Skye Terrier Health Problems and Raising a Skye 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 Skye Terriers:

Cancer is the #1 AND #2 causes of death in Skye Terriers. Specifically, breast cancer accounts for the largest number of Skye deaths, but spleen cancer (hemangiosarcoma) is right behind it (and may soon pass breast cancer).

The #3 cause of death in Skye Terriers is autoimmune disease (a defective immune system that "turns" on its own body and damages it). In Skye Terriers, these autoimmune diseases are usually blood-clotting diseases that strike in middle age. A less serious autoimmune disease in Skyes is hypothyroidism.

Intervertebral disk disease affects 10% of the breed and is responsible for a number of deaths. Very few breeders are testing their Skye Terriers for hip dysplasia or luxating patella (loose knees) before breeding – and they should be, because these orthopedic diseases definitely exist in the breed.

Skye puppies and adolescents often limp, which might be due to panosteitis (a mild orthopedic condition), or the premature closure of growth plates in their front legs (a mild to severe condition), or occasionally to hypertrophic osteodystrophy (a very severe condition). Skyes should not be allowed to go up or down steps or jump onto hard surfaces until they are at least nine months old and their growth plates have closed. Until this time, provide them with a ramp.

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

Colitis can cause chronic diarrhea in Skye Terriers, and megaesophagus and copper toxicosis have been reported in the breed.

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

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Skye Terriers today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find a Skye 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 Skye Terrier puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Skye 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 Skye Terrier lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Skye Terrier
The best diet for feeding your Skye 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 Skye 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 Skye Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult Skye Terrier 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 Skye Terrier.

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

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