, etc.) 7%
  • Parasites (worms, fleas, etc.) 7%
  • Eye problems 4%
  • Skin issues not related to allergies 4%
  • Organ related (liver, etc.) 2%
  • Coat issues (alopecia, thinning, etc.) 2%
  • Canine diabetes 0%
  • Cancer 0%
  • Thyroid issues 0%


In regard to health conditions listed under ‘other’ inputs included dental issues, pancreatitis, yeast infections, hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal issues, ear infections, stomach issues, and seizures.


Ahead, we will dive into more details regarding many of these ailments and conditions. 

Common Yorkshire Terrier Health Issues - Details and Info

Please note that the following are in alphabetical order. 

Allergies

This is a top issue seen with all dogs in general and certainly with the Yorkshire Terrier, with about 20% of Yorkies experiencing a suspected or known allergy at some point in their lives. Common types of allergies include contact, food, and airborne. Signs vary quite a bit by type of allergy and can range from itching to respiratory changes to stomach distress. There are many steps you can take at home to help alleviate symptoms including removal of the suspected trigger and topical treatments to relieve itching and other reactions. 


Read more about Yorkshire Terrier Allergies

Collapsed Trachea 

This is a health condition that the Yorkshire Terrier, and many other toy and small breeds are prone to. It is considered a genetic condition and involves a weakening of the tracheal rings that support the windpipe. The most common symptom is a harsh, honking-type cough. This is often progressive, so early intervention and treatment is important and includes the use of a harness to replace a collar, cough medications, anti-inflammatories, and cold and hot weather avoidance. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended. 


Read more about Yorkshire Terrier Collapsed Trachea.

Dental Issues

Unfortunately, dental issues are very common with Yorkies. This includes tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontal disease, deterioration of the jaw bone, and tooth loss. Owners should provide regular and consistent at-home dental cleanings and care. Professional veterinary preemptive care, cleaning, and treatment should be given as needed. 


Read more about Yorkshire Terrier Teeth and Dental Care.

Hypoglycemia

This refers to a rapid drop in blood glucose (sugar) levels and the Yorkshire Terrier, being a toy breed, is prone to this. It most often occurs with young puppies up to the age of 4 months old, so this is a typical Yorkie health problem that one should keep an eye out for during a pup’s first few crucial months in their new home. That said, Yorkies of any age can suffer from hypoglycemia. 


Signs include confusion, weakness, dizziness, and trouble walking. Many cases can be linked to infrequent feedings. For this reason, frequent smaller meals should be given, as opposed to just one or two larger meals. Treatment includes rubbing honey or sugar water on the gums. Follow up veterinary care may be needed. Chronic or severe cases require veterinary assessment and treatment.

Legg-Calve-Perthes

This a degenerative disease of the head of the femur bone on the hind leg. This affects small dogs much more often than larger breeds, and the Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that is very prone to LCP. In fact, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has the Yorkie ranked as the #1 breed that suffers from this. 


Signs including lameness and holding the affected leg in an odd manner most often occur between the young ages of 4 and 12 months old. There are non-surgical treatment options including very strict bed rest along with anti-inflammatory medications and joint supplements along with laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, and/or non-weight bearing water therapy. Surgical treatment may be required.

Liver Shunts

Yorkshire Terriers have almost a 36 times greater risk of developing shunts than all other breeds combined. 

A liver shunt (portosystemic shunt or PSS), affects normal blood flow to and from the liver. The blood flow will either be lacking or completely absent. When functioning properly, veins allow blood to flow to the liver, through it and then exit it to other parts of the body, including the heart. When there is a shunt, it causes the blood to bypass the liver as it otherwise normally would. 


Without this normal flow of blood, waste products including ammonia, that are highly toxic to the body, start to build up. Depending on the degree that the vein is ‘shunted’, a dog will become ill over various durations of time (slow or fast).


Symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, drooling, increased thirst, increased urination, lethargy, poor growth rates, vomiting, and/or confusion. Without treatment, this can lead to seizures and eventual death. Minor cases may be treated with a low protein diet and medications. Moderate to severe cases require surgery.

Common Canine Issues that May Affect a Yorkshire Terrier

The following are common canine issues that may affect a Yorkshire Terrier at some point. 

