|
Safety Tip #1:
Never connect the leash to a collar
What happens:
The main reason to
avoid this is because small toy breeds like
the Yorkie are predisposed to the condition
of collapsed trachea. The trachea (windpipe)
is surrounded by rings of cartilage. One or
more of the rings can weaken over time,
ultimately collapsing inward. When this
happens, it can be incredibly painful and
severely interfere with breathing. Signs
include trouble eating and a honking-like
cough. Treatment is lengthy
(anti-inflammatories, cough medicine,
immediate discontinuation of a collar) and
many dogs never fully recover. Surgery is an
option but it is a very intricate operation
with many risks.
If a Yorkie has a
leash connect to a collar, this put stress
and tension directly on the trachea. This
can hasten any predisposed degeneration.
In addition, there
are other conditions that are thought to be
linked to ongoing pressure to the neck
and/or restricted blood flow including
thyroid issues, ear damage, eye damage, and
issues with the salivary glands.
What to do
instead:
Keep your
Yorkshire Terrier safe by using a harness. A
properly fitting harness displaces tension
across the shoulders, chest, and back (much
stronger areas with more muscle), leaving
the neck free.
You’ll also find
that a harness helps you have much better
control over your Yorkshire Terrier while on
leash letting you more easily keep your
little guy or gal in a heeling position.
And, should you need to, you can quickly
pull your Yorkie to you without any fear of
jerking the neck.
If you’re looking
for a great harness, there is a couple of
fantastic choices for this breed, even the
tiniest little Yorkies.
Tip #2: Do not
let your Yorkie jump down from heights
What happens:
When a dog 10 lbs.
and under leaps down from sofa height, this
is an impact equivalent of a human jumping
down from a one-story building (10 feet).
And dogs love to do this; It’s estimated
that active dogs leap on and offer furniture
an average of 35 times per day, adding up to
12,000+ daring jumps per year.
With this, knee
injury is the top concern; the Yorkshire
Terrier breed ranks at #2 for patella (knee)
luxation (not a good place to be). And while
the knee cap can indeed slip while running
(or just all on its own in some cases),
jumping from heights certainly can be a
trigger.
In addition to
this, safety issues include landing the
wrong way or landing too hard resulting in a
pulled ligament or even a bone fracture.
What to do:
Limit your
Yorkie’s jumping. For spots that it’s very
common to jump down from, place an ottoman
there, if feasible, to create a safer
passage. Or, consider placing pet steps or
even a small ramp next to the couch, chair,
bed, or other area that your Yorkshire
Terrier loves to leap off of.
Safety Tip #3:
Avoid paw-related accidents and injury
What happens:
Since dogs spend
their lives essential barefoot, there are
quite a few things that can happen. Let’s
take a look at the top safety issues.
Burns – In the
summer, cement sidewalks can reach 125 F,
red brick can soar up to 135 F, and blacktop
pavement can hit a shocking 140 F. Is this
too hot for your Yorkie? Yes! A surface
temperature of 120 F is the pain threshold
for canines. And, with 140 F and above,
burns will develop after just one minute.
Slipping – If you
have hardwood, tile, or laminate floors in
the house, poor paw pad traction can send
your little Yorkie slipping and sliding.
This can lead to a dog pulling a muscle,
bonking into a wall, or even falling down a
staircase.
Lacerations on
foot pads – Walking on rocks, gravel, or
other rough or uneven surfaces can cause
abrasions or tears.
Snowballing – This
is a winter issue and refers to when snows
gets between the toes and paw pads, melts,
and refreezes into ice. That ice stretches
the sensitive skin at which point it can
split (a very painful condition).
Reactions to
chemicals – From pesticides and fertilizer
applied to park grass, to ice-melt chemicals
dragged in by vehicles in the winter, there
are a lot of various elements that can
either cause chemical burns or allergic
reactions.
What to do:
Protect your
Yorkshire Terrier’s paws. While this breed
might not be big and strong like sled dogs
or other working dogs, you can do the same
for your Yorkie as is done with them: apply
a quality paw wax.
Paw wax keeps the
pads healthy (and thus better able to
withstand the elements) and offers a layer
of protection from outdoor hazards. It also
gives a dog better traction, indoors and
out.
The absolute best
paw wax is Mushers Secret Pet Paw Protection
Wax. This absorbs very quickly, allows the
paws to ‘breathe’, and is made of 100%
all-natural waxes (yellow and white beeswax,
carnauba (palm wax) and candelilla wax).
Do keep in mind,
however, that even a great paw wax cannot
block all of the heat from searing hot
pathways; always use caution when walking
your Yorkie in the summer.
Safety Tip #4:
Dog-proof the house and yard
What happens:
Even if your
Yorkie has never mouthed anything at all
(other than toys), don’t make the mistake of
thinking, ‘Oh, my dog won’t ever do that’.
Because all it takes is one time.
