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Author:
C. Covington

Yorkshire Terriers are a healthy breed and do not normally develop serious health problems. However as with most purebred dogs, the Yorkshire terrier is prone to genetic disorders.

Yorkshire Terriers can suffer from many hereditary diseases, which can bring you a lot of grief and expenses should you not be aware of it, and you may not be able to breed your dog when it reaches the age with a poor medical record. Although with how tiny Yorkies tend to be, you may not wish to breed to begin with.

Diseases to watch out for

Yorkshire terriers very commonly have a great deal of difficulty delivering puppies, since dystocia and uterine inertia may further complicate the process, in addition to their diminutive size. If your Yorkie mom is having trouble, veterinary attention is crucial as they can assess the situation and either surgically remove the puppies or administer medications to help.

This breed is also prone to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which is caused by low concentrations of glucose in the blood. Hallmarks of this disease are lethargy, weakness, twitching, trembling, seizures, lack of coordination, loss of appetite, dilated pupils, appearing blind, and in the most severe cases, coma. Your veterinarian will need to conduct several tests to ensure a proper diagnosis, and treatment is very similar to that of hypoglycemic humans.

Yorkshire terriers are reported to have a higher than normal incidence of liver shunts, and also commonly have bronchitis, early tooth decay, patella luxation, open fontanellas, Perthe's disease and a smaller incidence of elongated soft palate and a tendency to collapsed trachea.

Of these diseases, the one you should be most concerned with is tooth decay – because of their small jaw, they are more prone to major systemic infections if their teeth are not properly taken care of. You should use a toothpaste developed especially for dogs and regularly clean their teeth, if you cannot afford to have your veterinarian do it for you.

Toy breeds in general also have a problem with hydrocephalus, a neurological disease that causes excess fluid on the brain. Keep an eye out for crying, difficulty walking, problems with sight and hearing, hyper excitability or dullness, circling, seizures, abnormal movements of the eyes, tilting or pressing the head, or coma, as they may be signs of this disease.

Yorkshire Terriers are also quite sensitive to many medications, so be sure to double check with your veterinarian before administering anything he or she did not prescribe for your Yorkie. With proper care however, you can expect a long and happy twelve to sixteen years with your Yorkie.

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