YORKIE KNOWLEDGE BASE


Dental Care

Toy dogs need extra vigilance in tooth care throughout their lives. They are more prone to tooth problems and tooth loss than are large dogs, probably because their teeth tend to be more crowded and their roots are comparatively shallower.

Dental care starts in puppy hood by getting the puppy used to having its mouth examined and teeth brushed. Start by just rubbing the teeth gently with your finger. When your dog is an adult you can graduate to a small dog toothbrush, which is curved to more easily reach the dog's teeth. Meat-flavored dog toothpaste helps your dog enjoy the process. Brushing your dog's teeth daily is one of the best things you can do for his well-being. Dry food and dental chewables are only minimally helpful at removing plaque. Prescription dog food that will decrease tartar accumulation is available.

Tooth plaque and tartar contribute to bad breath and health problems. If not removed, plaque will attract bacteria and minerals, which will harden into tartar. Plaque can cause infections to form along the gum line and then spread root ward causing irreversible, periodontal disease with tissue, bone and tooth loss. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream and cause infection in the kidneys and heart valves. Some dogs tend to accumulate plaque more readily than others, and some dogs simply will not cooperate enough to keep their teeth clean. Your dog's teeth may have to be cleaned under anesthesia as often as once or even twice a year if you do not brush them adequately. Choose very carefully who you let anesthetize your Yorkie. Make sure they are experienced with small dogs. My personal suggestion is to not have to go this route by taking as good of care of your Yorkies teeth as you do your own. Giving your dog hard treats is one way to reduce tarter build up. Greenies are good but you must always watch carefully to make sure choking does not occur. Nyla-Bones are good also but are not digestible. My favorite is Cow Hooves and is usually available at any Pet store. Denta-Bones are digestible and give the teeth an extra good workout BUT must NOT be given until 6 months of age!

The above is an excerpt from the Yorkshire Terrier Handbook written by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.. This book contains an abundance of information for new Yorkie owners. You can purchase this book at your local Borders Book Store. Make teeth touching a part of all play and petting time so that it becomes a natural feeling for your Yorkies teeth to be cleaned. You should also check daily for hair caught on teeth especially if your Yorkie wears a long coat.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a disorder of the central nervous system caused by low blood sugar. It occurs most often in small, young stressed, or active dogs, such as Yorkie puppies. These dogs aren't able to store enough readily available glucose, so when the available glycogen {the form in which the body stores glucose} is depleted, the body begins to break down energy stored in fat. Small puppies have little subcutaneous fat, however, so that energy is soon depleted. When that happens , the brain, which depends on glucose-derived energy to function, ceases to function properly. Signs such as appetite and coordination may appear suddenly. Left untreated, the condition can worsen until the dog has seizures, loses consciousness and dies. A Yorkie puppy under the age of 7 months should not go more than 4 hours without eating. Because this is seldom practical in the middle of the night, they should be kept warm and confined at night so that they don't expend a lot of energy playing and barking.

Meals should be fairly high in protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates slow the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugars, which should lead to more
efficient utilization. Avoid semi-moist foods because of their high sugar content, as well as other simple sugars such as syrup unless your dog is already showing signs of hypoglycemia.

If you suspect that your dog is having a hypoglycemia episode, immediately feed him a food high in sugar content such as corn syrup even honey {Karo syrup is recommended}. If the dog can't eat, rub syrup on his gums and the root of his mouth, but don't try to put anything down his throat because he could choke. Keep hi warm. You should see improvement within 2 minutes; use this time to alert your veterinarian that you are bringing him in immediately for treatment, possibly with intravenous glucose. After he is stronger and can swallow, it's important to immediately give him a small high-protein meal, such as beef or chicken baby food.

Hypoglycemia is mostly a problem of puppies {it maybe related to immaturity of liver cells}, and most Yorkies will outgrow it by the time they reach about 7 months of age. All Yorkie owners should be aware of the symptoms and treatments for the entire life of their dog, however, especially in times of stress. Feed your Yorkie, especially your young Yorkie, regular, frequent meals.

