They are small, vigorous and make us live unforgettable moments. Yorkies belong to a breed of dogs with a very defined character, but they are also prone to certain conditions. And this is precisely the purpose of this article: to explain to you what are the most common diseases of Yorkshire terrier dogs.
For this we will list the main diseases and explain what they consist of and how they affect them. It is important to know these diseases, to know how to detect them in time in case any one appears.
Index of contents
- 1 Most frequent diseases in the Yorkshire terrier breed
- 2 Other Yorkshire terrier diseases
- 3 Yorkshire terrier gender related conditions
- 4 Syndromes that affect Yorkshire terriers
Most frequent diseases in the Yorkshire terrier breed
The most frequent diseases, among all those that usually affect Yorkshire terrier dogs, are the following:
- Canine entropion. It is an eye condition that causes the eyelids to bend inward, causing injury and vision problems. In most cases, surgery is used to solve this problem and thus prevent this condition from worsening: Detailed information about the Entropion.
- Retinal dysplasia. It is another condition that affects the dog’s eyes, caused by an abnormal development of the retina. It can cause visual impairment or blindness.
- Tracheal collapse. It occurs when there is a narrowing of the trachea. One of the most obvious symptoms is a dry cough in the dog after eating, drinking, or exercising. It can be controlled with medication.
- Portosystemic shunt. It usually appears when the Yorkie is still a puppy and it is a circulatory defect that causes the blood not to filter properly, leading to poisoning. The way to correct this defect is through a surgical operation.
- Patellar dislocation. It is a displacement of the patella, often due to a malformation. Sometimes it needs to be repositioned by the vet and can eventually lead to osteoarthritis. If it is a serious case, surgery may be necessary.
In addition to these, there are other diseases that Yorkshire terrier dogs also tend to have, although less frequently. Let’s see in the next section what they are.
Other Yorkshire terrier diseases
The pathologies that affect Yorkshire terrier dogs, but with a lower incidence than those described above, are:
- Hydrocephalus. This condition causes cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate in the brain, causing the dog to show abnormal behavior, seizures, vision problems, and pain. It can usually be treated with medication, and a drain may be required to remove excess fluid.
- Alopecia. Yorkshire terriers can be affected by a type of alopecia specifically, which makes hair grow uneven and with hair loss. It can be controlled with drugs.
- Progressive retinal atrophy. It is a deterioration of the retina, which usually affects especially elderly dogs.
- Waterfalls. It is a fairly common disease, causing visual impairment and in some cases blindness. It can be corrected with surgery. It normally appears in older dogs: Cataract symptoms in dogs.
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It occurs when the eye is dry due to poor production of tears. This can lead to irritation, ulcers, scarring, and other vision problems or blindness. To control this condition, the eye must be kept moist.
- Congenital hypotrichosis. This skin condition causes hair loss due to a lack of hair follicles. It can also affect teething or sweat glands, which are in charge of controlling sweat production.
- Urolithiasis. They are “stones” or “stones” that form when urine crystallizes and cause infection. They can be treated with medication, and sometimes surgery may be necessary.
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The dog suffering from this disease suffers from severe pain and lameness, due to the degeneration of the head of the femur. It can appear in puppies or young small breed dogs such as Yorkshire terriers.
As you can see, the extensive list, although some conditions have a lower incidence than others. In addition to these diseases, which can affect both sexes, there are others that are more related to a specific gender.
Among the Yorkshire terrier diseases related to the dog’s gender, the following stand out:
- Cryptorchidism (or “retention of the testicles”). This problem can only occur, as is evident, in male dogs. It occurs when the testicles do not descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. It is usually detected from 6 months and, in this case, castration is usually used.
- Patent ductus arteriosus. It causes blood to not circulate properly through the heart, which can lead to terminal heart failure. It usually affects especially females and emergency surgery is necessary in the first hours of life.
Let’s continue to look at which syndromes can be diagnosed in the Yorkshire terrier breed.
Syndromes that affect Yorkshire terriers
Finally, there are two syndromes that Yorkshire terrier dogs can most commonly develop. These are:
- Cushing’s syndrome. It is an endocrine disorder, caused by an excess of the hormone cortisol. It affects the dog’s behavior and metabolism and may be related to the presence of a tumor. In some cases it can be treated with medication; in others with surgery. Complete information on Cushing’s syndrome.
- Shaker syndrome. The most obvious sign of dogs affected by this pathology, which occurs as a result of inflammation of the cerebellum, is general tremor of the body. Young dogs usually suffer from this syndrome, which can be treated with drugs.
Throughout its life, a Yorkshire terrier can develop some of these pathologies, being generically predisposed. In the event that you detect any abnormal symptoms in the dog, whatever it may be, take it to the vet as soon as possible so that he can examine it. An early diagnosis is key for you to successfully recover from any health problem.