AMT HEALTH

American Morkshire Health

The following is a list of health disorders that can be commonly associated with the American Morkshire Terrier

Tracheal Collapse

Is a progressive disease of a dog’s trachea which typically occurs in smaller dogs and causes respiratory issues, frequent coughing and difficulty eating.

Obesity

Obesity can be a significant health problem in the American Morkshire Terrier that may cause or worsen joint problems, back pain, metabolic and digestive disorders and heart disease. Glycogen storage disease type la (GSD la) is a metabolic disorder encountered in the Maltese.

Cataracts

Cataracts in dogs occur when the eye lens is gradually covered by an opaque cloudiness. American Morkshire Terrier's are prone to severe cataracts, which can appear anywhere from birth to six years old. The condition will affect the dog’s vision and can lead to complete canine blindness. However, sometimes the condition can be corrected and vision can be restored with surgery. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) - this disorder is caused by the degeneration of photoreceptor cells of the retina.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects over 40% of dogs and is a condition of the eyes. There is a buildup of pressure in the eye like humans that prevents fluids from draining which can cause damage to the optic nerves of the eyes. Primary lens luxation (PLL) - this disorder is caused by degeneration of the zonular fibers that are required for attachment of the lens.

White Dog Shaker Syndrome

This health condition used to be found almost entirely with just solid white dogs like the Maltese; however, it is now being seen with other breeds. This is thought to be related to an autoimmune reaction, and will cause full body tremors; though, it is believed that a dog does not feel any discomfort or pain. More studies need to be done; however, it is agreed that there are environmental conditions that can trigger this to happen. Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a neurologic disorder found in many dog breeds but most commonly in German Shepherds and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

Reverse Sneezing

Reverse sneezing is a condition that affects all types of dogs, but more commonly smaller dogs such as miniatures, terriers, and brachycephalic breeds. It is a "paroxysmal" respiratory response, meaning that it comes in spasm-like episodes. It is suspected to be caused by irritation or inflammation of the nasal, pharyngeal, or sinus passages. It may be a way for the dog to attempt to remove foreign particles such as dust, powder or other irritants from its upper airways. It is also seen after periods of over-excitement. It can be alarming to an owner, but is not known to be harmful to dogs without any underlying conditions (such as heart disease), and most dogs are completely normal before and after a reverse sneezing episode. In dogs that exhibit reverse sneezing, it is not uncommon for them to have repeat episodes of reverse sneezing throughout their lives.

Luxation Patella

This is a condition that affects a dog's kneecaps where they become dislocated or slightly out of position. Although it is a hereditary condition that Yorkshire Terriers (and other toy breeds) often suffer from, trauma and injury can also cause Luxation Patella. If the condition is very severe, a vet would recommend surgery to correct the problem.

Heart Murmur

Heart Murmurs are graded on a scale from 1 to 6. Typically no treatment is required for a grade 1 to 3 murmur. However, this is often a progressive disease. If the murmur worsens to a grade 4, 5, or 6, there can be issues such as troubled breathing, coughing, and exercise intolerance. Treatment may involve a low-sodium diet and certain medications to lower blood pressure. For some dogs, this can be managed for years; for others it will progress to heart failure. Heart Murmurs do not always lead to congestive heart failure, but they can.

Tear Stains

Porphyrin (a pigment) is excreted in tears, saliva and urine. Some of the iron that is released from the breakdown of red blood cells goes into porphyrin. The Porphyrin that is contained in your dog's tears causes the actual stain Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to tear stains or it can simply be a case of a particular dog being predisposed towards getting tear stains. It can come from the environment, an infection, eye-lashes rubbing the cornea and there is a genetic basis for dogs that get tear stains and is seen in certain types of dogs more than others like the Poodle, Maltese and Shih Tzu. Also, dogs that are light colored will have more obvious tear-staining than darker dogs. Hyperuricosuria (HU) is a disorder that causes dogs to produce urine with very high levels of uric acid. This can lead to bladder stones, and less frequently kidney stones.

Conclusion
Not all American Morkshire Terrier's may develop any of the health issues listed above during the course of their lives.

*Updated 01/2020