| Yorkie Health |
| On this page you will find information on the health issues that pertain to the Yorkshire Terrier. As I find good information I will add more info to this page! |
| This is a sight that is very helpful in educating us on the inherited disorders that Yorkies (and other canines) may be prone to. Click on dog breeds and then click on Yorkshire Terrier. |
| On the links below you will find some of the best descriptions, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of Liver Shunts, Tracheal Collapse, Luxating Patellas, Legg-Calve Perthes disease and lot's more that I have ever seen. Also included are frequently asked questions. Click on the links to go there! |
| Click here for info on Liver Shunt information and Dr. Karen Tobias Leader in L:iver Shunt Research at The University of Tennessee College of Veterinarian Medicine |
Updates on Liver Shunt Research Programs:
9/05 Dear Yorkie Supporters:
Here is an update of the happenings at University of Tennessee regarding liver shunts in
Yorkies. I realize it's a very long letter, but I hope getting the information directly to you will
help clarify our programs.
We have several ongoing programs regarding liver shunts in Yorkies and other breeds:
First and foremost is our Angel Fund. This fund was started with the help of Terri Shumsky.
Terri truly was a Yorkie Angel; through her efforts dozens of owners were assisted with
medical and surgical care of their shunt puppies or were directed to places where they could
receive excellent treatment. The fund was set up for three purposes: to help determine the
hereditary nature of liver shunts, to help support surgery costs for owners, and to help
support clinical projects to improve detection and survival of dogs with shunts. The fund has
been used for all of these purposes, and continues to be supported by compassionate Yorkie
and non-Yorkie dog owners and enthusiasts. In fact, YTNR recently made a $2,500 donation
to the fund to keep it going, and a recent clinical project has added another $3000. Many
owners of Yorkies and other affected breeds have also made contributions.
The hereditary studies were also supported by a 1 year grant from the AKC. With this grant,
we performed pedigree and epidemiology studies. We found that incidence of shunts was
twice as high in dogs that were inbred, but that there was no single family line that could be
identified as a shunt carrier. We also found that Yorkshire terriers had a 36 times greater risk
of having congenital shunts than all breeds combined, and the odds of having a shunt was 58
times that of mixed breed dogs. With the funding we also developed our "breeding family".
We had several Yorkies with corrected shunts that we hoped could be bred to produce puppies
so that we could determine mode of inheritance.
So far, only Tilly ("Maggie Mae") produced puppies - a healthy male and a healthy female
(both neutered)- from her breeding with Tuffy. Our second male ("Mouse") was just
castrated because he developed a prostate infection and changes in his testicles. Another male
had to be castrated for behavioral reasons (marking, fighting, etc.). Sassy has had several
one-day heats, but has never had cytologic changes that indicate she is ready to be bred.
Mary ("Kissy") just went in to heat Friday and will be spending the next two weeks with Tuffy
in the honeymoon suite at the local hotel. One of the girls ("_Mocha") has been placed in a
home with breeder, in the hopes that an experienced breeder will be more likely to recognize
the signs of heat in her and therefore will be able to bring her to Tuffy (or visa versa) at the
appropriate time.
The other females that we received for possible breeding were too small and too sick to be
considered- either they were not going to reach 4 pounds or their liver disease was so severe
(and did not resolve with shunt surgery) that we did not want to endanger their lives;
therefore, they were spayed. All of the dogs are living with Tennessee Yorkie people- many
with veterinary faculty and staff- that have had Yorkies before. All are living in homes and are
well loved. We do not do home inspections for placement and I do not do any home
inspections after placement; we trust the people that are caring for these dogs and have seen
the excellent condition of their other pets.
