Health Info

HEREDITARY PROBLEMS AND HEALTH INFO FOR YORKIES:

Every breed of dog has some sort of breed or type-specific disorder and hereditary problems. Yorkies in general are a trouble free breed; however, here are a few of the Yorkie health issues and concerns to take into consideration:

Legg-Perthes Disease is the necrotic degeneration of the femoral head. What that means is the head of the femur (the part of the upper hind-leg bone that fits into the pelvis) crumbles from the cutoff in blood supply. This can be genetically transmitted, or could be a result of trauma. The disease can come from either cause and an affected dog will begin to limp and develop progressively less use of the affected leg. Treatment is surgical removal of the damaged head and exercise regimen put in place by your veterinarian. This disease does not manifest itself until the puppy is 6 or 7 months old.

Luxating Patella

The patella is the kneecap and ordinarily the kneecap slides up and down in front of the knee joint. In a number of small breeds it will slide from it’s normal position toward the inner leg. The most obvious symptom is limping. Luxating Patella could eventually lead to arthritis. The only permanent cure is surgical correction of the knee.

Collapsing Trachea

The walls of the trachea, or windpipe, become more flaccid as they age. The first sign of this condition is an occasional honking cough, especially with exertion and could become constant later in life. Breathing against the obstruction can result in chronic lung disease. The defect can sometimes be repaired with surgery and the cough controlled with medications.

Portosystemic Shunt

This is a congenital malformation of the portal vein which brings blood to the liver for cleansing. The presence of the shunt means the blood either partially or completely by-passes the liver and the “dirty” blood goes on to poison the heart, brain, lungs and other organs. Symptoms very widely and can include poor appetite, occasional vomiting and diarrhea, poor coordination, decreased ability to learn, seizures especially after eating, blindness, coma and death. Diagnosing Portosystemic Shunt is VERY difficult and the only cure is surgery. Not all shunts can be repaired, but early treatment offers the best chances.