Luxating Patella

A joint problem in which the knee cap (Patella) moves in a groove on the low end of the femur.  Sometimes the groove isn't deep enough and the then cap pops out usually to the inside of the joint.  This can affect one or both legs and is worsened if your pet is over weight.  Signs of possible patella problems are hoping or skipping motion done on the affected hing legs, this can be noticeable in pups that are only a few months old.  This can also be brought on by allowing your puppy to jump off of furniture, rough housing that puppies do when playing or it can be inherited from the dam or sire.  There are surgical procedures now that can help to correct this problem if it is caught in time.  You should ask your vet to check your puppies knees during the health check, if there are problems contact your breeder.

Tracheal Collapse

A collapsed trachea is rarely an issue in younger dogs. Most dogs with tracheal health issues develop problems around six or seven years of age.  Why tracheal collapse occurs is unknown, although a congenital abnormality is suspected, injury to the throat is also a common cause such as yanking on a collar around the dogs neck.  Playing tug of war where the dog shakes the toy side to side can also cause damage.  Signs of Tracheal Collapse are: A raspy or  honking cough, exercise intolerance, labored breathing and a bluish tinge to the gums. The cough and other signs may be provoked by excitement, eating, drinking, tracheal irritants (smoke or dust), obesity, exercise and hot and humid weather.  Most cases of tracheal collapse are treated with cough suppressants, bronchodilators, corticosteroids and/or antibiotics.  Weight loss helps decrease respiratory effort in dogs who are over weight.  Mild cases can sometimes be treated but severe cases will require surgery.

Liver Shunts

A liver shunt is a blood vessel that carries blood around the liver instead of through it. In some animals a liver shunt is a birth defect ("congenital portosystemic shunt). In others, multiple small shunts ("acquired portosystemic shunts") form because of severe liver disease such as cirrhosis.  Because the blood bypasses the liver in dogs with shunts, toxins may build up in the bloodstream or kidneys. Because the blood bypasses the liver in dogs with shunts, toxins may build up in the bloodstream or kidneys.  Signs are often seen at a young age and can include stunted growth, poor muscle development, behavioral problems (circling, disorientation, unresponsiveness, staring into space, head pressing), seizures, and quiet demeanor. Other less common signs include drinking or urinating too much, apparent blindness, diarrhea, and vomiting.  Some dogs won't show signs of a liver shunt until they get older and start having problems with their bladder and kidneys.  Dogs with congenital liver shunts usually have low blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and albumin concentrations. They may be slightly anemic or have red blood cells that are smaller than normal. They also can have increases in liver enzymes ("AST", "ALT"). Their urine may be dilute or infected and contain small spiky crystals.  If you suspect your dog has any of the signs mentioned here contact your veterinary and have test done.  Sometimes it can be controlled with a proper diet prescribed by your vet or surgery may be the answer.

Reverse Sneezing

This causes the back of the throat to go into spasms, the dog will find it hard to take in air during these spasms and will just stand there with his/her  neck stretched out in a bull legged stance and makes a honking sound, wheezes or snorts.  These spasms will stop once the animal swallows a few times.  Things you can do to help your pet through this are:

1. Plug the nostrils with your fingers causing the animal to breath through the mouth for a few seconds.

2. Gently rub the throat helping the animal to swallow.

3. Carry the animal outside into the fresh air.

a. Reverse sneezing can be a lot like a collapsed trachea so knowing ways that might help you know the difference can be very helpful.

Reversed Sneezing:  snorting sounds are made when excited or after eating, turns the elbows out with stretched neck gasping inwards.

b. Collapsed Trachea: Sometimes breaths through the mouth, breathes with a raspy sound or coughs reflexively when the throat is gently rubbed.  The cough is one or two explosive outward bursts as if trying to force air through typically with a gag or empty retch.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is brought on by Bacteria not viruses that impairs renal (kidney) function and may result in kidney failure.  Clinical signs include vomiting, impaired vision and convulsions.  The disease is transmitted by contact with the urine of infected animals or by contact with objects that have been contaminated with the urine of an infected animal.  Protection is provided by the Leptospirosis vaccine.  There are two types of this disease, both types can cause disease in dogs and can be spread to humans.

Leptospira Canicola: Spread mainly in the urine of other infected dogs.

Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae: Is spread by rats.

Be sure and discuss this with your veterinarian, while it is a very serious disease the vaccine for it has had the most frequent reports of severe anaphylactic shock whic could cause your dog to stop breathing and even die.  Severe reactions are commonly seen in puppies and small breed dogs.  Be sure to take the time to compare the risk/benefit factor before you jump into the vaccination with small breeds.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas,  Any dog can get pancreatitis however Yorkshires have a greater risk of the disease than many of the other breeds.  It is usually brought on when a dog eats high fat content fool such as greasy table scraps.

