We all want our beloved little Yorkiepoo to live forever, but getting old is inevitable. This isn’t the time to get sad, but a time to give them even more love and attention. Like all small dog breeds, Yorkiepoos can live for a long time. But what is the average life expectancy of your Yorkiepoo?
The average Yorkiepoo lives between 10 and 15 years. By age 10, Yorkiepoos are considered senior dogs. While the oldest Yorkiepoo lived to be 18 years old.
So Yorkiepoos are bred to bring you tons of love in an adorably small package for about 15 years. But how do you know when your Yorkiepoo is considered a senior dog? And what should you look out for as your Yorkiepoo ages?
How To Tell When My Yorkiepoo is Old
Sometimes it’s hard to tell when your Yorkiepoo is getting old because they still have a lot of energy and are as bright as they were when they were young, way into their senior years. But your little fur baby is considered old as soon as they turn 10.
There are some telltale signs that your Yorkiepoo is getting old, just like any other dog. But, there are a few medical issues you should look out for as they approach old age.
Medical Issues To Look Out For In Their Old Age
You want to provide your Yorkiepoo with a long and happy life, so it’s best to follow the concept of prevention being better than cure with old Yorkiepoos. Be aware of the following medical conditions to keep your Yorkiepoo healthy for as long as possible.
- Atopic Dermatitis – when your Yorkiepoos immune system overreacts to allergens and causes irritation to their skin.
- Bladder stones – these are solid mineral stones that form in your Yorkiepoo’s bladder.
- Cataracts – when cloudy coverings grow over the lens of your Yorkiepoo’s eyes.
- Collapsing Trachea – due to the weak muscles of the Yorkiepoo’s throat, they are highly susceptible to the cartilage of the throat collapsing.
- Cushing’s disease – this hereditary disease causes your Yorkiepoo’s body to produce excess cortisol. It is commonly misdiagnosed as typical aging symptoms.
- Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that could cause your dog to experience seizures.
- Hypothyroidism – when the thyroid tissue shrinks or becomes inflamed.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is an unusual genetic disease where your Yorkiepoo’s femur bone starts to die.
- Pancreatitis – this is when your Yorkiepoo’s pancreas becomes inflamed.
- Patellar Luxation – commonly known as dislocated kneecaps.
- Periodontal Disease – is also extremely common in senior Yorkiepoos; this is when they experience overcrowding of their teeth, and an excess amount of plaque builds up. This results in tooth decay, and the disease could spread throughout the body.
- Portosystemic Shunt (PSS) occurs as an abnormal connection between your Yorkiepoo’s portal vein of their intestine and the other vein that enables blood to bypass the liver.
Many of these different health conditions can occur when your Yorkiepoo is younger. But preventing and treating them as early as possible can prevent your Yorkiepoo’s health from declining unnecessarily in their old age.
Best Methods To Prevent And Treat Diseases In Your Yorkiepoo’s Old Age
Now that we know what medical issues senior Yorkiepoo will most likely experience, let’s look at the best way to prevent them. In doing so, you can do a lot to increase your Yorkiepoo’s life expectancy. However, old age is inevitable, and some genetic disorders and diseases can only be treated, but you can still do the following:
Ensure Regular Checkups At The Vet
When caring for your senior Yorkiepoo, you’ll need to ensure they go for regular checkups at your local vet. Regular screenings will pick up on any health issues common in senior dogs and specific to the Yorkiepoo breed. Twice a year is a good rule because medical problems develop almost instantaneously when your dog is eight years old and up.
The vet will do the usual physical and weigh-in, but they’ll also run tests like:
- A Chemistry panel
- A blood count
- Urinalysis
If your vet suspects any other health issues, they might also:
- Perform x-rays
- Do stool testing
- Do an electrocardiogram
A healthy relationship with your dog’s vet makes for a healthier senior Yorkiepoo. They can advise you on different nutritional and exercise habits for health and prescribe the necessary medication for elderly dogs.
Provide Them With A Nutritious Diet
You should always ensure your dog gets a nutritious diet rich in omega oils. If you’ve been doing this for most of your dog’s life, then you don’t need to switch from adult food to senior food as their appetite will naturally decline and consume fewer calories.
If, however, you see any noticeable or radical changes in their eating habits, consult your vet. They might recommend a slight diet change or encourage you to supplement their food with omega 3, 6, or 9 and some vitamins and minerals. Although this isn’t always necessary, so follow your vet’s advice.
Give Them A Good Environment
While adult Yorkiepoos can adapt well to changes in their environment, like getting a new addition to the family or moving house, senior Yorkiepoos do not.
Because of their frail state and the possible loss of vision and hearing, it’s best to keep things as familiar as possible. Drastic changes can cause a lot of stress to older Yorkiepoo dogs.
Also, ensure the environment where they nap and sleep is relaxing and quiet to ensure they’re getting enough sleep.
Ensure They Are Groomed Regularly
As your Yorkiepoo ages, their skin usually becomes more sensitive, and their coat could get thinner. So ensure you’re paying attention to their grooming needs. Keep to their daily brushing and a weekly bath, but adjust their shampoo and conditioner if necessary.
Give Them Regular Exercise
There will come a time when you realize that your old Yorkiepoo is no longer the young, vivacious pup they once were. That means their exercise routine needs to be altered to suit their new stage of life.
Senior Yorkiepoos require about 30 minutes of exercise daily but in spaced-out intervals, including much lower-impact activities. For example, adjust their exercises to 15-minute walks or swimming sessions. Spacing out exercises will prevent them from over-exerting themselves and putting strain on their joints and muscles.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Small dogs, like the Yorkiepoo, can develop periodontal and gum disease relatively quickly. Their small jaws cause their teeth to overcrowd easily, leading to plaque buildup. So, it’s crucial to keep their dental hygiene consistent.
For my little dogs, I give their teeth a good brush every day and give them some dental chews like these Dental Hygiene Chews to snack on to keep their teeth and gums healthy. So be incredibly gentle with your older Yorkiepoo’s teeth.
Ensure They Get Enough Sleep
Your older Yorkiepoo may add extra naps to their daily routine, so leave them be when you see them resting. If necessary, adjust their doggy bed to an orthopedic mattress (dog-sized, of course) to support their older frame.
Further Reading:
