Silky Terrier Health Problems and Raising a Silky Terrier Puppy to be Healthy

Quiz – How Long Will Your Dog Live?
How To Raise a Healthy Dog
Feeding the Best Dog Food
Feeding the 2nd Best Dog Food
Vaccinations: Needed or Not?
Are You Sure Your Vet Is Good?

The most common health problems in Silky Terriers:

The Silky Terrier Club conducted a health survey that included 985 dogs. According to this survey, the most common (and most serious) health problem in Silky Terriers is cataracts, a severe enough form that they can lead to blindness.

Other eye diseases in Silkys are progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and glaucoma.

Keep an eye out for tumors in Silky Terriers, especially breast tumors.

Allergies (which cause itchy skin and can leading to pyoderma) are common in all terriers.

Hormonal/endocrine system diseases include hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, and diabetes.

The most common orthopedic disease in the Silky Terrier is luxating patella (loose knees), then Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and occasionally hip dysplasia.

Neurological diseases include epilepsy (seizures), and occasionally white shaker dog syndrome.

Other health issues to be concerned about in Silkys are liver shunt and collapsing trachea.

Silky Terriers are prone to dental disease and harmless episodes of reverse sneezing.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Silky Terrier?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Silky Terriers today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Silky Terrier puppy who is genetically healthy.
2. Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your Silky Terrier puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Silky Terrier puppy or adult dog:

How Long Will Your Dog Live? – Take This Quiz!
Based on your dog's breed and how you're raising him, this personalized quiz will help you understand how long your dog might live – and most importantly, how you can increase his life expectancy.

Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Silky Terrier lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Silky Terrier
The best diet for feeding your Silky Terrier is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.

The Second-Best Dog Food For Your Silky Terrier
If you can't feed homemade dog food, here are your next-best choices.

Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Silky Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult Silky need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.

The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Is your veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Learn about the differences between vets who practice conventional, holistic, and alternative veterinary medicine.

Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female Silky Terrier.

Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.

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