Terrier Lover

Being healthy breeds, terriers have long life spans. A healthy Yorkshire Terrier will live between 12-15 years.

As with any breed, you will have some genetic disorders that can affect your dog. One of the defects that can plague your Yorkshire terrier is luxating patellas.

Luxating Patellas:

This means slipping kneecaps due to weak tendons, weak ligaments or shallow patellar grooves. Basically, the terrier’s kneecaps “dislocate” sideways.

In dog breeds prone to this condition, it can either be congenital (from birth) or acquired from trauma. Luxating patellas usually becomes noticeable around 4-6 months of age.

This will cause the dog’s leg to lock up, and the Yorkie will typically lift the leg off the ground. It is sometimes referred to as “trick knee”.

Surgery is an option, but not always necessary. This procedure consists of deepening of the trochlear sulcus in which the patella/kneecap sits, called sulcoplasty.

This condition may get worse over time, as the knee cap groove can be reduced even more by frequent knee slipping, and tendons and ligaments can get even weaker.

* Tip: If you have a Yorkshire terrier, it would be wise, either to help prevent trauma or further damage to this area of the body, to have pet stairs or a ramp up to furniture they are allowed on, so that they don’t have to exert themselves so much and irritate this area. Such large jumps, up or down, for such a small dog is difficult and puts a lot of strain upon their leg joints.

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I hope you enjoyed this installment of Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

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