So, out of the one successful breeding, we have learned that the characteristic for shunts is
not simple dominant, simple recessive, or sex linked, and that the disease can skip generations
(although we do not know whether these healthy pups are carriers of the gene). The AKC
grant was completed 2 years ago, and the results have been published in 2 scientific journals
(attached below), so we are no longer doing pedigree studies. We've decided we will not
accept any more dogs for breeding, but we hope to start looking at the actual gene assays, or
assisting other researchers with this, using our Yorkie family and their offspring. Webmasters
were asked several weeks ago to remove the $250 breeder incentive from their sites; hopefully
that has been done. On a sadder note, we just lost Tilly last week to a liver lobe torsion (a
portion of her liver twisted and she went into shock). She also had a uterine infection, and we
were getting ready to spay her when she died. Everyone was devastated- it's hard to lose such a
sweet family member.
Our second project is determining better ways to diagnose shunts. As you may know, nuclear
scans (rectal scintigraphy) can tell us whether there is shunting or not, but they cannot tell us
the type of shunt (i.e. whether it is surgically correctable, or whether there are multiple
acquired shunts present). We have recently developed a better technique ("transplenic
scintigraphy") for scanning dogs, and it seems to be able to diagnose multiple acquired versus
single congenital shunts. The scan is quicker and uses less radioactivity, making it safer for us
and the dogs. This funded project has just won the National Radiology Award, and two
publications have been submitted. This study was also funded by an outside research grant
that allowed us to pay for scintigraphy in over 40 dogs; we will continue to assess the dogs
we've evaluated and hope to present our expanced results at next year's national surgery
meeting.
Our third project is determining why some dogs have complications after surgery. This
funded study is looking at blood sugar and hormone levels in our patients and may help us
to predict which dogs will have problems immediately after surgery or later in life. Most
often, dangerously low blood sugar affects Yorkies within 6 hours after the surgery, but other
breeds are also affected. This study is ongoing and will continue until we can find the answer
to this dangerous problem.
What is the bottom line of all our programs? We have determined that shunts are hereditary,
that we might decrease the risk with less inbreeding, that it is passed as a genetic trait through
multiple genes or through a gene that only expresses itself under certain conditions. With all
of our experience that we have gained, our mortality rate is 1% for surgical correction
(compared to 2-14% at other hospitals), and we see no fatal seizures after surgery in dogs
(compared to 3-7% in other hospitals). Our dogs require no anti-seizure medication before
surgery, and usually stay 1-2 nights in the hospital after surgery (compared to 2-4 at other
hospitals) because of low postoperative complication rates. Our average surgery time is half
that of most other referral hospitals, and 85% of our dogs are clinically normal 4-6 months
after surgery.
University of Tennessee will continue to lead the country in clinical studies of dogs with
shunts and we will continue to try and help Yorkie owners and other dog lovers by keeping
the costs low. This gives us plenty of animals to evaluate, and tons of experience that will
continually make us better. Currently we are giving owners an estimate of $1400-1600; this
includes bloodwork, scintigraphy, anesthesia, surgery, and 2 days aftercare. We expect this
estimate to rise every year with inflation, but have found that our prices are usually much less
than at other clinics. Our administration may request that we increase these costs to reflect
our expertise in the area (and to make them more equivalent to "market"- usually
$2200-$4000) but so far we've been able to convince them of the value that information
from these patients provides. (It also allows us to help more dogs!)
Please feel free to forward - so that everyone will be well informed.
Dr. Tobias, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS
Professor, Small Animal Surgery
University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
9/05 Dear Yorkie Supporters:
Here is an update of the happenings at University of Tennessee regarding liver shunts in
Yorkies. I realize it's a very long letter, but I hope getting the information directly to you will
help clarify our programs.
We have several ongoing programs regarding liver shunts in Yorkies and other breeds:
First and foremost is our Angel Fund. This fund was started with the help of Terri Shumsky.
Terri truly was a Yorkie Angel; through her efforts dozens of owners were assisted with
medical and surgical care of their shunt puppies or were directed to places where they could
receive excellent treatment. The fund was set up for three purposes: to help determine the
hereditary nature of liver shunts, to help support surgery costs for owners, and to help
support clinical projects to improve detection and survival of dogs with shunts. The fund has
been used for all of these purposes, and continues to be supported by compassionate Yorkie
and non-Yorkie dog owners and enthusiasts. In fact, YTNR recently made a $2,500 donation
to the fund to keep it going, and a recent clinical project has added another $3000. Many
owners of Yorkies and other affected breeds have also made contributions.
