Most toy breeds suffer from some kind of genetic defect or another. In fact, except for a few naturally occurring small breeds, most other breeds have several breed-specific health problems. The Yorkshire terrier is not immune to this and has several genetic problems. Some of the most common are listed below.

Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome – this is a problem where the upper part of the dog’s femur will start to disintegrate very slowly. It is usually due to inadequate blood circulation in that area which causes the bone to die. The usual symptoms of this disease are lameness or lameness. There is no alternative but to perform surgery to remove the affected part of the bone. This will result in that leg being shorter than the other, but will restore almost normal mobility for the dog.

Patella dislocation – This condition is also called patella slippage, where the kneecaps do not sit properly in the patellar groove, either because it is too shallow or because the tendons and ligaments that hold the knee in place are too weak. This results in the kneecap sliding to one side and the use of the leg is lost. This problem may manifest itself only occasionally or more frequently, depending on the severity of the problem. Most dogs do not consider this to be a problem and can handle it, although they will tend to favor the leg that has this problem. In severe cases, surgery can be done, but the success rate is not that high. The easiest way to tell if your dog has this problem is to bend the leg while feeling the knee. If you feel like it is slipping then you know what the problem is.

Distichiae eyelashes – This is a condition where the eyelash grows from a spot that usually has no eyelashes, such as a tear duct or the edge of the eye. This is more irritating to the dog than a health problem and will lead to constant tearing and inflammation of the eye. In some cases, it can lead to abrasions and corneal ulcers. You can try plucking the offending lash manually, and if it doesn’t solve the problem, you can take your dog to the vet to have it removed using electrolysis.

It is important that you understand the health conditions and the implications of them before committing to owning and raising a Yorkie.