What to Feed

Yorkshire Terriers are notoriously fussy eaters, I raw feed all my dogs and puppies, when done properly it is the healthiest way to feed.

I started raw feeding because my first Yorkie Savvy was such a fussy eater, I would hand feed her a tiny biscuit at a time just trying to get her to eat. Once we introduced real meat she was away.

You should feed whatever works for you and your yorkie.

Dogs don't need artificial colours, flavors, wheat, beet pulp (please don't buy dry food with food colouring) & biscuits don't clean their teeth, dogs don't have a nutritional requirement for carbohydrates their bodies use protein & fats to metabolize energy.

Uncooked bones are an important part to raw feeding, providing minerals including calcium, magnesium, amino acids, fatty acids, Vitamins A, D & E as well as keeping your dogs teeth & gums healthy. Green Tripe is another important addition to their feeding routine

benefits include;

Boosts the immune system.
Assists in building healthy muscle.
Supports healthy skin and coat.
Is low allergenic.
Helps soothe gastrointestinal upsets.
Maintains and supports healthy digestion.

Yorkies/dogs often have food allergies, chicken & beef are the biggest culprits, this is more because of the hormones & antibiotics the chickens are fed & beef, there's a protein in beef some dogs are allergic to. Elimination diet is required to find the allergen.

My yorkshire terriers are thriving on wild proteins like Opossum, Goat, Hare, Rabbit & Venison. I do add pro & pre biotics & oils. A healthy pet has a healthy gut.

The age old question of when to desex; this is my opinion & I follow a holistic approach to my yorkies.

Dogs need the hormones to develop their bones, cartilag, ligaments and much more. For this reason I believe yorkies should not be desexed before 12 months and the later you leave it the better for the dogs development. A bitch should have at least her first heat & be fully grown while a dog should have both testes fully descended and fully grown, this is generally 1-2 years old. On the flip side for boys you want to neuter before any negative behaviors become habits.

If you can't keep your bitch safe from getting pregnant during her first heat you may need to look at getting her spayed.

If you want to show or breed that is something you will have to discuss with your breeder.

Desexing

Double Teeth Syndrome

Wondering how many teeth do Yorkies have? More than you!

Your Yorkie should have 28 primary or baby teeth then 42 permanent teeth.

The key word here is should. Yorkies are prone to something known as double teeth syndrome. This means your dog may have two of the same type of tooth at the same time. You will probably notice this when your Yorkie is teething, or around the age of 3 to 5 months. It will look like a second row of teeth behind the existing primary teeth. This can cause overcrowding and eventually teeth dyeing & rotting.

With some Yorkies, the primary teeth don’t fall out like they should. Instead, your Yorkie may end up with two sets of teeth — or just several “extra” teeth. The retained baby teeth will probably fall out on their own later or you can have them removed. Many vets recommend removing them when your puppy is spayed or neutered to prevent Yorkie dental problems.

If you don’t have the second teeth removed, you’ll need to be very diligent about brushing and cleaning your Yorkie’s teeth. The extra teeth make it easy for plaque to build up and contribute to dental decay, gum disease, and early tooth loss. The retained primary teeth are not as mineralized as the adult teeth, either; they are at a greater risk of fracturing even during regular chewing which can cause infection and pain.

Liver Shunt

Yorkshire Terriers are about 36 times more at risk of developing liver shunts than other breeds. Surgery is often the treatment of choice for most dogs with a liver shunt, as it can correct the underlying problem. The prognosis for dogs with liver shunts depends on a number of factors but is generally good when surgery is performed.

The most common clinical signs include;

Stunted growth, Failure to thrive
Poor muscle development,
Abnormal behaviors such as disorientation, staring into space, circling or head pressing,
Seizures.

Less common symptoms include drinking or urinating too much, vomiting, and diarrhea, fussy eating, low blood sugar.