Yorkshire Terriers are not only smart and cute; they are also healthy, as a general rule. Of course in order to maintain that good health, they do require a high degree of care. This means that you have to be on the lookout for problems, and it also means that your Yorkshire Terrier needs to see his vet once and sometimes twice each year. Below are some common problems that are seen in Yorkshire Terriers.Hypoglycemia-This is a condition that comes about when the blood sugar levels fall too low. This commonly happens if a dog has to wait too long between meals. Symptoms of Hypoglycemia include staggering, listlessness, lack of interest, weakness, and shaking. Serious Hypoglycemia can lead to coma. Without treatment, death can occur.
Parvovirus -Commonly referred to as Parvo, this is a disease that affects dogs of all breeds, and it is highly contagious. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, high fever and lethargy. Parvo can lead to congestive heart failure, and while a dog can survive this virus, most do not. You can have your Yorkshire Terrier vaccinated against Parvovirus.
Liver Shunt - A liver shunt is essentially a group of veins that are not running correctly. They allow blood that comes from the intestine to bypass the liver, which prevents metabolization. A liver shunt is usually fatal. A liver shunt may exist if your Yorkie is not growing properly, if he has frequent diarrhea or vomiting, if he is losing weight, or having seizures.
Bladder Stones - Bladder stones are not fatal, but they are painful. These are essentially stones in the bladder, and those stones must eventually be passed when urinating. Blood may also be present when urinating.
Collapsed Trachea -This is a problem that is common for small dogs of all breeds. The trachea can collapse when the cartridge rings that keep the trachea rigid start weakening. Symptoms of a collapsed trachea include shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue.
Cushing's Disease-This is a disease that occurs when there is an overproduction of cortisone in the adrenal glands. It typically occurs in dogs over the age of five, and is caused by an actual lesion in the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. Approximately half of the lesions will be malignant. Extreme thirst, urinating more often, hair loss, weakness, and unusual panting are signs of Cushing's Disease.
There are other illnesses that you must be on the lookout for, however for the most part Yorkshire Terriers really are very healthy, happy, energetic dogs. Again, with proper care and attention, you most likely won't have to many medical issues, and those that you do have will be caught early and will respond well to treatment.