The above information is an excerpt from the Yorkshire Terrier Handbook. This book is written by D Caroline Colle, PH.D. and will guide you in acquiring your new Yorkie as well as Care and Feeding, Grooming and Training, Health Care and Understanding Yorkie behavior. This book can be obtained at Borders Book Store.

It is my experience that a puppy properly taken care of will never exhibit this condition. I never ship any puppy with signs of hypoglycemia. Before buying any new puppy this is a subject that should be discussed. Find out if the puppy has a history of Hypoglycemia. Extra care is to be taken with any puppy but 24 hour monitoring is required for a puppy who has this disposition.

. The regular diet I would suggest to feed any puppy displaying hypoglycemic symptoms would be a mixture of totally melted cottage cheese mixed with Hills Prescription diet A/D, goats milk, and Beech Nut Stage 1 Rice cereal for babies. This may need to be administered with a feeding syringe. Nutri-Cal is not to prevent seizures and should only be used when one occurs.

Keeping Your Yorkie Healthy

After extensive research with different types of vitamins we have decided the NuVet -- http://www.nuvet.com is the best vitamin supplement choice for all our puppies and adult dogs. With the daily use of these vitamins and yearly vet visits for proper vaccinations, your puppy will live a much healthier and longer lifestyle. We are so serious about this vitamin regimen that we have now added it to all our health guarantees.

Allergies, skin and coat problems, arthritis, tumors, cancer, strokes, and heart disease are just a few of the 50 major diseases caused by free radicals. Unfortunately, these lead to suffering and premature death in our pets. The Veterinarians ,Physicians, Pharmacist, and Nutritional Scientist of NuVet Labs have blended a precise combination of human grade, natural vitamins, minerals, herbs, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, fatty acids and amino acids proven to combat the ravages of free radicals and to provide immune system support. Puppies and kittens to senior dogs and cats should start on the path of disease protection today.

Because of the variety and quality of dog foods available (and all canine illness' are NOT covered by vaccinations), we require that all SeaSide Yorkies be kept on “NuVet Plus Canine.” This nutritional supplement is only available through breeder recommendation. You are expected to have this on hand before your puppy gets home. The order line phone number is: 1-800-474-7044. Your order code is # 42256 The order line hours are 8am-6pm Pacific time. NuVet Labs sends us a monthly report on which puppies from SeaSide Yorkies are being supplemented with NuVet Plus Canine.

NOTE: ALL HEALTH guarantees will be considered null and void if you do not keep your pet on a dietary supplement.

Litter Box training or Housebreaking?
The Secret to Successful

House Training

Puppies pee, and poop - a lot and often. If you've never lived with a puppy, you'd be amazed by the number of times the little fur balls need to go potty. Every hour or two, they start sniffing and circling, looking for a place to do their business. If owners aren't watchful, accidents can frequently happen.

Not surprisingly, house training is the first lesson new owners want to teach their pups, and rightfully so: House-training is the foundation for good behavior. Without it, dogs can't become members of the family, and they run the risk of being exiled to the backyard, never getting the attention and social interaction that they need and deserve.

Happily, the secrets to successful house-training are simple: Time, patience, consistency and supervision are all that's needed. Puppies are quick learners. A regular potty schedule, combined with praise for going in the right spot, and they'll soon get the idea. Dogs are naturally clean animals, and they don't want to soil their living area. House-training teaches dogs that the house is the living area and the yard { or whatever spot you choose} is the potty area.

If you are planning on litter box training your pup the best way is to get them paper trained first in the area you will be placing the litter box. When your puppy is big enough to get in the litter box you can replace the papers with the box. I suggest this method for all small dogs and especially if you live in a high rise or any living quarters that is not easily attainable to the outdoors. Remember to always use a praise the same every time. Keep tiny treats in your pocket so you can reward him the instant he's through eliminating {don't interrupt him before he's finished}. Make sure to have playtime soon after this so he associates this with doing good potty habits.

Start out in a small area with paper in one area. As he or she learns that the paper is the proper place to go you can expand the area. Remember, the first thing in the morning your puppy will need to eliminate so take this chance to place her where you expect her to go whether it be outside or on the paper.

I work with all the puppies everyday going to the bathroom on newspapers. I find that they just want to play with the pee-pee pads that can be bought at any pet store because they have a plastic backing, however, they do prevent the urine from penetrating to the floor.

