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Yorkshire Terrier: breed overview
If you’re thinking of welcoming a Yorkie into your family, it’s worth familiarising yourself with their unique health needs to help you mitigate risks.Firstly, Yorkshire Terriers are one of the smallest dog breeds, with an average weight of 3 kgs and a standing height of around 20 cm.
Their diminutive size can make them susceptible to fractures and they’re generally more fragile than larger dog breeds, so you’ll need to stay watchful and always handle them with care.
The Yorkshire Terrier life expectancy is particularly long, with the average dog living for approximately fifteen years. This makes preventative health care and tailored nutrition especially important to a Yorkshire Terrier’s long-term wellbeing.
Dental sensitivity
The most frequent Yorkshire Terrier complaints are about mouth and teeth.A Yorkie’s jaw is incredibly small and when their adult teeth emerge at four months old, the milk teeth will frequently remain. This causes overcrowding within the mouth and the accumulation of food debris, which can lead to gum disease and the growth of bacteria. These bacteria can spread through the body and may ultimately damage the dog’s heart and liver.
To be proactive, clean your Yorkie’s teeth every day and feed them meals that have been specially designed to limit tartar build-up – such as Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Dry Food.
When your puppy is teething, check if any baby teeth are persisting as the adult teeth come through. If they are, visit your vet.\
Dislocating lens
If the lens within a dog’s eye becomes detached from its usual position, it can cause severe difficulties for them.The condition is known as lens luxation, and the primary form is an inherited defect that many terrier breeds are prone to. The symptoms vary depending on the type and extent of the dislocation, but you may see a change of appearance in the dog’s eye or clouding, inflammation, and squinting.
The condition is usually very painful, and it may result in blindness without immediate treatment.
A regular health check with your vet will enable them to identify any issues but if you have any concerns about your Yorkie's eyes or eyesight, consult a vet immediately.
Nutrition suitable for all ages
We know how important it is to make sure your puppy is being fed nutritious food, as the correct diet will support their health and wellbeing throughout their whole life. Which is why we have created a range of Breed Health products to meet the needs of Yorkshire Terriers. Learn more about the benefits of switching to a breed-specific range.
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