About

Breed information

 

Length range  : 30-39 cm

Height range  : 18-23cm

Weight range : 1.8-5.4kg

Coat : long silky single coat|hair-like coat|straight glossy coat

Life expectancy years : 11-15

Colors: blue and tan|dark steel-blue and golden tan|black and tan as puppies.

Activitity Level : Moderate

Origin: United Kingdom

Similar Breeds : Silky Terrier|Australian Terrier|Maltese

 

History

Yorkies were developed in 19th-century Yorkshire , England from small terriers brought by Scottish weavers during the Industrial Revolution. They earned their keep catching rats in mills and mines before becoming fashionable Victorian companion dogs and later one of the world’s best-known toy breeds.

 

 

characteristics

Temperament

feisty|affectionate|confident

Personality

feisty|affectionate|playful|bossy|brave|confident|loyal

Needs

daily grooming|mental stimulation|routine dental care|cold-weather protection|supervised handling with small children

Social Needs

forms close attachments to family|often friendly with strangers|can live with other pets with supervision|prefers company and attention

Grooming 

Yorkies need frequent coat care. Full-length coats may need daily brushing and combing while short puppy cuts often need weekly brushing and professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. Regular baths , nail trims , ear checks , tear stain care and daily tooth brushing are important.

Nutrition

Feed a complete and balanced small-breed diet appropriate for life stage. Puppies may need frequent small meals and adults often do well with two to three meals daily. Some dogs may benefit from omega-3 fatty acids and dental-focused diets. Avoid excessive treats and protect toy puppies from fasting-related low blood sugar.

 

Breed Standard

Toy breed|small compact body|silky straight coat|pricked ears|dark sparkling eyes

Did you know?

Yorkies once worked as ratters in mills and mines before becoming fashionable Victorian lapdogs. Smoky , a Yorkshire Terrier , became a World War II hero by running messages through a narrow culvert.

HEALTHCARE

Most Common / iconic illnesses 

Luxating Patella, Tracheal Collapse, Congenital Portosystemic Shunt, Hypoglycemia, Dental Disease

 

Symptoms

1. Intermittent skipping gait , sudden hopping on three legs , audible popping , stiffness and reluctance to jump or climb may occur.

1. Harsh dry goose-honk cough , exercise intolerance , wheezing , breathing distress , gagging , cyanosis during excitement and fainting may occur.

1. Poor growth , small stature , lethargy , head pressing , disorientation , seizures , temporary blindness , vomiting , increased thirst and urination and drooling may occur.

1. Sudden weakness , lethargy , glassy or disoriented eyes , wobbly gait , shivering , tremors , pale gums , seizures and loss of consciousness may occur.

1. Severe halitosis , visible brown or yellow calculus , bleeding or swollen gums , loose or missing teeth , difficulty chewing and nasal discharge may occur.

Onset of symptoms

 

Luxating Patella

It typically becomes noticeable between 4 and 12 months of age although mild grades may go undiagnosed until adulthood.

Probability Of Onset:

High breed-specific risk.

Tracheal Collapse

It is most commonly observed in middle-aged to senior dogs usually between 4 and 8 years of age.

Probability Of Onset:

High breed-specific risk.

Congenital Portosystemic Shunt

It usually presents in young dogs between 6 months and 2 years of age and may worsen after high-protein meals.

Probability Of Onset:

High breed-specific risk and Yorkshire Terriers are described as one of the highest predisposed breeds.

Hypoglycemia

It is most prevalent in puppies under 4 months of age although it can also occur in toy adults during stress , fasting or exertion.

Probability Of Onset:

High risk in toy puppies.

Dental Disease

It can begin as early as 1 to 3 years of age and may progressively worsen without routine care.

Probability Of Onset:

High breed-specific risk.

Reasons

Luxating Patella       

 Normal alignment of the quadriceps mechanism may be lacking and the femoral trochlear groove may be too shallow. Structural support is reduced further when the tibial tuberosity is displaced medially. This lack of stable tracking can make the kneecap slip from position and alter gait. The provided text links the problem to inherited toy-breed conformation rather than a nutrient deficiency.

 

Congenital Portosystemic Shunt

Proper liver filtration support is lacking because portal blood bypasses the liver through an abnormal vessel. Critical protein synthesis and toxin clearance can therefore be reduced. This can leave the body more vulnerable to metabolic toxin buildup including ammonia-related effects. The provided text describes a vascular malformation rather than a dietary deficiency.

 

Luxating Patella       

 Normal alignment of the quadriceps mechanism may be lacking and the femoral trochlear groove may be too shallow. Structural support is reduced further when the tibial tuberosity is displaced medially. This lack of stable tracking can make the kneecap slip from position and alter gait. The provided text links the problem to inherited toy-breed conformation rather than a nutrient deficiency.

Congenital Portosystemic Shunt

Proper liver filtration support is lacking because portal blood bypasses the liver through an abnormal vessel. Critical protein synthesis and toxin clearance can therefore be reduced. This can leave the body more vulnerable to metabolic toxin buildup including ammonia-related effects. The provided text describes a vascular malformation rather than a dietary deficiency.

 

Tracheal Collapse

 Tracheal cartilage glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfate may be lacking. This can reduce structural rigidity in the C-shaped cartilage rings and allow the airway to flatten during respiration. The weakened support may make breathing more difficult and may contribute to cough and collapse. The provided text links this to a genetic cartilage deficiency.

Hypoglycemia

Blood glucose availability may be lacking during an episode of hypoglycemia. Minimal fat reserves , immature glycogen storage and limited gluconeogenesis can leave puppies without adequate energy support. This can make brain tissue and vital organs vulnerable to weakness , tremors and seizures. The provided text describes an energy deficit rather than a missing nutrient in the diet.

Dental Disease

  1. Normal saliva buffering capacity may be lacking in this breed. This reduced protective effect can encourage plaque and tartar accumulation in crowded tiny jaws. Ongoing microbial and inflammatory burden may then damage gums , bone and teeth. Persistent baby teeth can further reduce healthy spacing and worsen vulnerability.

Normally Treament Methods

Luxating Patella:

  1. Mild cases may be managed with weight control and physical therapy while severe or painful cases may need surgical correction such as trochleoplasty or tibial tuberosity transposition.

 

Tracheal Collapse:

  1. Management may include weight control , use of a body harness instead of a collar , cough suppressants , bronchodilators and short-term corticosteroids. Severe cases may need prosthetic rings or endoluminal tracheal stents and neck-collar pressure is not recommended.

 

Congenital Portosystemic Shunt

  1. Treatment may involve prescription low-protein diets , lactulose , oral antibiotics such as neomycin or metronidazole and definitive surgical ligation or ameroid constrictor placement.

 

Hypoglycemia:

  1. Immediate oral sugar support on the gums may be used followed by intravenous dextrose , warming and frequent small highly digestible meals. Prolonged fasting is not recommended in vulnerable puppies.

 

Dental Disease:

  1. Management may include daily home brushing , dental water additives , extraction of retained baby teeth or diseased permanent teeth and periodic professional scaling and polishing under anesthesia. Ask professional vets for detailed information.

 

Supplements

Luxating Patella :

  • 1. Glucosamine hydrochloride can,might be helpful for supporting cartilage health.
    2. Chondroitin sulfate can,might be helpful for joint support.
    3. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) can,might be helpful for reducing joint inflammation.
    4. Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA,DHA) can,might be helpful for calming inflammation.
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Tracheal Collapse

  • 1. Chondroitin sulfate can,might be helpful for supporting cartilage tissue elasticity.
    2. Glucosamine can,might be helpful for cartilage support.
    3. Hyaluronic acid can,might be helpful for supporting airway tissue resilience.
    4. Omega-3 fatty acids can,might be helpful for calming mucosal inflammation.
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Congenital Portosystemic Shunt

  • 1. Milk thistle (silymarin) can,might be helpful for supporting liver cellular function.
    2. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) can,might be helpful for reducing oxidative stress.
    3. Vitamin E can,might be helpful for antioxidant liver support.
    4. B-complex vitamins can,might be helpful for metabolic support.
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Hypoglycemia

  • 1. High-calorie dietary gel supplements (Nutri-Cal) can,might be helpful for acute energy support.
    2. Complex carbohydrates can,might be helpful for supporting blood glucose stability.
    3. Oral dextrose can,might be helpful for acute home stabilization.
    4. Honey can,might be helpful for acute home stabilization.
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Dental Disease

  • 1. Probiotics can,might be helpful for balancing oral microbiota.
    2. Plaque-reducing seaweed extracts (Ascophyllum nodosum) can,might be helpful for reducing plaque burden.
    3. Coenzyme Q10 can,might be helpful for tissue healing support.
    4. Vitamin C can,might be helpful for tissue healing support.
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