Yorkshire Terrier Car Sickness - Also referred to as motion sickness, it’s not uncommon for Yorkies to suffer from this when passengers in moving vehicles. It usually causes dizziness and upset stomach, and may result in vomiting. Dogs that experience car sickness may whine or cry throughout their travels. A major cause of motion sickness is this small breed’s inability to have clear line-of-sight out of the windows. There are several steps you can take to help a Yorkie with this issue, including placing them in a booster seat and offering dry snacks in advance of road trips. 

Yorkshire Terrier Constipation - Constipation with Yorkshire Terriers refers to strained or less frequent bowel movements. This may be linked to insufficient water intake, a change of diet, or other elements. It can affect Yorkies of all ages, from puppies to adults to seniors. In most cases, this can be treated at home. Non-responsive cases will require veterinary assessment and treatment. 

Yorkshire Terrier Diarrhea - Diarrhea, which refers to loose, watery stools, can be a dangerous condition for toy breeds like the Yorkie due to possible rapid dehydration. For this reason, diarrhea should be immediately addressed. Diarrhea may be caused by a food intolerance, a quick change in diet, stress, infection, or other causes. In many cases, this can be treated at home. Non-responsive cases will require veterinary assessment and treatment.

Yorkshire Terrier Shaking - Shaking, also referred to as shivers or trembling, is not that uncommon with Yorkshire Terriers, however it is a sign that something is wrong, most often that the pup or dog is cold. There are other, less common causes including anxiety, stress, or (very rarely) Addison's disease (and endocrine disorder). 

Yorkshire Terrier Sleep Issues - Yorkie puppies can sleep as much as 18 to 20 hours a day and adult generally get in about 14 to 16 hours. Getting a good night’s rest plays a role in a dog’s overall health, so problems such as sleeping too much or trouble falling asleep or staying asleep should be addressed. 

Yorkshire Terrier Smells and Odors – If your Yorkie has bad body odor or any sort of odd smell, this should not be ignored. Read about common causes and treatments to get your little guy or gal smelling nice again. 

Yorkshire Terrier Snoring - The Yorkshire Terrier is not a breed known for overly loud snoring, but with severe or chronic cases, this should be addressed. 

Yorkshire Terrier Vomiting Issues – As with diarrhea, vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration issues with this tiny toy breed, so this should be addresses asap. Read how to treat this at home and signs that you should call the vet. 

Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Yorkshire Terrier Happy and Healthy

  1. Feed your Yorkie high-quality, all-natural food for both main meals and snacks.
  2. Keep your Yorkie up-to-date with vaccinations and boosters. Ask for titer testing to see when a booster is needed and speak to the vet about non-core vaccines that may be needed based on your particular dog's risk. 
  3. Bring your Yorkie to the veterinarian for yearly wellness checks (twice per year for seniors age 8 and up).
  4. Keep the house and yard puppy-proofed no matter your Yorkie's age to help prevent injury and accidents. 
  5. Keep your Yorkshire Terrier well-groomed to keep skin in good shape, prevent ear infections, and other grooming-related issues.
  6. Keep your Yorkie's teeth clean and healthy with daily at-home care, including brushing (or sprays or wipes) and dental treats.
  7. Always supervise your Yorkie when they are outside. Even if there's a fenced-in yard, never leave your little guy or gal alone.
  8. Use a harness not a leash; this will help distribute pressure over the shoulders, chest and back as opposed to the trachea.
  9. When out and about, always keep your Yorkie on a leash and harness.
  10. Give regular heartworm and parasite prevention, using all-natural options or the lowest dosing possible.

Arm yourself with knowledge with Y.I.C.'s GIANT Book of Yorkshire Terrier Care. This is your comprehensive guide for every step and phase of your Yorkie's life. Now available as a hardcopy (large 8.5 x 11" paperback) or eBook.

You May Also Like:

Yorkshire Terrier Feeding Guidelines - A helpful summary of all feeding aspects. Dry vs wet dog food, grain vs. grain-free options, timing and scheduling, recommended kibbles, home cooking and more.

Tips to Keep a Yorkie Clean - For a tiny dog, this breed can certainly end up messy, dirty, and smelly in between baths. See some easy ways to keep your little guy or gal looking nice and smelling fantastic.

Yorkshire Terrier Safety Tips - This breed is much more prone to accidents and injury than larger dogs. Follow these tips to keep your Yorkie of any age happy and safe.



Share by: