I want to talk about a more serious issue here, Yorkie health problems. There are a lot of preventable health problems that your Yorkshire terrier can be hit with. The consequences can be emotionally painful for both you and your Yorkie, as well as very expensive as you probably know that trips to the vet are not cheap, especially for smaller breeds of dogs such as a Yorkie. The solution is to be pro-active and take charge of your Yorkie’s health ahead of time to prevent any health issues that might crop up later on. Understanding and learning what you need to do to keep your Yorkie in top condition health-wise is key.
Potential Yorkie Health Problems
Yorkshire terrier dogs, as well as other dogs for that matter, are susceptible to a wide range of health issues, similar to us humans. The only problem is that your dog can’t speak and tell you what’s wrong with it when it has a health issue such as a stomach ache. If you can’t tell what’s wrong with them, the poor thing will suffer in silence until a very serious pain is detected. Let’s take a moment to understand what symptoms can crop up and what you can do to prevent these health issues from being a problem in the first place.
Dog Obesity
This is one ailment that is probably the most common in dogs across all breeds, terriers included. While small terriers tend to be very energetic, they may tend to gain weight due to other causes. Dog obesity is usually a direct cause of eating more than they’re supposed to and lack of exercise. Left unchecked, obesity can lead to serious consequences including heart failure, tumors, disease of the liver, and problems with their skin. Luckily, this one can be prevented easily by watching your dog’s diet and ensuring they get plenty of exercise. Terrier breeds are known for being energetic so getting them to walk, run and play shouldn’t be too hard to do. Ensuring your Yorkie has a healthy diet will ensure your doggie will continue being energetic and lengthen their life span.
Arthritis and Dysplasia
There are some dogs which can be suspect to problems of their bones and joints. In order to prevent joint and bone problems, make sure they get the right vitamins and minerals each day to support healthy growth. Unfortunately, dogs that are pure bred are the most susceptible to joint problems due to their selectively bred physical qualities such as being narrower and longer. I advise going to the vet at least once a year to check for joint health.
Dog Allergies
Yorkies can have a variety of different allergies. Flea allergies are probably the most common. If your Yorkie has flea allergies, you’ll notice hot spots in your dog which can lead to infections. In order to prevent this, ensure your Yorkie gets the right flea medication each month and have your vet examine them for health. Another kind of allergy is food allergy. If skin issues start to crop up to the ears, nose or other hot spots, it may be time to take them to a vet to understand what they can’t eat as tissue issues can be very damaging.
Dog Diabetes
Many new pet owners are surprised that dogs can acquire diabetes but it’s true, this issue is not just a human related on. The cause of diabetes in dogs is usually eating foods that contain too much fat and sugar. Eating too many rich foods can trigger pancreatic problems which often leads to diabetes. To help prevent these issues, ensure your terrier is kept on a strict dog food diet and minimal to no table scraps or extra meals. If your beloved Yorkie acquires diabetes, it’s time to have your pet see the vet regularly. Be prepared that your pet may need to have shots administered regularly.
Dog Infections
Infections can crop up in your Yorkie’s eyes, teeth, ears and skin. Be sure to clean your Yorkie’s eyes, brush their hair and teeth regularly to prevent build ups which can lead to bacterial infections. Ear infections are probably the most frequent and common form of infection for dogs. It’s usually caused by bacteria, dirt or simply a foreign body getting in that space. Luckily, infections are also a problem that is easily preventable with good doggie maintenance.
Dog Health Problem Wrap-up
Most, if not all of these issues can be prevented if your Yorkie is on a good diet, plays and runs often, and you keep it clean and well groomed. In any case, I urge all my visitors to visit their vet once a year to check for any issues you might miss. The sooner a health problem, infection or disease is detected and handled, the better and quicker it can be treated and less trips to the vet will be needed in the future. I hope you’ve found my article on Yorkshire terrier health problems insightful.
All the best in your quest to training your terrier.
Diana Swanson
Founder of http://www.TopTerrier.com
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