The hereditary studies were also supported by a 1 year grant from the AKC. With this grant,
we performed pedigree and epidemiology studies. We found that incidence of shunts was
twice as high in dogs that were inbred, but that there was no single family line that could be
identified as a shunt carrier. We also found that Yorkshire terriers had a 36 times greater risk
of having congenital shunts than all breeds combined, and the odds of having a shunt was 58
times that of mixed breed dogs. With the funding we also developed our "breeding family".
We had several Yorkies with corrected shunts that we hoped could be bred to produce puppies
so that we could determine mode of inheritance.
So far, only Tilly ("Maggie Mae") produced puppies - a healthy male and a healthy female
(both neutered)- from her breeding with Tuffy. Our second male ("Mouse") was just
castrated because he developed a prostate infection and changes in his testicles. Another male
had to be castrated for behavioral reasons (marking, fighting, etc.). Sassy has had several
one-day heats, but has never had cytologic changes that indicate she is ready to be bred.
Mary ("Kissy") just went in to heat Friday and will be spending the next two weeks with Tuffy
in the honeymoon suite at the local hotel. One of the girls ("_Mocha") has been placed in a
home with breeder, in the hopes that an experienced breeder will be more likely to recognize
the signs of heat in her and therefore will be able to bring her to Tuffy (or visa versa) at the
appropriate time.
The other females that we received for possible breeding were too small and too sick to be
considered- either they were not going to reach 4 pounds or their liver disease was so severe
(and did not resolve with shunt surgery) that we did not want to endanger their lives;
therefore, they were spayed. All of the dogs are living with Tennessee Yorkie people- many
with veterinary faculty and staff- that have had Yorkies before. All are living in homes and are
well loved. We do not do home inspections for placement and I do not do any home
inspections after placement; we trust the people that are caring for these dogs and have seen
the excellent condition of their other pets.
So, out of the one successful breeding, we have learned that the characteristic for shunts is
not simple dominant, simple recessive, or sex linked, and that the disease can skip generations
(although we do not know whether these healthy pups are carriers of the gene). The AKC
grant was completed 2 years ago, and the results have been published in 2 scientific journals
(attached below), so we are no longer doing pedigree studies. We've decided we will not
accept any more dogs for breeding, but we hope to start looking at the actual gene assays, or
assisting other researchers with this, using our Yorkie family and their offspring. Webmasters
were asked several weeks ago to remove the $250 breeder incentive from their sites; hopefully
that has been done. On a sadder note, we just lost Tilly last week to a liver lobe torsion (a
portion of her liver twisted and she went into shock). She also had a uterine infection, and we
were getting ready to spay her when she died. Everyone was devastated- it's hard to lose such a
sweet family member.
Our second project is determining better ways to diagnose shunts. As you may know, nuclear
scans (rectal scintigraphy) can tell us whether there is shunting or not, but they cannot tell us
the type of shunt (i.e. whether it is surgically correctable, or whether there are multiple
acquired shunts present). We have recently developed a better technique ("transplenic
scintigraphy") for scanning dogs, and it seems to be able to diagnose multiple acquired versus
single congenital shunts. The scan is quicker and uses less radioactivity, making it safer for us
and the dogs. This funded project has just won the National Radiology Award, and two
publications have been submitted. This study was also funded by an outside research grant
that allowed us to pay for scintigraphy in over 40 dogs; we will continue to assess the dogs
we've evaluated and hope to present our expanced results at next year's national surgery
meeting.
Our third project is determining why some dogs have complications after surgery. This
funded study is looking at blood sugar and hormone levels in our patients and may help us
to predict which dogs will have problems immediately after surgery or later in life. Most
often, dangerously low blood sugar affects Yorkies within 6 hours after the surgery, but other
breeds are also affected. This study is ongoing and will continue until we can find the answer
to this dangerous problem.
