Hannah's Little Yorkies

Puppy Care

Hereditary
Hypoglycemia
Ear Tapping


Hereditary Problems

Every breed of dog has some sort of breed or type-specific disorder. Yorkie's in general are a trouble free breed, however here are a few of the health concerns to take into consideration:

1.) Legg-Perthes' Disease: Legg-Perthes Disease is the necrotic degeneration of the femoral head. What that means is the head of the femur (the part of the upper hind-leg bone that fits into the pelvis) crumbles for the cutoff in blood supply. This can be genetically transmitted or could be a result of trauma. The disease can come from either cause and an affected dog will begin to limp and develop progressively less use of the affected leg. Treatment is surgical removal of the damaged head and exercise regimen put in place by your veterinarian. This disease does not manifest itself until the puppy is 6 or 7 months old.

Luxating Patella: The patella is your dog's kneecap, the joint on the front of her hind leg. In a number of small breeds it will slide from it's normal position toward the inner leg. The most obvious symptom is limping. Luxating Patella could eventually lead to arthritis. The only permanent cure is surgical correction of the knee.

3.) Collapsing Trachea: The walls of the trachea, or windpipe becomes more flaccid as they age. The first sign of this condition is an occasional honking cough, especially with exertion and could come constant in later life. Breathing against the obstruction can result in chronic lung disease. The defect can sometimes be repaired with surgery and the cough controlled with medications.

4.) Portosystemic Shunt: This is a congenital malformation of the portal vein which brings blood to the liver for cleansing. The presence of the shunt means the blood either partially or completely by-passes the liver and the "dirty" blood goes on to poison the heart, brains, lungs and other organs. Symptoms vary widely can can include poor appetite, occasional vomiting and diarrhea, poor coordination, decreased ability to learn, seizures especially after eating, blindness, coma and death. Diagnosing portosystemic shunt is VERY difficult and the only cure is surgery. Not all shunts can be repaired, but early treatment offers the best chances.

All information above was obtained from the book: The Essential Yorkshire Terrier, pages 33 & 34.




Hypoglycemia:(Low Blood Sugar)

A big word for a BIG problem in tiny puppies. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) This is a disorder of the central nervous system and is a direct response to the lack of adequate food. "Dehydration" comes from lack of water. Hypoglycemia can occur without warning when a puppy goes to a new home, misses a meal, or doesn't eat full meals, becomes chilled, overtired, or exhausted from to much handling or playing. It occurs mostly in toy breeds, but it can also occur in the larger breeds as well. Signs to look for are depression, weakness, being wobbly or jerky, the head appears to be tilted to either the left or tight side, the neck appears stiff and in a locked position, the body may soon appear the same way, and the teeth may be clamped tightly together. Convulsions, seizures, or coma which can result in death! Remember, this is only a puppy. Compare it to an infant child, which requires extra care. You would not wake your baby up to show your friends or neighbors. So do not wake your puppy up, as it needs rest too. This is important to you puppy's health.

Treatment: Once a puppies sugar drops you must act fast!The blood levels of glucose must be restored IMMEDIATELY ! DO NOT HESITATE YOUR PUPPY"S LIFE IS AT RISK. Treatment by oral administration of certain glucose containing electrolyte fluids is very important. I use the Pet nutra-drops or Nutri-Cal, they give quick results and gets into the bloodstream within seconds with a 99% utilization rate. When given the usual dose is about 1/4cc per ounce of body weight. If you don't have that on hand, you may mix white Karo syrup with water and place on the puppies tongue with a dropper or just place some on your finger and rub on the puppies gums. Do not put excessive amounts in the puppy's mouth, as the puppy can choke. If the puppy does not improve within (10) ten minutes, contact your vet immediately!!! This is NOT something that can wait until the vet opens the following morning! I always recommend if you ever have any concerns, questions or worries don't hesitate to call your vet even if the puppy is doing better. Once a puppy as sugar drop, it is much more likely for him to have another episode. It can take weeks to build back up afterwards. Make sure you baby is eating and drinking OFTEN, first stages baby food beef, turkey or chicken can be fed, they think it�s "Tasty" or boil chicken and tear into bits if he won�t eat anything else!

Prevention: I add 1-2 teaspoons of honey or white Karo syrup to cool fresh drinking water everyday. Feed several times a day. Leave dry food out 24/7. Never feed you puppy chocolate, fried foods or milk. Do not allow your puppy to become over-chilled or tired. Let your puppy rest and become accustomed to his new home. Also, see more info on feeding tips under the puppy notes section.

Read this article several times and become familiar with it.Your puppy need your tender loving care. In return your puppy will give you a lifetime of love and enjoyment. Remember, your puppy depends on you completely!



Ears

Check the Ear Channel first, if there is any offensive odors, redness, or a reddish brown discharge, have your Vet look at them. All could be signs of infection, and need to be treated if so.

If there is hair in the channel, remove it by pulling it out with your fingers. Whether the hair is oily or not, using a plucking powder lightly will make it much easier to do. Note: Pull quickly, not slow.

Now for the outer ear you will use the Pocket Pro Wahl Clippers. Clip the excess hair on the inside of the ear leathers about 1/3rd way down. Then you'll clip the same amount on the back side but trimming the hair off in the shape of a V. With the Wahl clippers, it is even safe to go along the outer edge of the ear to finish it off neatly.





Tapeing Ears
For Down Ears


The most important thing to encourage ears to stand upright is keeping the excess hair trimmed. But, if they are not up by 6-7 weeks of age they should be supported. This method will work even with older pups, it may just take a longer period of time. If you purchased your puppy, the ears should have been up prior.

Cut three pieces of 2 inch masking tape in triangles, and lay them on top of one another. Use better quality tape, because the less expensive brands do not adhere as well. Place this so the adhesive side is next to the skin on the inter-ear leather. Next, cut a strip of tape approximately 3-4 inches long. This is centered on the "back side" of the ear, and the remainder is folded over the front, on top of your tape inserts. You may need to repeat this step, using two strips depending on ear length and weakness.

Leave these in place, checking or replacing them every 2-3 days. Sometimes the ears will be up in the first 2-3 days, others can take weeks, and some may never stand correctly depending on the breeding and ear type.









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