Although there are many benefits to having a Yorkshire Terrier, there are still health problems that you should be aware of. Yorkshire Terrier health problems can either be inherited, congenital or acquired. However, many of Yorkshire Terrier health problems have become a thing of the past due to continued research and selective breeding practices. By knowing about the most common Yorkshire Terrier health problems and recognizing the signs you can make sure your dog has a happy and healthy life.
One common condition suffered by the Yorkshire Terrier is portosystemic shunts. This condition causes blood to flow around the liver rather than to the liver, which prevents toxins from being removed from the body and results in serious problems. This ailment is either acquired or congenital which means that it is present at birth or develops later in life. Dogs with this condition are often small for their age and breed. Other signs of this condition include excessive drinking, frequent urination and after eating they may show signs of depression, muscular incoordination, coma and seizures.
Another of the Yorkshire Terrier health problems is hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is found in the neck and it produces a hormone that helps to speed up metabolism. When the gland stops functioning then hypothyroidism occurs and it is one of the most common hormonal diseases in dogs.
Many of the causes for hypothyroidism are still unknown, as the only known cause is when the immune system destroys the gland. This disease typically affects middle-aged dogs. Most times the first sign will be hair loss that isn't linked to any other skin condition through testing. Other symptoms to look for include weight gain, muscle loss, lethargy and a tendency to seek heat.
Often times the signs are attributed simply to the aging process of the dog and medical care is not sought. While it is not a life threatening condition, it can severely effect the pets quality of life and reduce the their overall number of years.
The last of the most common Yorkshire Terrier health problems is renal failure. The kidneys help to clear the blood of any toxins and help conserve water if a pet isn't drinking as much as they should. If the kidneys begin to deteriorate it leads to a condition called chronic renal failure, which can lead to serious health problems for your pet. Chronic renal failure can result from a variety of inherited or acquired disorders.
The hard part is that the signs are very vague which means the condition often mimics nearly any other condition. The condition is typically found in middle-aged to older Yorkshire Terriers and the signs to consider include excessive drinking or urination, weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting or general signs that your pet is not feeling well.
If chronic renal failure is diagnosed soon enough then the progression of the disease can be slowed by dietary means. Your veterinarian will help you feed your pet a diet that has reduced protein, phosphorous and salt.
The use of anabolic steroids to enhance body performance and looks is one of the most criticized realities of the modern age. Extraordinarily and frequently exaggerated negative side effects that cause permanent health problems are mentioned in any discussion of steroids. With all this negative rhetoric, the abuse of steroids would be expected to go down. In contrast however, bodybuilders, athletes, and the general public continue undeterred in their abuse of anabolic steroids as they search for shortcuts to muscle building and superhuman performance.
Recent releases from Hollywood like The Program, or Spiderman have their main characters or villains succumbing to the negative consequences of performance enhancers. Contemporary medical research has clinically established with certainty that the following 7 side effects are the most common and serious among addicted or nearly addicted anabolic steroid users:
1. Interruption of Hormonal balance
In the highest percentage of steroid abuse cases, regular injection of steroid hormones realigns the natural endocrine system and instructs the system to stop producing the natural hormone now that a synthetic one is readily available. This is the only way in which the body can retain homeostasis - a balance. In maintaining homeostasis, the human body seeks to avoid accumulating too much of a particular hormone. Whether using testosterone or any other anabolic steroids, the body still sends a signal to the testicles to cease production 99% of the time. Different anabolic steroids cause ranging degrees of hormonal inhibition from total duct closure endogenous (natural) testosterone production, to mild hormonal inhibition, where a limited supply of natural hormones are produced and adequately circulating.
2. Liver Damage and Displacement of Organ Function
Most locally available steroids are ingested orally and eventually pass through the human liver, whose function is to filter bodily liquids and substances. The liver breaks these substances before passing them along into the bloodstream. A research study conducted by the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and published in 2003 established that steroids build up toxicity in the system that culminates in ill-health. According to steroid research specialists Hartgens, F. Kuipers and Keizer H.A., in most instances of liver damage, the results are an imbalance in bodily substance composition, high cardiovascular risk factors and liver function displacement.
3. Amplified development of breasts in males
Development of large breast tissue in male bodies is called gynecomastia or feminization. According to a research conducted by doctors Ronald S. Swerdloff, Jason N and Gladys E. Palomeno in March 2004, anabolic steroids deposit excess estrogen in the human body. The excess estrogen ultimately reaches the receptors in the breast tissue and attaches itself therein. The dramatic result is female-sized breast tissue which needs surgery to remove.
4. Acne Development
Regular use of anabolic steroids results in acne development especially with the use of some particular steroids and exact dosages levels used. The human skin's sebaceous glands incorporate a high affinity to Dihydrotestosterone, a naturally produced testosterone androgen. The increased sebaceous gland activity in performance enhanced dosages combines the oily skin with bacteria and dead skin and eventually causes clogged pores on the skin.
5. Psychological Instability
Steroids users have increased aggressiveness. Other significant psychiatric symptoms found among users include increased violence, mania, and even psychosis.
6. Severe Baldness
Male users of steroids start balding quite early in their lives. Steroids cause premature balding due to the fact that the scalp reacts strongly with Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is a substance converted from or derived from steroids.
Both Susan Bailey & Dane Fletcher are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Susan Bailey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Boston Terrier Dogs, Shoes and Pets. Susan Bailey is an avid lover of the Yorkshire Terrier and owns a popular website that can teach you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved. Susan Bailey's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
Dane Fletcher has sinced written about articles on various topics from Detoxification, Body Building and Health. Dane Fletcher is the world-wide authority on and . He ha. Dane Fletcher's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.