Since canines
don’t have opposable thumbs, they pick
objects up with their mouths simply to
answer the question of ‘what is this?’ And,
that can lead to all kinds of trouble
including choking, splinters in the mouth,
and toxic poisoning.
Items that dogs
have swallowed include sewing needles,
Q-tips, Lego pieces, money clips, Playdough,
birth control pills, crayons, Band-Aids,
small light bulbs, jewelry, coins, toilet
paper, Chapstick, and fishing hooks.
Electrical cords
pose a huge danger; aside from electrocution
which itself can be deadly, secondary issues
seen alongside this due to current moving
through the body include pulmonary edema,
cataracts, and dangerous high blood
pressure.
Outside dangers
include swallowing rocks, twigs, and plants,
leaves, acorns, etc. that can be toxic.
What to do:
Routinely check
over the entire house. Pick up any small
objects, even if they do not look ‘chewable’
or interesting. Be sure that all household
members know the importance of keeping small
things off the floors and any furniture that
your Yorkie may get up onto.
Do not allow
electrical cords to dangle anywhere that
your Yorkie could even possibly reach. Use
cord concealers like PetCords Dog and Cat
Cord Protector to protect any cords that you
can’t place out of reach.
Outside, routinely
rake the yard to remove debris and scan the
yard for any sharp objects.
Safety Tip #5:
Awareness and planned reaction to larger
dogs
What to know:
There are
countless incidents of small dogs being
attacked by larger ones. This happens at dog
parks, while taking walks around the
neighborhood, and even in owner’s backyards.
And it is from
these tragedies that we can learn what not
to do and which steps to take to keep our
Yorkies safe. As with many of the other
safety tips, this is something that you
should not assume ‘won’t happen to my dog’.
What to do:
Out in the yard:
Under no circumstances should you let your
Yorkie out into the yard unsupervised, even
if you have a secure fenced-in yard. Dogs
running loose can jump fences or find their
way in through weak spots in the fence.
Before you exit
with your dog, do a visual sweep of the
area.
At parks:
Socialization at dog parks is always great;
but, only bring your Yorkie to park that
have separate enclosures for dogs based on
size.
When walking your
Yorkie: The #1 rule is to keep your Yorkie
on leash and harness (safety tip #1). The
leash ensures that your dog is always close
by to you. The harness allows you to quickly
reel your dog in, or even lift him right up
by the leash, in an emergency.
Remain aware of
your surroundings.
If you see another
dog running loose, pick up your dog and walk
away from the area. While tempting, do not
look directly at the other dog; but, know
where he is.
If a larger dog is
barking and baring his teeth, hold your dog
close to your body and remain calm. Often,
yelling at an aggressive dog only riles him
up.
Consider carrying
an object like a walking stick or even an
umbrella. If an aggressive dog is getting
too close, it can help to give a firm and
confident ‘No!’, stand tall, and use the
object claim your space and maintain
distance.
Consider carrying
an air horn, or pepper spray or bear spray
(depending on what is legal in your city or
town).
If a dog is
attacking, put anything you can between it
and you and your dog, for example, a jacket
or bag.
Safety Tip #6: Be
aware of seasonal weather-related issues
What to know:
If you live in an
area where the weather changes with the
seasons, you’ll want to pay particular
attention to common problems that can happen
during both hot and cold weather.
On hot summer
days, dogs can easily overheat and/or become
dehydrated. And, on cold winter days, dogs
can quickly develop hypothermia and even
frostbite.
Some tips:
In the summer:
1. Help your
Yorkie stay comfortable via a canine cooling
mat. For use both indoors and out, these are
a fantastic way to help a dog regulate his
body temperature and provide a respite from
the heat.
Considering one
like the The Green Pet Shop Self Cooling Pet
Pad. Instead of emitting cold, it works by
drawing heat away from a dog’s body via a
special gel. So, there is no refrigeration
needed, it doesn’t plug in, and there is
also no possibility of a dog getting too
cold. Note that this will not feel cool to
the touch; it is activated once a dog sits
or lies down on it and then absorbs extra
body heat.
2. Encourage your
Yorkie to drink water. Bring water along
while out on walks or otherwise away from
home, taking breaks to let your Yorkie
rehydrate. At home, clean the bowl once a
day, keep it filled with fresh cool water,
lead your little guy or gal to the bowl
throughout the day.
In the
winter:
1. If the
temperature is 32 F or lower, keep outdoor
playtime to 20 minutes or less.
2. Keep your
Yorkie’s core body warm via a lined vest or
coat like the Onemore Outdoor Fleece-Line
Coat. This one is fantastic because as the
name implies, it has a warm fleece lining,
but it also has a water-resistant outer
layer, starts at size extra-small, and has a
hole for the leash to slip through if a dog
is on a harness.