When you first bring your puppy home immediately place newspaper in a small area where puppy will be staying until he is ready to be introduced to the rest of the home. When he or she starts sniffing and or maybe going around in circles. This is a for sure sign that it is bathroom time. Take the puppy and place him on the newspapers until he eliminates. Then praise he or she highly and offer a SMALL treat such as a piece of Captain Crunch cereal. Do not use liver treats until your puppy has matured this can cause Coccidia . It has been my experience that a small treat with peanut butter works well. Since it is not easy to carry around peanut butter I suggest the cereal. At any rate a high verbal praise may be all that is needed.

When you have puppy familiar with the location at which you want he or she to use you can expand the area in which you allow puppy to roam. Keeping a close eye out for the sniffing and circling so as to prevent any accidents which must be cleaned thoroughly with vinegar to cancel out the scent so your puppy is not tempted to go in this spot again. When your puppy is having no problem finding the newspaper or pee-pee pad you should start to move it towards the door that you want he or she to exit thru to go potty. When puppy is totally sure of the location to go at you will have he or she going to the door and you can move the paper outside. There you have accomplished housebreaking.

Some of the information for this page was collected from a Simple Solutions "House-Training", by Kim Campbell Thornton and can be purchased at any PetSmart store.

Ear Taping

The ears of most Yorkies will stand upright by 6 to 8 weeks of age, but some take a little longer and some need a little help. Larger ears will usually have more difficulty standing, but don't give up--at least not until he's 6 months old. You can help train ears to stand by giving them some support. Begin by carefully shaving away the hair on the top third or half of the ears. both front and back. Be very careful. Next use masking tape to tape the ears so that they are folded in on themselves vertically and come to a point at the top. It will take a few tries before you it tight enough to withstand his pawing at it, but not so tight that it cuts off his circulation. Err on the side of too loose and plan on doing it again--and again. You may also tape the two taped ears together so that they stand up right. Remove the tape after 3 days {or anytime it gets wet} If the ears are standing, leave them alone. If not, tape again . Continue until they remain standing.

Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal collapse is most common in very small breeds, and it's not known if it's hereditary or a byproduct of small size. However, it would seem prudent not to breed a dog with tracheal collapse and to disclose any affected relatives of any dog considered for breeding. The trachea, or windpipe, is a flexible tube made of a series of cartilage rings. In some dogs the cartilage isn't as rigid as it should be. Many dogs with abnormal cartilage can live years, perhaps their entire lives, without the condition progressing to tracheal collapse. Obesity, inhalation of irritants or allergens, respiratory infection, enlarged heart and endotracheal intubation may precipitate the actual collapse. When the rings collapse, the trachea flattens, obstructing the airway. If the collapse is in the chest region, problems are more likely when the dog breathes out or coughs. Coughing further irritates and weakens the trachea, worsening the condition.

Coughing is the major symptom. The cough, a harsh "goose honk" type of sound, occurs mostly during the day and is associated with excitement, pressure to the throat, or eating and drinking. In severe cases, the dog may show symptoms of lack of oxygen, including fainting and a bluish tinge to the gums. Radiographs and ultrasound can be used for an initial diagnosis. Treatment is usually aimed at controlling symptoms. Weight reduction of obese dogs can be rewarding. Use a harness instead of a collar to lessen pressure on the dog's throat. Humidifying the air, especially in dry climates, is beneficial. The environment should be free of inhaled irritants, especially cigarette smoke. Affected dogs should not be stressed, or vigorously exercised because panting can cause breathing difficulties. They must be kept free of respiratory diseases. Cough suppressants should be used to reduce irritation to the trachea. The use of bronchodilators is somewhat controversial and is more likely in extreme cases. Glucosamine and Vitamin C supplementation may help strengthen cartilage, although their efficacy has not been demonstrated.

In severe cases, surgery to support the trachea using prosthetic supports may be the best option, but it is not always successful. It may be more rewarding in younger dogs and those cases involving the trachea in the neck region. Researchers are still working to develop better procedures, so if you are contemplating surgery, you need to consult with a veterinary surgeon who is abreast of the latest developments in this field, and who has experience with these surgeries.

