Teacup Yorkie Lifespan: How Long Do They Live?
Wondering how long Yorkshire Terriers live? This guide explores the average lifespan of Yorkies, including Teacup varieties, and compares it with other small breeds. Learn the leading causes of death—such as infections, trauma, respiratory diseases, and congenital conditions—and practical steps to increase your Yorkie’s life expectancy. Tips include proper dental care, regular vet visits, exercise, spaying/neutering, and a balanced diet. With the right care and attention, you can help your Yorkie live a longer, healthier life and reduce risks associated with their most common health threats.
The owners of Yorkshire Terriers would often wonder about the expected lifespan of their furry companions, asking questions like "How long do Yorkshire Terriers usually live?" or "What is the average life expectancy of a Yorkie?" Mainly arriving from England and Yorkshire, and initially referred to as the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier during the 19th century, these dogs are classified as a small breed within the terrier family. These breeds we well-suited for families with older kids and are well-known for their friendly nature towards strangers.
We will now explore the answers to these questions about the Teacup Yorkie's lifespan. We will also discuss the main reasons behind the death of these breeds that may impact their life expectancy. The average life of a Yorkie, along with a few ways you can help, will also be covered.
Life Expectancy of the Yorkies
The American Kennel Club often classifies the Yorkies as a member of its toy group due to their size and lineage. Whenever bred to the AKC's standard, the Yorkie stands around 8 to 9 inches tall and weighs between 4 and 7 pounds, as it is hardly a heavyweight. A healthier Yorkie's life expectancy ranges from 11 to 15 years, depending on their health.
It is considered to have a considerably longer lifespan. It is moderately longer than the average lifespan of these domesticated canines, which is 12.67 years in the US, 12.8 years in Canada, and 11.08 years in the UK. It is important to note that the figure of 12.67 years in the US related to death by natural causes, where the number drops to 11.1 years when death by trauma is factored in.
In comparison to other small dog breeds, the Yorkie's lifespan of 13 to 16 years is similar to that of the Pomeranian (12 to 16 years) and the Papillon (13 to 15 years). It is a bit longer compared to a Maltese's 12 to 15 years, a toy Poodle's 12 to 15 years, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's 9 to 14 years, a Pug's 12 to 15 years, or a Shih Tzu's 10 to 16 years. It is smaller than a Chihuahua, which typically ranges in height from 14 to 18 inches.
What are the Leading Causes of Death in Yorkies?
A study conducted by the University of Georgia on the canine lifespan identified the main causes of pet dog deaths. The study included around 74,556 dogs, with several hundred being Yorkshire Terriers. So this is what they found specifically for the Yorkies:
In Puppies
• Infection: This includes several different types of diseases, such as parvovirus, a notably contagious disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, leading to severe diarrhea or vomiting issues that can rapidly lead to fatal dehydration. Although a vaccine is available to prevent this, it is typically administered at around 6 and 8 weeks of age. Pups often catch parvo, which is a risk factor whenever the antibodies passed down from the dam have waned, but the vaccine has not had enough time to offer complete protection.
• Distemper: Another severe and contagious disease that can infect your Yorkie pup is canine distemper. The disease is often confused with rabies, which shares identical symptoms, contributing to Yorkie nervousness caused by a virus that attacks the nervous, gastrointestinal, and respiratory systems of dogs and puppies.
• Trauma: From the detailed we have narrowed down, trauma is the second leading cause behind the death of a Yorkie pup, and it is the third leading cause for adult Yorkies. Around 11% of the Yorkie deaths are mainly due to the fatal injuries to the head, body, or both.
It comes as a shock that such a higher cause behind the death of Yorkie pups and adult dogs can be avoided with proper safety measures. If it weren't for incidents like the pup being dropped, stepped on, or hit by a car, the average Teacup Yorkie lifespan would likely increase.
In Adults
• Respiratory disease: Approximately 16.1% of Yorkie deaths are caused by respiratory disease. There are mainly two dog breeds that are affected at a higher rate compared to Yorkies - the French Bulldog, at 18.2%, and the Borzoi, at 16.3%. The kind of fatal respiratory illnesses includes the collapsed trachea, which is a condition that this breed is prone to, leading to chronic bronchitis and other issues, and even pulmonary fibrosis. Seniors are often prone to lung infections due to the gradual degenerative changes that can impair the lungs' general functioning, making them more susceptible to toxins and airborne pathogens.