Signs:  This is a very serious and sometimes life threatening disease with a very low mortality rate of 20 to 25%.  The dog may show signs of abdominal pain, loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and depression.

Treatment:  The dogs digestive tract needs complete rest, IV fluids and no food or water orally for several days.  Then water and food will be offered slowly until no flare-up occurs.  Once a dog has had pancreatitis the chances are likely that it will happen again if you are not very careful.

Progessive Retinal Atrophy

This is a disease that causes blindness in dogs, Yorkie's have a higher that average rate of later onset PRA which usually happens after the age of seven.  This is a hereditary disease, and all dogs that are to used for breeding should be checked for this disease.  

Signs:  Gradual vision loss, usually starts with difficulty seeing at nigh, difficulty adjusting from light to dark places.  Bumping into things around the house or climbing the stairs.

Treatment:  At this time there is no known treatment for PRA however, most dogs are able to adjust well and go on to lead wonderful lives.  There is hope that in the future a genetic test will become available to screen for this disease.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia otherwise known as low blood sugar is most common in puppies between the ages of six to twelve weeks old.  Most small dogs out grow this around the age of seven months however, the smaller dogs tend to have the problem throughout their lives.

Signs: These episodes can be brought on by stress, poor diet or not eating, chills or playing to hard for lengthy periods.  The puppy may stagger, seem depressed or act disoriented.  If not caught in time it can leave your puppy in a coma or may even lead to the death of the puppy.

Treatment:  Corn syrup, honey or nutrical can be place in the dog's mouth, this will usually bring the dog around within ten to fifteen minutes.  If your dog is prone to repeated episodes this can lead to more severe complications.  Talk with your vet to find the best diet to aid in keeping the sugar level up.

Canine Bordetellosis (Kennel Cough)

Bordetellosis is caused by bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica which is present in the respiratory tracts of many animals.  It is a primary cause of kennel cough which results in a severe chronic cough.  In addition to the cough some dogs develop a nasal discharge. Transmission often occurs by contact with the nasal secretions of infected dogs.  Vaccination is usually done by use of a nasal spray, there are several effective schedules and methods for administering the vaccine.  Your vet will choose the schedule that is best for your dog.

Canine Parainfluenza

Pareainfluenza is caused by a virus which produces a mild respiratory tract infection, it is often associated with other respiratory tract viruses.  In combination these viruses are usually transmitted by contact with the nasal secretions of infected dogs.  The vaccine to protect against this disease may be combined with other vaccines to offer a broader protection.

Retinal Dysplasia

This is a condition where the retina has congenital malformation of the retina which may be caused from trama, a genetic defect or damage caused by a viral infection, most are inherited.  Heritable retinal dysplasia is the most common form and has been described in many breeds of dogs.

Signs:  Some dogs will show no outward signs and it may not be found unless an exam is done.  Severly effected dogs and puppies can be partially or totally blind.

Causes:  Most cases are inherited, prenatal infections with herpes virus and parvo viru, radiation exposure, toxins and trama can also lead to retinal dysplasia.

Treatment:  There is no known treatment for this disease.  The only way to cure it is to make sure that adults with RD are not bred. Dogs used for breeding should be tested before being bred and then yearly tests done after that.

Seborrheic Dematitis

This is common in dogs and is more of a symptom that a disease, it can be dry (seborrehea secca) or oily (seborrehea oleosa) different shampoos are used depending on the type of seborrehea.  Most cases it is caused from a secondary skin disease, identification is important to be able to treat the problem.  In some cases the scaling is primary and the puppy is born with a defect of keratinization. In these cases, the problem is evident at a young age, Usually less than one year old.  The ears are usually effected as much as the rest of the body.  Topical and systemic therapy (retinoids) to normalize the turn over of epethelial cells.

Hypothyroidism

This is one of the most common hormonal conditions to effect dogs and typically effects middle aged dogs.  Many of the causes for this condition are still unknown.  The only known cause is when the immune system destroys the cells.  In most cases the first sign is loss of hair which isn't caused by any other skin condition through testing.  Other syptoms include: lethargy, weight loss, muscle loss and the tendency to seek warmth.  Hypothryroidism is not life threatening but, it can effect the quality of life a pet leads and shorten their life span.  Treatment is seldom sought since it is often just given to the aging process of the animal.  This is an inherited condition and effects more than 50 different breeds of dogs.