What is the bottom line of all our programs? We have determined that shunts are hereditary,
that we might decrease the risk with less inbreeding, that it is passed as a genetic trait through
multiple genes or through a gene that only expresses itself under certain conditions. With all
of our experience that we have gained, our mortality rate is 1% for surgical correction
(compared to 2-14% at other hospitals), and we see no fatal seizures after surgery in dogs
(compared to 3-7% in other hospitals). Our dogs require no anti-seizure medication before
surgery, and usually stay 1-2 nights in the hospital after surgery (compared to 2-4 at other
hospitals) because of low postoperative complication rates. Our average surgery time is half
that of most other referral hospitals, and 85% of our dogs are clinically normal 4-6 months
after surgery.
University of Tennessee will continue to lead the country in clinical studies of dogs with
shunts and we will continue to try and help Yorkie owners and other dog lovers by keeping
the costs low. This gives us plenty of animals to evaluate, and tons of experience that will
continually make us better. Currently we are giving owners an estimate of $1400-1600; this
includes bloodwork, scintigraphy, anesthesia, surgery, and 2 days aftercare. We expect this
estimate to rise every year with inflation, but have found that our prices are usually much less
than at other clinics. Our administration may request that we increase these costs to reflect
our expertise in the area (and to make them more equivalent to "market"- usually
$2200-$4000) but so far we've been able to convince them of the value that information
from these patients provides. (It also allows us to help more dogs!)
Please feel free to forward - so that everyone will be well informed.
Dr. Tobias, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS
Professor, Small Animal Surgery
University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
| CANINE LIFE STAGE HEALTH CARE RECOMMENDATIONS LIFE STAGE REGULAR HEALTH CARE SPECIAL PROCEDURES Puppy < 12 mos REGULAR HEALTH CARE ¨ Full physical exam ¨ Fecal +/- deworming ¨ DAPP vaccine at 8 weeks ¨ DHPP vaccine at 12 and 16 wks ¨ Bordetella vaccine at 12 weeks +/- ¨ Rabies vaccine at 16 weeks ¨ Start heartworm prevention if < 6 months ¨ Heartworm test if > 6 months then start on heartworm prevention ¨ Start flea/tick control SPECIAL PROCEDURES · OHE/Neuter · Pre-anesthetic blood work and urinalysis Adult - 1 to 7 years REGULAR HEALTH CARE ¨ Full physical exam yearly Formulate appropriate vaccine schedule for life style Discuss dental care ¨ Rabies vaccine every 3 years ¨ Bordetella vaccine yearly +/- ¨ Heartworm test and preventative ¨ Fecal +/- deworming yearly ¨ Continue heartworm, flea, tick and intestinal parasite prevention SPECIAL PROCEDURES · Full screening labwork at least every 2 years – CBC, Chemistry, electrolytes, urinalysis · Vaccine titer instead of DHPP or *modified annual protocol · Dental cleaning as needed · Screening thoracic and abdominal radiographs · Screening electrocardiogram Golden years > 7 years REGULAR HEALTH CARE ¨ Full physical exam every 6 months Monitor for weight changes Discuss age related diet changes Modify vaccine schedule appropriate for age and lifestyle Discuss dental care Discuss ongoing health problems Discuss arthritis and pain management ¨ Rabies vaccine every 3 years ¨ Discuss vaccine schedule ¨ Bordetella vaccine yearly +/- ¨ Heartworm test and preventative ¨ Fecal +/- deworming yearly ¨ Continue heartworm, flea, tick and intestinal parasite prevention SPECIAL PROCEDURES · Full lab work yearly (CBC, chemistry, electrolytes, urinalysis) · Antibody titer instead of vaccine or *modified annual protocol · Thoracic and abdominal radiographs yearly · Electrocardiogram yearly · Dental cleaning as needed |
| Understanding your pet's blood work “CBC, chem seven, stat!" This may sound familiar If you watch such popular television dramas as ER, Chicago Hope, and Emergency Vets. But do you know what the terms mean? Blood tests help doctors determine causes of Illness accurately, safely, and quickly and let us monitor the progress of medical treatments. To help you understand your pet's test results, this guide explains common tests. A checkmark in any box indicates a significant abnormal finding on your pet's blood work. If you have questions, ask any staff member. We want you to understand our recommendations and be a partner in your pet's care. Complete blood count (CBC) This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. A