Clinical decision support tool. Does not replace professional veterinary judgment. Always verify recommendations with current references.
Yorkshire Terrier
Thinking about this breed for your home? Read the owner suitability guide
🧬 Genetic Drug Sensitivities
🔴 PSS_RISK (Congenital portosystemic shunt predisposition)
Prevalence: Unknown
Congenital portosystemic shunt is roughly 30x more common in this breed. A shunt bypasses hepatic first-pass metabolism, so benzodiazepines reach far higher effective concentrations and persist. In a shunted dog they also potentiate GABA-ergic hepatic encephalopathy. Screen with bile acids before elective sedation; if used, reduce the dose substantially and titrate to effect.
📋 Breed Predispositions
| Condition | Prevalence | Onset | Severity | Screening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein-Losing Enteropathy / Intestinal Lymphangiectasia | Breed-associated | 4-9 years | LIFE THREATENING | Albumin with globulin on every senior panel. Low albumin AND low globulin together points to GI loss rather than liver or kidney; ascites and thromboembolism are the dangerous sequelae. |
| Congenital Portosystemic Shunt | Highest-risk breed — roughly 30x the general-population rate | Under 1 year, often under 6 months | SEVERE | Pre- and post-prandial bile acids in any Yorkshire Terrier pup with stunted growth, post-meal dullness, or a slow recovery from sedation. Low BUN with microcytosis on a routine panel is the quiet tell. |
| Tracheal Collapse | One of the highest-risk breeds | 4-8 years | SEVERE | Inspiratory and expiratory radiographs, or fluoroscopy, for a goose-honk cough. Use a harness, never a neck collar, and keep the dog lean. |
| Patellar Luxation | Elevated | 4-6 months | MODERATE RISK | Orthopedic exam at 6 months and annually; grade both stifles. |
| Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease | Elevated | 4-11 months | MODERATE RISK | Hip radiographs for progressive unilateral hindlimb lameness in a young dog. |
| Periodontal Disease and Retained Deciduous Teeth | Very common | 6 months onward | MODERATE RISK | Check for retained deciduous canines at the neuter visit and extract them then. Anesthetic COHAT with full-mouth radiographs thereafter. |
🏥 Anesthesia Considerations
⚠ Toy Breed — Hypoglycemia, Hypothermia and Shunt Metabolism
Do not over-fast: 4-6 hours maximum, check blood glucose before induction, and have dextrose available. Active warming from before induction — surface-area-to-mass ratio drives fast heat loss. Weigh in grams and calculate every drug precisely. Screen bile acids before elective anesthesia: congenital portosystemic shunt is roughly 30x more common in this breed and markedly prolongs the effect of hepatically cleared agents. Tracheal collapse is common — use a smaller ETT than weight suggests, handle the airway gently, and watch for post-extubation coughing.