How many years do Yorkshire terriers live and what does it depend on?

Yorkshire Terriers are great friends and allies. Their longevity depends on many factors, including the quality of food, the regularity of walks, and the care of the owner. It is in the power of the dog breeder to increase the life of his pet if he regularly visits the veterinarian and monitors his health.

The small Yorkshire Terrier can live long when it is well cared for. There are several factors that affect a dog's lifespan:

• quality of food;
• heredity;
• the presence of chronic diseases;
• care.

Often the owners themselves are to blame for the fact that the terrier dies faster. The whole reason is negligence, lack of attention to the needs of the animal. Other animals can easily harm the dog, just like the person himself. Yorkies cannot jump from great heights, because their bodies are not adapted to this, as a result, internal organs suffer.

At puppyhood and a little older, the terrier can play with houseplants, most of which are poisonous. Small objects are also one of the most common causes of premature death of an animal. It costs nothing for a dog to swallow a small object, and it is difficult to save it in such a situation.

Puppies sometimes die from infectious diseases such as:

• plague;
• parvovirus;
• leptospirosis.

Respiratory disease such as tracheal collapse caused by a neck injury can cause premature death in an adult dog. The collar is not suitable for this breed, experts advise using a harness.

Cancer tumors affect not only humans but also animals. Yorkshire Terriers are more likely to suffer from cancer of the lymph nodes and bones. This disease significantly shortens life expectancy.

Sometimes even an experienced dog breeder is unable to recognize a congenital disease, much less prevent its occurrence. Hydrocephalus, dislocated patella and other diseases prevent the dog from living to a ripe old age.

Most of the problems arise with the teeth, so you need to monitor them from an early age. In puppies, polydenty is often observed, when the teeth grow in two rows - milk and molars. This deviation leads to the appearance of malocclusion and calculus.

Yorkies are a breed susceptible to ear disease... A small draft is enough for the animal to catch a cold. That is why experienced breeders recommend additionally dressing your pet outside, preventing hypothermia. Even if the dog gets wet, it is imperative to dry the coat at home.

Often you have to deal with the problem of the appearance of ear mites. Small breeds carry the disease more severely than others. The best solution to the problem is going to the vet.

By breed, Yorkies suffer from eyes. The most common diseases:

• exfoliation;
• dysplasia;
• dry eye syndrome;
• glaucoma;
• cataract;
• degeneration.

The physical characteristics of the skeleton also influenced the life span of the animal. The main cause of most ailments is the fragile skeleton of the animal. Numerous fractures, dislocations - all this is the result of a lack of caution on the part of a person and not only. Such a miniature pet needs to be protected especially carefully, and if lameness appears, then immediately take it to the veterinarian.

At home, Yorkshire Terriers live an average of 12 years. There are cases when a dog lived up to 16 years old with proper care and quality nutrition. The accepted standard for breed description assumes 7-9 years. Life expectancy is largely influenced by genetic inheritance and diseases transferred at the age of the puppy.

The better the dog's diet, the fewer problems it gets with age.... Internal organs are another weak point of the Yorkie, if the owner has the opportunity, then it is worth planning an annual full examination of the pet.

The life span of males is longer than that of bitches, this is due to the peculiarities of the reproductive system. Oncological diseases of the genital organs significantly reduce the life span of the Yorkshire Terrier, moreover, other complications arise after childbirth.

If a puppy is bought in a kennel, he has good heredity, he received all the necessary vaccinations, then he can live a long time in the family. It is in the power of the owner to maximize the lifespan, but this will require a lot of attention to the dog.

Yorkshire Terriers must eat properly, have a balanced diet. The food can be homemade or ready-made, the main thing is that it remains of high quality throughout its life. The freshness of the products used and the proportions play a key role.

Food is not put into the trough for the whole day, only in small portions. When keeping a Yorkie, it is important to observe the feeding regime, the dog should not overeat. Uncontrolled eating leads to digestive problems, obesity.

It is harmful and undernourished to a dog, especially at a young agewhen she should receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals from the food consumed. Lack of the proper amount of calories leads to a decrease in activity, hair and teeth suffer, and overall health becomes poor. If a Yorkie is malnourished, he develops hypoglycemia, and this, in turn, is the cause of the death of the animal.

When the breeder does not have enough time to prepare natural food, he prefers to use a commercial product. Among the wide assortment, it is important to choose the one that matches the breed and age of the animal. There are feeds on the market that are designed for a therapeutic effect, that is, they contain additional elements that make an animal with a chronic disease feel better.

Care and housing conditions are two more factors that affect a pet's lifespan. Yorkies have no undercoat, so they cannot overcool. The breed is kept exclusively in the house, and not on the street. During the walk, they need clothing, which will provide additional protection from the cold and drafts. They try to cover not only the body, but also the paws. Dog shoes are on sale.

Particular attention to wool that requires daily grooming. Frequent combing helps with tangles.... If you do not comb the hair, then the animal will begin to ache from bacteria accumulated under the knotted hair. Often bald patches form there, an infection begins to develop.

Dog breeders prefer to trim the dog, removing excess hair where it only gets in the way. With a haircut, the Yorkie looks especially attractive.

Care is required not only for wool, but also for teeth. It is advisable to use specialized products that can be easily found at a pet store or veterinary pharmacy. Brushes are also sold there. Dog hygiene is taught from early childhood. Special toys, cartilage bones, help to get rid of tartar.

Older Yorkies are fed foods that do not require long chewing as they lose their teeth. An elderly dog ​​requires more attention, chronic diseases begin to exacerbate. You need to visit your veterinarian more often if you want your pet to live a long time.

The owner must protect the Yorkie from overwork, hypothermia, overeating. It is necessary to introduce additional vitamins into the diet, to exclude stressful situations for the animal. In an elderly Yorkshire Terrier, already weak bones become very brittle, even a small jump can result in a serious injury for him, so a special ladder or ladder should be purchased for descending from the sofa.

Even among the Yorkshire terriers there are record holders, however, none of them was included in the Guinness Book of Records. If a dog lived to be 19 years old, then this is already a record, which not every dog ​​is capable of.

To date, there is a confirmed fact that a Yorkie named Jack was able to please his owners for 25 years, this record has not yet been beaten.

For the life expectancy of the Yorkshire Terrier, see the following video.