Do smaller yorkies have more health issues then larger yorkies?

[TobysOwner]

Well, we looked at yorkies this past weekend and they were all very cute. I don't know how I kept from bringing them all home! I just had this feeling that I should wait. I work for a school and I have my summers off. I think that would be a better time to bring home a new baby. I have been reading on here that if I would get a smaller puppy that I need to make sure they eat so their blood sugar doesn't drop. I know that leaving a new puppy at home alone would not be a good idea. So I am hoping to time a new puppy around May or so.
Back to the title of my thread (sorry). I am hoping to get a smaller puppy this time. Do smaller yorkies tend to have more health issues then bigger yorkies? Also, I need to ask my vet this question too, what caused Toby to have stones in his bladder? I was too upset to ask what could have caused it.
Thanks for all your help!

[lisatodd]

go to the yorkshire terrier club of america website and read up on smaller yorkies.
here on yt we have seen many problems, health issues, death of the smaller yorkie
but.....some people here on this site who have smaller ones have not had any issues

i personally would not get anything smaller than 5lbs full grown.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by TobysOwner

Well, we looked at yorkies this past weekend and they were all very cute. I don't know how I kept from bringing them all home! I just had this feeling that I should wait. I work for a school and I have my summers off. I think that would be a better time to bring home a new baby. I have been reading on here that if I would get a smaller puppy that I need to make sure they eat so their blood sugar doesn't drop. I know that leaving a new puppy at home alone would not be a good idea. So I am hoping to time a new puppy around May or so.
Back to the title of my thread (sorry). I am hoping to get a smaller puppy this time. Do smaller yorkies tend to have more health issues then bigger yorkies? Also, I need to ask my vet this question too, what caused Toby to have stones in his bladder? I was too upset to ask what could have caused it.
Thanks for all your help!

you have opened a can of worms with this questions. LOl Everyone that has small dogs are going to say no and everyone that has larger dogs is going to say yes. i have both but my largest is only five pounds. Ceeby is the only one I have ever had problems with. he weighed nine ounces wwhen I brought him home. he had a very rough first six months, then he straightened right out. he now weighs a whopping four pounds but is built very fragile. One of my girls weighs three and a half and is the toughest one of the bunch. The biggest issue I have had is watching that they don't jump off something and kill themseves. they can get on anything even at their size. Also, you have to do the yorkie shuffle when walking or you might step on one.

About the kidney stones. What kind of dog food are you feeding? Was it high in protein? Kidney stones in people CAN be caused by high protein diets.

[JESSY_RN2B]

You are going to get tons of different opinions (and they are just that )

Look at what research has to say as well.

In general, the 'tinies, teacups (which don't exist by the way)'.......do have problems. Behind them are usually but not limited to...back yard breeders and puppy mills.

Equally, you will find many members (here and other forums) say.......their's is a lb or so and they are healthier than a horse.........which is great!

There are more than one factor that equal a sick or healthy dog..........but yes the incredibly tiny ones usually have many health issues.

Good luck with finding your furbaby!!

[chachi]

Some can have health issues and some like many on here do not. I am still undecided on if they have more health problems because there are so many that are healthy. You do have to watch them for hypoglycemia but you have to watch any small pup for that. My next one I plan to get will be in the 4 lb range so I want a smaller one to

[YorkieRose]

It depends on what you consider small and the bloodline...There is a breeder who named her new stud "Puny" she thinks he is the tiniest thing she has seen..he is 5 pounds..I think that is normal..tiny to me is under 4 pounds...had many of all sizes, never found the tinies more prone to anything with good care... accidents can be a problem..people step on them, sit on them, drop them.
They need to eat well and can not be allowed to have an upset bowel without prompt meds...because of size they can not lose much weight without becoming more ill...but with a hands on owner I have never lost one to any of these things but old age...never had an accident with a tiny, but sure had some the bigger ones..broken legs, cut paws, bumps and bruises.

If you have a busy life or children I would suggest a 5 pounder and up...

[TobysOwner]

Thanks everyone!
I thought of the whole, everyone will tell me something different, after I posted my thread. I guess thats what I want. Everyones opinion. I didn't know if there were health problems that were common in smaller yorkies. I don't want a teeny tiny yorkie. I would like one around 4 to 5lbs. at full grown. I know that you won't know for sure how much they'll weigh as an adult but I think you can get some idea.
We fed Toby Iams weight control dog food. He was a few pounds overweight. I'm not sure of the protein level that was in it. What is a good dog food to feed a yorkie?
Our children are adults (18 & 21). So small children are not an issue.

