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Yorkie Health ProblemsCommon yorkie health problems include patellar luxation, liver shunt, tracheal collapse, retinal dysplasia, and legg-calve-perthes disease.
Common Yorkie Health Problems
The Yorkie is a relatively healthy breed. However, like all other breeds, Yorkies are susceptible to several inherited diseases.
Some of the more common Yorkie health problems include:
Yorkie Health Problems - Patellar LuxationPatellar luxation is a hereditary condition in which the knee cap slips out of its groove. Sometimes the kneecap will slip back into place; while other times a veterinarian may need to put it back in place. The dog will show signs of this condition only when the knee cap is sliding out of place. You will see the dog limping or running with the affected leg held off the ground, and he will often stretch it out behind him in an effort to click the cartilage back into place. It is also likely to be painful particularly if the kneecap is out of joint. If it is not corrected through surgery, then osteoarthritis will usually result. It is a good idea to prevent this condition by starting Yorkies on chondroprotective medications (glucosamine and chondroitin) when they are young. TopYorkie Health Problems - Liver ShuntLiver shunt or "Portosystemic shunting" (PSS) is a condition in which there is abnormal blood flow between the liver and the body. Specifically, liver shunt causes blood to flow around the liver, not through it, resulting in blood bypassing the liver. If a dog is suffering from liver shunt, he lacks the necessary materials (particularly protein) to give him a ready source of energy and to help him grow. This causes the dog to be smaller and weaker than normal. Also, the liver is unable to properly get rid of all the toxins, causing toxin buildup in the bloodstream or kidneys. Toxin buildup often causes seizures in dogs. Dog liver shunt can cause other symptoms. For more information, please visit our page on Liver Shunt in Dogs. TopYorkie Health Problems - Tracheal CollapseTracheal collapse is a narrowing of the windpipe due to the weakening of the cartilage, which forms and supports the trachea. This condition is rather common in Yorkies. Symptoms include a dry, honking cough, harsh breathing and gagging. The cough is worsened by exercise, heat, excitement, and humidity. Obese dogs are particularly vulnerable to this condition. Treatment consists of managing the cough and using supplements to strengthen cartilage. In particular, use a supplement with glucosamine to help keep the lining of the airway in a healthy, moist state. To protect your Yorkie's throat and keep pressure off the airway, use a harness instead of a collar. TopYorkie Health Problems - Retinal DysplasiaRetinal dysplasia is characterized by an abnormal development of the retina. This can be inherited, or it can be acquired as a result of a fetal viral infection. There are three forms of retinal dysplasia:
Yorkie Health Problems - Dry EyeDry eye, medically known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), occurs when there is insufficient tear production to keep the eye lubricated. There is a predisposition to the development of KCS in Yorkies. Common symptoms include redness and obvious irritation, a yellowish discharge. and recurrent eye infections. Avoid medications such as sulfa antibiotics that may predispose dogs to develop dry eyes. TopYorkie Health Problems - EntropionEntropion is a condition where the bottom eyelid rolls inward and causes the eye lashes to rub against the cornea, resulting in pain, tearing, and inflammation. It can be present in both eyes. Entropion can be treated by eyelid surgeries. TopYorkie Health Problems - Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCP) is a problem of the hip joints of young (4 to 12 months), small-breed dogs such as the Yorkies.
With LCP, the head of the femur begins to degenerate and disintegrate causing limping,
pain, and eventually,
arthritis.
Treatment of the condition is dependent on the severity of the symptoms. If diagnosed early and the symptoms are mild, enforced rest (such as putting the hind leg in a
sling for a period of time) may be sufficient to allow healing.
In more severe cases, surgical removal of the damaged head of the femur is the only treatment. This procedure effectively eliminates the source of the pain, and the affected
dog should have a good quality of life thereafter.
Top
Yorkie Health Problems - HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia refers to abnormally low blood glucose (sugar) levels. Hypoglycemia is one of the most common health problems among small breeds such as Yorkies. Dogs with extremely low blood glucose usually show the following signs:
References Canada's Guide to Dogs (http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/yorkshire.htm) Canine Inherited Disorder Database (ttp://www.upei.ca/~cidd/intro.htm) Dog Breed Facts - Hereditary Diseases (http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/articles/hereditary-diseases.html) TOP of Yorkie Health Problems |
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