Expected life span for Yorkshire Terriers -- and how to help YOUR Yorkie live longer.

Health problems in Yorkshire Terriers that affect quality of life and/or how long a Yorkshire Terrier lives:

Liver diseases in Yorkies:

  • liver shunt

Eye diseases in Yorkies:

  • cataracts
  • dry eye
  • tear duct disorders
  • retinal dysplasia
  • PRA

Orthopedic diseases in Yorkshire Terriers:

  • luxating patella
  • legg-calve-perthes disease

Heart disease in Yorkies:

  • cardiomyopathy
  • mitral valve disease
  • patent ductus arteriosus

Skin disorders in Yorkies:

  • allergies
  • pyoderma
  • demodectic mange
  • color diluation alopecia

Endocrine diseases in Yorkshire Terriers:

  • cushing's disease
  • diabetes
  • hypothyroidism

Neurological diseases in Yorkies:

  • epilepsy

Other health problems in Yorkies:

  • dental disease
  • hypoglycemia
  • collapsing trachea
  • urinary stones
  • colitis

How Long Do Yorkshire Terriers Live?

By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010


The typical life span for Yorkshire Terriers is 12-15 years old. Smaller dogs generally live longer than larger dogs, mostly because they don't suffer as many serious skeletal and cardiovascular diseases as larger dogs.

  • Their bones and joints don't need to support as much weight, so they don't break down as quickly.
  • Their heart doesn't need to pump blood through a huge body, so it doesn't wear out as quickly.
  • They have proportionately fewer growth hormones surging through their body. Studies suggest that growth hormones may shorten life.

However, long-lived doesn't necessarily mean healthy . . .

Smaller breeds are not necessarily healthy throughout their longer life. Many small dogs are very prone to health problems. It's just that their particular health problems tend to affect their QUALITY of life, rather than its length.


There are two causes of health problems in Yorkies:
  1. GENETIC. Your puppy inherits these health problems from his parents.
  2. ENVIRONMENTAL. Your puppy's health is affected by everything he puts in his mouth (food, water, chew toys), by everything he breathes (fragrances, smoke, fumes), by everything put into or onto his body (medications, drugs, chemicals, vaccines, ointiments, sprays, cleaning products on your floors) . . . virtually everything he comes in contact with. Many of these things cause health problems in dogs.

To find a healthy Yorkshire Terrier and KEEP him healthy. . .

Book cover

I wrote How To Buy a Good Dog to help you find a puppy that has the best chance of growing up healthy. Genetic health problems have become embedded in the Yorkshire Terrier gene pool by unwise breeding practices.

In How To Buy a Good Dog, you'll learn how to find knowledgeable, responsible sources of Yorkshire Terriers that are genetically healthy.		 Book cover

I wrote a 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy to help you KEEP your Yorkshire Terrier healthy for a lifetime. Environmental health problems can be avoided by raising your Yorkshire Terrier in all the right ways.

In 11 Things You Must Do Right. . ., you'll learn 11 "Golden Rules" for preventing health problems throughout your dog's life. By doing just these 11 things, you will minimize your Yorkshire Terrier's chances of developing health problems and maximize his lifespan!