Safety Tip #7:
Limit the risk of falls
What to know:
There are two main
ways that toy breeds like the Yorkshire
Terrier are injured in falls: Tumbling down
staircases and being dropped. With steps,
young pups and older seniors are most at
risk; though, any dog that speeds down too
fast or whose paw pads do not have enough
grip can take a slip. In regard to falling
from someone’s arms, this happens most often
when a young pup is wigglier than
anticipated or if someone is holding a
Yorkie while trying to multitask.
What to do:
If you have a
potentially dangerous staircase, consider
adding no-slip runners and if needed,
install a safety gate to block the top of
the steps. If you have a senior, monitor
things as time goes by; decreased vision and
mobility is very common with older dogs and
adjustments may need to be made over time.
In regard to being
accidently dropped, have young children sit
when holding or petting your Yorkie and do
not try to hold your little guy or gal if
your hands will be busy doing other things.
Safety Tip #8:
Don’t let your Yorkie ingest additives
What to know:
The amount of
chemical preservatives, and artificial
coloring and flavoring in kibble and snacks
is stunning. Ethoxyquin, carrageenan,
propylene glycol, BHT, BHA, and others are
packed into dog foods as a cost-saving
method for manufacturers. But, these
chemicals can cause terrible side effects
including allergic reaction (itching, rash,
poor skin and coat health) and
gastrointestinal distress.
Not to mention the
by-products, high grain counts, high levels
of corn syrup, a slew of cheap fillers, and
other sub-par ingredients in the bags that
line the aisles in food stores and pet
supply shops.
A well-known name
and photos of healthy food on the bag cause
owners to trust a brand that is slowly
poisoning our dogs.
What to do:
Know what is in
the food that you’re giving to your
Yorkshire Terrier. Your goal should be a
100% all-natural kibble that is preserved
using a vitamin blend, not chemicals. There
should also be no dyes or artificial
flavors.
For optimum
health, there should be no fillers, soy,
corn, by-products, or generic meats or oils.
As an example of a
terrific kibble, look to Wellness CORE
Natural Grain-Free for Small Breeds. This
meets all the expectations of what you want
your Yorkie to have. There are no chemical
preservatives, wheat, corn, soy, meat
by-products, or artificial colors or
flavors. The base is turkey and chicken,
preserved using mixed tocopherols (vitamin
E), and has lots of healthy extras including
antioxidants, omega-3, and probiotics. It’s
sized for small dogs and is made in the USA.
Safety Tip #9:
Don’t let your Yorkie drink unfiltered tap
water
What to know
about water:
How can something
as simple as giving water to your Yorkie
pose any possible danger? The answer is that
if you are offering unfiltered tap water,
there are hundreds of chemicals and
pollutants swarming in it. Many are
unregulated and many are known to cause
illness and disease including cancer.
Fluoride and
chlorine are purposefully added. The former
(created as a pesticide to kill rats)
affects thyroid function and weakens bones
and the later (used in chemical weapons in
WWI) is associated with breast, rectum, and
bladder cancer.
In addition, there
are a slew of pollutants including arsenic
(allowed to be at twice the level that was
originally recommended), radium, lead,
copper, Trichloroethane 1, 1,2 (linked to
liver and kidney disease), and PFOS and PFOA
(linked to thyroid disease, colitis and
testicular and kidney cancer). Not to
mention chromium-6 (a known carcinogen) has
been found in tap water stretching across
all 50 US states (affecting 200 million
Americans).
What to do:
You can keep your
Yorkie safe by never giving unfiltered tap
water. Easy options are to offer spring
water or to use a water filtering device.
Safety Tip #10:
Buckle up your Yorkie
What to know:
Do you jump into
the car and your Yorkie rides shotgun on
someone’s lap? Or does your little guy or
gal cuddle up on your lap? If so, you’re
placing your canine family member at great
risk. If you think you can hold your Yorkie
in the case of an accident, think again. A
10-pound dog is thrown with the force of a
300-pound object in a car accident that
happens at just 30 MPH. Even if you were to
keep a hold of your little one, small pets
can be terribly injured by airbags that
deploy.
But, maybe this
doesn’t apply to you because you stay close
to home and are a safe driver? The truth of
the matter is most car accidents happen
close to home; 3 out of 10 occur less than 1
mile away and more than 1/3 happen between 1
and 5 miles from home. And, even if you have
excellent driving skills, statistics say the
average driver will be involved in 3
accidents over the course of their life.
What to do:
If you would
buckle up a baby or a child, do the same for
your canine family member. Just like
seatbelts for humans, this cannot entirely
stop all possible danger, but it is an
important safety measure for your Yorkshire
Terrier.
The safest spot
for a canine car seat is the rear seat. If
you choose to place it on the front
passenger seat, be sure to move the seat as
far back as it can go and disable the
passenger air bags.
Please note that
pet car seats have an inner buckle that is
meant to be attached to a dog’s harness
(Safety tip #1), not a collar; connecting it
to a collar can cause serious neck injury.
|
.gif)