This is an excerpt from the Yorkshire Terrier Handbook written by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.. This book can be acquired at your local Borders Book store. This book contains an abundance of knowledge on the breed and many tips on raising your new puppy.

 

Floating Patella

Petellar luxation occurs when the patella, or kneecap, slips out of place. As the knee moves, the patella normally glides up and down along the trochlear groove of the femur (thigh bone). But if that groove is too shallow, or if the quadriceps muscle that helps hold it in place exerts too much rotational pull, the patella can occasionally ride over the ridge of the trochlear groove when the knee moves.

When the patella is out of place (luxated) it usually can't return to its normal position until the quadraceps muscle relaxes, which causes the leg to straighten at the knee. The dog will often hop for a few steps with the leg held straight forward until the patella pops back into place. As the patella pops over the ridge of the trochlear groove, it may hurt, so some dogs may yelp. sometimes the patella may not pop back into place on its own. Four grades of patellar luxation severity are described.

*Grade 1: The dog may occasionally skip, holding one hind leg forward for a step or two. The patella usually stays in place unless it is manually shifted out of position. It returns to its correct position easily

*Grade 2: The dog often holds the affected leg up when running or walking, but the patella usually slides back into position by itself. When the leg is manipulated it has a grinding feeling.

*Grade 3: The patella is permanently out of position. Even when the patella is manually placed back in position, it doesn't stay long. The dog will sometimes us the affected leg.

*Grade 4: The patella is always out of position and cannot be replaced manually. The dog never puts weight on the leg.

Petellar luxation can occur in one or both hind legs, and the patella canbe displaced toward the inside or outside. In the Yorkshire Terrier is almost always displaced toward the inside, which gives the leg a bowed appearance. It's usually present by 4 to 6 months of age, although the symptoms may go unnoticed for several years. It gets gradually worse with age because every time the patella pops out of position it stretches the surrounding tissues that are needed to hold down the edge of the trochlear groove. The abnormal wear can lead to arthritic changes, which is one reason it's important to implement treatment early.

You may be able to slow the progress of Grade 1 or 2 luxation by keeping the dog at a trim weight, by building the muscles of the rear with steady, moderate exercise such as walking ( especially up hills), and perhaps by giving glucosamine supplements. Surgery to reconstruct the soft tissue surrounding the patella may provide permanent relief if done in these early stages. Many veterinarians consider surgery for Grades 1 or 2 and possibly 3, to be overkill, however, pointing out the discomfort, expense, and possible arthritic aftereffects of such surgery.

The above information is an excerpt from The Yorkshire Terrier Handbook written by D. Caroline, Ph.D. . This book holds an abundance of valuable information for the Yorkie owner. It can be purchased at your local Borders Book store.

Liver Shunt & Acid Bile Testing - CLICK HERE for info!


Coccidia

Coccidia is an intestinal protozoa [one celled organism} that multiply in the intestinal tracts of dogs and puppies not to mention cats and kittens as well usually less than 6 months of age. It usually occurs when there is stress present or food is changed. It can also be a signal of other disease being present. Change in ownership can cause it to appear as well.

The primary sign of coccidia is diarrhea. It may be a mild case or could be severe. Blood and mucous may be found in the stool, especially in advanced cases.

A routine fecal test, which is almost always done at an initial puppy examination, is a good idea for any new puppy whether there are signs of diarrhea or not as many puppies commonly have the parasites. There is a medication to treat this condition called Albon. Your puppy may arrive with a supply if stool is in any way soft before leaving for his or her new home. A typical treatment course last about a week or two but it is important to realize that the medication should be given until the diarrhea is gone plus a couple of more days. Medication should be given for at least five days total. Sometimes courses as long as a month are needed.

The Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner

My life is likely to last 10 to15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.

Give me time to understand what you want of me.

Place your trust in me - it is crucial for my well being.

Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only your voice when it is speaking to me

Be aware that however you treat me I'll never forget it.

Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bit you.

Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've bee our in the sun too long , or my heart my be getting old and weak.

Take care of me when I get old, You too will grow old.

Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say "I can't bear to watch it" or, "Let it happen in my absence" Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, I Love You