If there is one health issue that affects nearly every Yorkshire Terrier, it is dental disease. The Yorkie's tiny mouth creates severe crowding of the teeth, and retained deciduous (baby) teeth are extremely common. When baby teeth do not fall out on their own, they crowd against the permanent teeth, trapping food and creating pockets where bacteria thrive.

Check your Yorkie puppy's mouth regularly between four and seven months of age. If baby teeth are still present after the corresponding permanent teeth have erupted, your veterinarian should extract them. This is often done at the time of spaying or neutering to minimize the need for separate anesthetic events.

By two to three years of age, most Yorkshire Terriers already have some degree of periodontal disease. The progression from mild gingivitis to severe periodontitis with bone loss and tooth loss can be rapid in this breed. Dogs with advanced dental disease are often in chronic pain, though they may not show obvious signs. Subtle indicators include decreased appetite, preferring soft food, dropping food, bad breath, drooling, and behavioral changes like decreased playfulness.

Daily tooth brushing is the single most effective preventive measure. Use a small, soft-bristled brush or a finger brush designed for toy breeds, along with veterinary enzymatic toothpaste. Establish the brushing habit while your Yorkie is young, and make it a positive experience with praise and patience.

Professional dental cleanings under anesthesia are essential, often needed every year or even more frequently. During these cleanings, your veterinarian can perform full-mouth radiographs (dental X-rays) to evaluate the tooth roots and jawbone, identifying problems that are invisible on surface examination. Many Yorkies require extractions at some point in their lives, and while losing teeth sounds alarming, dogs do remarkably well after problematic teeth are removed. The relief from chronic pain often produces a noticeable improvement in energy and demeanor.

Tracheal collapse is a progressive condition in which the cartilage rings that hold the windpipe open begin to weaken and flatten. This causes the tracheal membrane to sag into the airway, producing a characteristic honking or goose-honk cough. The condition is particularly common in toy breeds, and Yorkshire Terriers are among the most frequently affected.

Symptoms typically begin in middle age and worsen gradually. The honking cough is often triggered by excitement, pulling on a leash, drinking water, or changes in temperature or humidity. As the condition progresses, exercise intolerance and labored breathing may develop. In severe cases, episodes of respiratory distress can become frightening and dangerous.

Weight management is critical. Even a small amount of excess weight increases pressure on an already compromised airway. Keep your Yorkie lean and trim. Use a harness exclusively rather than a collar to eliminate direct pressure on the trachea during walks.

Medical management includes cough suppressants (such as hydrocodone or butorphanol), bronchodilators, and short courses of anti-inflammatory medications during flare-ups. Environmental modifications also help: minimize exposure to cigarette smoke, strong perfumes, household chemicals, and very cold or very dry air. A humidifier can be beneficial in dry climates or during winter months when indoor heating dries the air.

For dogs with severe tracheal collapse that does not respond adequately to medical management, surgical placement of intraluminal stents or extraluminal tracheal rings can provide significant improvement. These procedures are performed by veterinary surgical specialists, and outcomes have improved substantially with advances in stent technology and surgical technique.

A portosystemic shunt (PSS), sometimes called a liver shunt, is a congenital condition in which blood bypasses the liver through an abnormal blood vessel. Because the liver normally filters toxins, produces essential proteins, and processes nutrients, a shunt allows toxins (particularly ammonia) to build up in the bloodstream and affect the brain and other organs.

Yorkshire Terriers have one of the highest breed predispositions for congenital portosystemic shunts. Symptoms often appear in puppies or young dogs and can include stunted growth (being smaller than littermates), poor muscle development, disorientation or "spaciness" especially after meals, circling, head pressing, seizures, excessive drooling, increased thirst and urination, and vomiting.

Diagnosis involves blood work (bile acid testing is particularly useful), urinalysis (looking for ammonium biurate crystals), and advanced imaging such as ultrasound, CT angiography, or nuclear scintigraphy to visualize the abnormal vessel.

Surgical correction is the treatment of choice for most single extrahepatic shunts, which is the type most commonly seen in Yorkies. The surgeon gradually closes the shunting vessel, redirecting blood flow through the liver. Many dogs experience dramatic improvement and go on to live normal lives after successful surgery. Medical management with a restricted-protein diet, lactulose (to reduce ammonia absorption from the gut), and antibiotics can stabilize dogs before surgery or manage those that are not surgical candidates.

Because PSS can present with vague, intermittent symptoms, it is sometimes misdiagnosed or overlooked. If your young Yorkie seems smaller than expected, is slow to house-train, has episodic confusion or behavioral oddities especially after eating, or fails to thrive, ask your veterinarian about testing for a liver shunt.

Patellar luxation is extremely common in Yorkshire Terriers. The kneecap slips out of its groove, causing an intermittent skipping gait or momentary three-legged hop before the dog shakes the leg and walks normally. Low-grade luxation may not require treatment, but dogs with frequent luxation or significant lameness benefit from surgical correction to prevent long-term joint damage and arthritis.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a significant concern in Yorkie puppies and in very small adult Yorkies (those under four pounds). Toy breed puppies have minimal body fat reserves and high metabolic rates, making them vulnerable to dangerous drops in blood sugar if they miss a meal, become chilled, or are stressed. Symptoms include weakness, trembling, disorientation, staggering, and in severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness. Feed Yorkie puppies small, frequent meals throughout the day, and always have a source of quick sugar (such as corn syrup or honey) available for emergencies.

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a condition in which the blood supply to the femoral head (the ball of the hip joint) deteriorates, causing the bone to die and collapse. It typically affects puppies between five and eight months of age, causing progressive hind-leg lameness. Surgical removal of the damaged femoral head (femoral head osteotomy) has excellent outcomes in small breeds, and most dogs return to full activity.

Eye conditions including cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy have been documented in the breed. Regular veterinary eye exams can catch developing problems early.

Yorkies can also develop a condition called protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), which causes chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and low blood protein levels. This condition requires thorough diagnostic workup and specialized dietary and medical management. If your Yorkie has persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, pursue a thorough evaluation rather than assuming a simple "sensitive stomach."