If there is a brave, intelligent, affectionate and sweet dog, that is the Yorkshire poo. Your Yorkie lives in a world of giants, but nothing stops him and he loves to play.
But despite the beauty of this small dog, there is a pressing question in the heart of almost every Yorkie lovers is “how long do yorkies poos live?” Don’t be panic! This article has been put together to provide you the desired answer, and as well furnish you with the possible symptoms of old age in your Yorkie friends.
The life expectancy of Yorkshire is much higher than that of other races. The Yorkshire terrier can live in good shape without problem until 12 to 15 years. Although how much attention we have given them in their entire lifetime will greatly influence their longevity, but as in all living beings, the sign of old age is inevitable and we must know how to distinguish them.
As our little Yorkie grows older, his personality evolves into more quieter, serene and cuddly and even more capricious. Although he has always like caresses and pampering, at this stage of his life, he feels a little more unprotected and vulnerable. That’s why he demands our attention and affection more.
how long do yorkies poos live?
When we have a pet as beloved and adored as a Yorkshire terrier at home, we never want to lose them, and that’s why we often ask ourselves – consciously or unconsciously – the following question: How long will my yorkies poo live? or what is the life expectancy of a yorkshire?
The life expectancy of our Yorkie varies depending on their size. For instance, the Yorkshire terrier of lesser weight, lesser than 2 kg, usually have a shorter life, hovering between 8 and 12 years. The bigger the dog is, the longer he lives.
Inbreeding (a very common practice in the selective breeding of breed dogs) markedly decreases the life of a dog. In the case of tea cup Yorkshire, which would paradoxically live longer by being small, their life expectancy is considerably reduced, and in addition, the risk of the appearance of congenital diseases and mutations increases significantly.
Before talking about the life expectancy of a Yorkshire poo, it is important to clarify that there is no specific guideline to it. While it is true that most Yorkies are over ten years old, they can even live between twelve and sixteen years.
This will depend, obviously, on the quality of life that we have provided to our Yorkshire, of possible prevention from diseases and, more specifically, of its size and weight in adulthood.
The smaller size and weight Yorkshires tend to be much weaker and more delicate, so they are more sensitive to any accident. In addition, their immune system is not as prepared to fight against viruses and diseases as the larger ones can be.
Stages: growth, adult stage and maturity
Having know how old a yorkshire lives on average, it can be interesting to discover the stages they go through in their lives.
Do you want to know which ones are specific and when is each of them produced? Keep reading!
Growth: is the first stage and corresponds to the time that elapses from the birth of the Yorkshire puppy until it reaches 10 months approximately. Here you can observe the greatest physical changes, as it begins to increase its size and weight while it is mutating its hair and developing its reproductive organs.
Adult stage: develops from 10 months to 8 years of age. From this moment, the reproductive instincts are accentuated, the estrus begins in the females and both the weight and its growth stabilize.
Maturity: from 8 years until the moment of death. In this stage, the Yorkshires opt for a quieter and more relaxed life. Keep in mind that old age can limit the capabilities of our Yorkshire terrier, such as physical skills, visual acuity or perception of sounds.
Do not be alarmed if at maturity your Yorkshire is no longer able to get on the couch or avoid obstacles like before. The reflexes are depleted at these ages and their joints and limbs are probably worn out.
yorkie health problems symptoms Or Symptoms of old age in a Yorkshire poos
Just like any living being, no matter the duration of ones life, it will come to an end, and this is also applicable to our dear Yorkie.
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Apart from age, which is a clear indicator to know the vital stage in which our dog is, there are a series of symptoms or signs that can help us identify that the animal has reached old age.
The decrease in activity (the Yorkshire is a breed that is characterized mainly by its high level of activity and nervousness) and vigor are two of the main symptoms of maturity.
This particular breed, in addition, is prone to the loss of teeth during adulthood and maturity, with the disadvantages for feeding and bad breath. Therefore it is essential to carry out a good care and maintenance of our dog’s teeth by brushing regularly.
Specific health concerns of the Yorkshire poos breed
The eyes of your Yorkshire poo are not only a good indication of their affection and their devotion to you, their owner, but they are an excellent way to assess the dog’s health. As for all dogs, the eyes should be clear and bright, which is a sign of good health and nutrition.
Examine if there is any clouding or opacity in your dog’s eyes, as this could indicate that there is a problem that would require the attention of your veterinarian. In the case of the Yorkshire poo, this breed has a tendency to suffer some hereditary eye problems. Among the most common are cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, dry keratoconjunctivitis or ulcerative keratitis.
- The Yorkshire poo can develop cataracts after three years of age, and more frequently between three and six years. Fortunately, veterinary advances make it possible to operate them successfully. As in people, cataracts can be eliminated by a surgeon. As the problem is considered hereditary, dogs with cataracts should be excluded from breeding programs.
- Progressive retinal atrophy (APR) causes blindness in dogs that are affected. The common thing is that the APR affects dogs in their last years of life, usually around eight years, although it can appear at an age as early as between five and eight years of age or at such a late age as after the twelve years.
As the name describes it, the deterioration of the retina is progressive. Affected dogs experience limitations in their visual acuity, but as the Yorkshire poo adapt easily, the owner may not realize that the sight of his dog fails. Generally, the APR is already quite severe before the owner realizes that the dog is affected.
- Dry keratoconjunctivitis (abbreviated QCS) is more commonly called “dry eye”. The problem of “dry eye” occurs as a result of the inability of the tear glands to generate tears to moisten the eye. The cornea is affected by that lack of moisture, and these dry areas cause damage to the eye. The accumulation of mucous substances around the eye gives the owner an indication that there is a problem in it. Treatments are available, which include antibiotics and other drugs. In the most severe cases, surgery can correct the problem.
- The fourth eye problem that affects the Yorkshire poo, ulcerative keratitis, also affects the cornea. The infection and ulceration on the cornea are caused by the dog’s hairs, which irritate his eyes. Owners may notice that their dogs blink excessively, that they scratch their eyes with their feet and that their eyes look watery. It is not a hereditary problem, but the simple result that the Yorkshire poo has bulging eyes. The problem can be treated with antibiotics and special ointments. Two orthopedic problems that frequently affect miniature dogs and other small breeds are Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and patellar dislocation. The disease of L-CP, which is frequently observed in the Yorkshire Terrier
Despite all this, the Yorkshire poo is a healthy and adaptable dog. Owners are advised to investigate the aforementioned disorders and discuss them with the veterinarian. The better informed an owner is, the longer the life of his Yorkshire poos will be.
Conclusion
Finally, if we desire that our Yorkie’s lives long, we must ensure we acquire a puppy with an approximate weight and always made available for them quality food.
Likewise, it is necessary to take care of our terrier and pamper them as much as possible from the first moment it arrives our home.
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