CBC gives information on hydration status, anemia, infection, the blood's clotting ability, and the ability of the immune system to respond. This test is essential for pets with fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite. If your pet needs surgery, a CBC can detect bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities. o HCT (hematocrit) measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and dehydration. o Hb and MCHC (hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) are the oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells. o WBC (white blood cell count) measures the body's immune cells. Increases or decreases indicate certain diseases or infections. o GRANS and L/M (granulocytes and lymphocytes/monocytes) are specific types of white blood cells. o EOS (eosinophils) are a specific type of white blood cells that may Indicate allergic or parasitic conditions. o PLT (platelet count) measures cells that form blood clots. o RETICS (reticulocytes) are immature red blood cells. High levels indicate regenerative anemia. o FIBR (fibrinogen) Is an important clotting factor. High levels may indicate a dog is 30 to 40 days pregnant Blood chemistries These common blood serum tests evaluate organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, and more. They are important in evaluating older pets, pets with vomiting and diarrhea or toxin exposure, pets receiving long- term medications, and health before anesthesia. o ALB (albumin) Is a serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage, and intestinal, liver, and kidney disease. o ALKP (alkaline phosphatase) elevations may indicate liver damage, Cushing's disease, and active bone growth in young pets. This test is especially significant in cats. o ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is a sensitive indicator of active liver damage but doesn't indicate the cause. o AMYL (amylase) elevations show pancreatitis or kidney disease. o AST (aspartate aminotransferase) increases may indicate liver, heart, or skeletal muscle damage. o BUN (blood urea nitrogen) indicates kidney function. An increased blood level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver, and heart disease, urethral obstruction, shock, and dehydration. o Ca (calcium) deviations can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and low albumin are just a few of the conditions that alter serum calcium. o CHOL (cholesterol) is used to supplement diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing's disease, and diabetes mellitus. o CI (chloride) is an electrolyte often lost with vomiting and Addison's disease. Elevations often indicate dehydration. o Cortisol is a hormone that is measured in tests for Cushing's disease (the low‑dose dexamethasone suppression test) and Addison's disease (ACTH stimulation test). o CREA (creatinine) reveals kidney function. This test helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN. o GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase) is an enzyme that indicates liver disease or corticosteroid excess. o GLOB (globulin) is a blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and certain disease states. o GLU (glucose) Is a blood sugar. Elevated levels may indicate diabetes mellitus. Low levels can cause collapse, seizures, or coma. o K (potassium) is an electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive urination. Increased levels may indicate kidney failure, Addison's disease, dehydration, and urethral obstruction. High levels can lead to cardiac arrest. o LIP (lipase) is an enzyme that may indicate pancreatitis. o Na (sodium) is an electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney and Addison's disease. This test helps indicate hydration status. o PHOS (phosphorus) elevations are often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and bleeding disorders. o TBIL (total bilirubin) elevations may indicate liver or hemolytic disease. This test helps identify bile duct problems and certain types of anemia. o TP (total protein) indicates hydration status and provides additional information about the liver, kidneys, and infectious diseases. o T4 (thyroxine) is a thyroid hormone. Decreased levels often signal hypothyroidism in dogs, while high levels Indicate hyperthyroidism in cats. |
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DNA Services for Animals- Offers DNA tests for canine and equine species. Services include parentage,
DNA genotyping, DNA banking, disease screening, and coat color prediction.