Yorkshire Terrier health: what owners should know

Loose kneecaps, dental disease and a weak, collapsing windpipe are the problems Yorkie owners hear about most. Some lines also carry a liver blood vessel problem called a portosystemic shunt, a hip condition in young dogs called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and inherited eye disease. Responsible breeders have the parents' knees and eyes examined and can explain what health checks sit behind each litter.

Good habits help a great deal: a harness, daily tooth brushing, ramps instead of jumps from furniture and a lean body weight. See your vet if your dog develops a honking cough that keeps returning, skips or holds up a back leg, loses appetite, or if a puppy grows poorly or behaves strangely after eating.