Have a great day!

[JESSY_RN2B]

Originally Posted by TobysOwner

Thanks everyone!
I thought of the whole, everyone will tell me something different, after I posted my thread. I guess thats what I want. Everyones opinion. I didn't know if there were health problems that were common in smaller yorkies. I don't want a teeny tiny yorkie. I would like one around 4 to 5lbs. at full grown. I know that you won't know for sure how much they'll weigh as an adult but I think you can get some idea.
We fed Toby Iams weight control dog food. He was a few pounds overweight. I'm not sure of the protein level that was in it. What is a good dog food to feed a yorkie?
Our children are adults (18 & 21). So small children are not an issue.

Have a great day!

Again, you are going to get nothing but opinions. You need to make a decision based on your research. Research what By-products really are etc. You should also visit the health/diet section of this site.............you will be overwhelmed with the amount of information already available here for you.

Good luck

[BlondieGirl87]

I have two yorkies, both very small. My boy is 2 years old and weighs 4 pounds with a full belly! He varies between 3 pounds 14 ounces to 4 pounds. My girl is 4 months old and weighs 1 pound 11 ounces. I have never had any health problems with either of them, no broken bones, and no hypoglycemic attacks. Both of mine sleep through the night without having to be up and fed every few hours and we go for walks outside in the colder weather and they will run around and play like they are "big dogs" I think you'll find there are just as many health problems in larger yorkies as there are in the tiny ones. I think what is most important is not size, but the bloodlines your pup comes from and how many "clean" generations of no genetic health problems they have. Both of mine are AKC and have incredible champion bloodlines and I believe that is why they are as healthy as they are. My boy was bred to be a show dog and has 67 champions in his bloodlines. I think the only thing you have to watch out for with tiny ones is you have to learn to be aware of them. Watch where you step, watch where you leave things. My girl is a jumper and will jump on anything and jump off anything so I have to be careful with her. If you have larger dogs or children that is something to keep in mind as well. As for me, they are my only pets and I have no kids so having tiny ones works great for me!

[DENISE517]

I have Maddie and she is 3.5lbs and will be a year old. I've never had any problems, but she came from a good breeder and has good healthy parents as well. I think it just all depends on where they came from and there background. Just because they are small doesnt mean they are sick.

[suzysmitt]

When I got Gwen she had cataracts that had to be removed, and her teeth were were awful. Both things were corrected, and then she was fine. By the way she was only two pounds.

[bornnygurl]

This isn't my opinion it is a fact that my girl is very tiny and I have never had any health problems with her. I have however had health problems with my larger non-yorkie furbabies. There are health problems whether your yorkie is small or large it all depends on genetics, the environment he/she was raised in and what breeder you get the dog from. A lot of things to be careful with about in the small ones are just common sense things: Watch where you walk and make sure they eat 3-4 times a day. My vet once told me that hypoglycemia is oftentimes genetic and if the dog is going to get it, it's going to get it no matter what you do because some have more of a predisposition to this condition than others.

[lolabella]

One of the important things to watch out for in smaller ones is to make sure that the pup is not small because of a liver shunt. Liver shunts are a problem for the Yorkie breed, and they inhibit growth in puppies. As long as you select your breeder carefully, that should not be a problem though. You may want to research it anyway.

[stewartslucy]

One of the books I have (Yorkshire Terriers A Complete Owners Manual published by Barron's in 1990), says they should not exceeed 7 pounds, but ideal weight is between 4-6 pounds. But if you intend to breed then the female should not weigh less than 4.5 pounds. This book also gives a height standard between 8 to 9.5 inches at the shoulder (if ideal weight.)

The AKC standard says they should not exceed 7 pounds but doesn't give a minimum weight.

I know this is confusing to me to. I am hoping for a robust, healthy dog. The small size concerns me...but AKC doesn't have a minimum, so does that make the micro Yorkies okay? I hope so.

[DianeW]

Good Luck In Your Search For A New Baby.

I Have A Little Boy Who Is 11 Months Old And Weighs 3.5 Lb. He Is A Little Toughie Though, He Charges Around The House And Jumps Around Furniture Playing.

He Is Healthy And Though A Little Fussy With Food He Is Eating Well At The Moment. I Too Have No Small Children - My Kayley Is Now 21. I Would Have Gone For A Bigger Dog I Think If I Had Small Children.

Happy Searching.............