• Cancer: Around 11.2% of the Yorkies die due to cancer. It involves a massive range of cancers like lymphoma or a tumor of the lymph nodes, mast cell tumors of the form of skin cancer, soft tissue sarcomas, as these happen on the surface of the body and within body organs, mammary gland tumors, and bone cancer.
• Congenital Disease: With about 10.5% of the Yorkies dying due to the congenital disease, which is the 4th major cause of death of the Yorkies who are 1 year and older. The category includes various diseases and conditions that have been present since birth. Considerably the conditions like liver shunts, which make Yorkies prone to this condition often considered as a portosystemic shunt or PPS, and the heart abnormalities among the rest.
What You Can Do to Extend the Lifespan of a Yorkie?
Now that we have answered your queries about the Teacup Yorkie lifespan and a few health issues. It's the right time to learn about things you can do to extend your Yorkie's lifespan. There are several ways to help your Yorkie live longer, like neutering or spaying, offering appropriate dental care, offering your pup a nutritious diet, preventing trauma, staying up with the vet appointments, and ensuring that your Yorkie is getting adequate exercise.
Exercise
One of the most essential steps in extending the average lifespan of a Yorkie is exercise. Implementing Yorkie training into your routine can provide the necessary level of physical activity, helping to strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Offering your dog with adequate amount of exercise with extreme diligence is a must here. Regular physical activities can help keep your Yorkie's metabolism and immune system in top shape.
However, if the dog gets sick or injured, then treatment is possible. The dog's muscles will become toned, its heart will become healthier, and its emotional condition will improve. Although Yorkies are filled with energy and a playful dog breed, they are small and fragile, and pushing them too hard can lead to trauma or even a fatal outcome.
An expert from the American Kennel Club (AKC) found that maintaining a healthier weight and regular vet dental cleanings play a crucial role in the lifespan of any dog breed.
Regular Vet Visits
As a Yorkie owner, you need to ensure that you are bringing your Yorkie in for a checkup, where the vet would check for something that you have overlooked or missed. If anything seems out of balance with your pup's behavior or appearance, never hesitate to bring them in for a check-up. Early health screenings can help extend the life expectancy of the Yorkies. Yorkie dogs need to stay up to date with their vaccination routines for disease prevention.
Additionally, as you are already aware of the seriousness of the infection and how it affects your Teacup Yorkie's lifespan, you need to provide them with the right level of dental care, as teething issues can eventually lead to infection.
The infection arising from decayed teeth can travel down to the dog's body and even reach the brain or heart. Due to this, it is essential to take proper preventive measures for your dog's teeth to increase their lifespan. It is important to follow a brushing routine 5 times each day or take your pup for a professional checkup once every year.
Spay or Neuter
Several vets claim that neutering or spaying your dog can help increase their life expectancy by 20% for males and 25% for females. It is for this reason that both male and female Yorkies should be neutered before they are six months old.
It will help remove every odds of ovarian cancer from developing and a huge scope of risk of mammary cancer if the female gets spayed correctly. With the males, neutering will reduce the risk of prostate cancer, removing the scope for any testicular cancer from happening.
Healthy Diet
A well-balanced and healthier diet is a sure-shot help to keep your dog healthier. Feeding them nutritious food right from the very beginning would extend your Teacup Yorkie's lifespan while also saving your pocket from the expensive vet bills. When choosing commercial dog food for your Yorkie, make a wise choice. However, if you have enough time, prepare food to serve to your pup.
Conclusion
So, there you have it all! We have narrowed down the real concerns and answers to your question on how long Yorkies live. Keep in mind that the ultimate care you offer your pup from day one until their senior years will have a lasting and positive impact on the lifespan and health of Yorkies. However, it's essential to make the right choices.
The most distressful thing is to let go of your loved one. It's devastating to give the green light to putting it to bed for good. However, before making a decision, it's essential to consider your dog's feelings. If your pup is struggling to breathe or is in consistent pain there is nothing that can be done, and letting go will be the right decision.
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