Picture taken from www.whynotad.com
What do you need to know about Yorkie allergies.
You could say that overall, well-bred Yorkshire Terriers are typically very healthy dogs, even with their diminutive size.
However often Teacup Yorkies, which are a very small version of the standard and toy Yorkshire Terriers are more likely to have serious health problems.
All sizes of Yorkie dogs can develop health problems, many which are similar to other small, medium and even large breeds of dogs.
Working with reputable Yorkie breeders is the best possible way to minimize the risk of disease or genetic problems with Yorkie dogs.
It is still important for all owners to ensure that their Yorkie dogs have routine yearly vet checks and vaccinations to ensure they are healthy and detect any medical conditions at an early stage.
One of the problems reported by many owners of Yorkie dogs includes skin, respiratory and food allergies.
These allergies can be controlled by medications, changes in the environment and changes in diet.
Yorkie breeders should always be informed if any Yorkshire Terriers from their kennel start to exhibit any signs of allergies, as this will need to be monitored in future breeding programs.
Yorkie dogs have a true hair coat, much like human hair. They do not have the furry and wooly undercoat that many breeds have, so they are less susceptible to skin conditions and allergies than many other breeds.
The longer, silky hair allows good air circulation against the skin, minimizing the risk of secondary bacterial infections that can develop when moisture from lesions caused by scratching is trapped against the skin in double-coated dogs.
Yorkie dogs are still, however, capable of having skin allergies, food allergies or respiratory allergies.
Careful monitoring of the food, environment and activities that the dog is doing can help determine what your dog is allergic to.
IN YORKIE DOGS ALLERGIES ARE USUALLY NOTED AS:
* Constant scratching, licking or biting at the skin or hair. This can be on any part of the body but is often noted on the legs, feet and on the belly and flanks. It is likely that these areas are most accessible to be scratched or licked, so this is where the lesions become most pronounced.
* Rubbing their heads constantly against objects. This is often seen in Yorkie dogs in rubbing their heads and faces against their bedding or the carpet. Often in very small Teacup Yorkies this behavior is mistaken for snuggling in and owners may misunderstand that this is a response to an irritant.
* Hair loss across the body. For Yorkie dogs the hair loss may be in small patches or it may be in larger areas, depending on how much the skin is itching and how much the dog is scratching and biting. Yorkshire Terriers tend to be rather strong willed and will often sneak away to lick and scratch if they are corrected for the behavior.
* Hot spots on the skin. These are literally inflamed looking areas that will quickly develop into oozing crusty lesions. Often the lesions are then infected by bacteria, further contributing to the hair loss and heat produced in the area.
* Dry, red or flaky patches on the skins surface. Since the Yorkie dog’s skin can be easily seen by parting the longer hair, routine checking of the skin during grooming or bathing is strongly advised. The Yorkie dog’s skin may be flaky or red in small or large patches across the body.
If you notice any of these symptoms on Yorkshire Terriers, try checking to see if any changes have occurred in the dog’s food or environment.
If you have started using any new grooming products including shampoo, conditioner or dry cleaners immediately discontinue use.
The products may not be directly applied to the dog; rather they could just be in the area.
For example, some carpet shampoos or spray air deodorants can cause allergic reactions.
Remember that Yorkshire Terriers and Teacup Yorkies tend to be very close to humans and often on furniture, so perfumes or cleaning supplies can easily be the problem.
Check for any changes or additions to the Yorkie dog’s diet. Eliminate any scraps or treats and then gradually reintroduce items to determine when the reaction starts to occur again.
Your Vet can prescribe allergy pills or shots to help with seasonal type allergies or overall allergic reactions.
See your vet as soon as possible to prevent any bacterial or viral infections from developing from the constant scratching or hot spot areas.
Yorkie dogs that are scratching continually may need to wear an Elizabethan collar.
Antibacterial creams and antihistamine topical applications may be required to clear up any skin conditions that have become infected or irritated.