Silky Terrier Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2018
Quick list of Silky Terrier health problems
Eye diseases are the major worry in Silky Terriers, especially a severe form of cataracts that often leads to blindness.
Silky Terriers can have loose knee joints (luxating patella), which causes pain and lameness and often requires expensive surgery. A serious degenerative hip disease (Legg-Calve-Perthes) also occurs in Silkys.
Chronic allergies cause itching and scratching that can lead to skin infections (hot spots).
Silky Terriers are prone to dental disase. Also be aware of epilepsy, diabetes, liver shunt, and collapsing trachea.
(See more health problems below.)
Preventing health problems
Some health problems are inherited. For example, if both parents of your Silky Terrier have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hereditary eye diseases and luxating patella, your Silky Terrier has less risk of developing those conditions.
Other health problems can be prevented, or partially prevented, by the ways you raise your dog. If you're serious about doing everything you can for your Silky Terrier, my best-selling book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, shows you how to raise your Silky Terrier puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways. It will help you be your dog's health care champion!
Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Silky Terrier puppy or adult dog:
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
Food is the #1 foundation for good health. The best diet for feeding your dog is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, fish....these are not just "people foods" and I'll tell you why.
Kibble or Canned Dog Food – Almost As Good As Homemade?
Are you looking for the best dry kibble or canned dog food?
Feed Homemade Dog Food Without Needing To Make It
Would you like to feed your dog homemade, but think you don't have the time or skill to make it? I have the solution for you....
Should You Buy Pet Insurance? An Honest Review
My advice on the pros and cons of pet insurance, and the best pet insurance company I've found.
Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Silky Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult Silky Terrier need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you.
Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female dog.
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.
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.
Assisi Loop Review: How I Helped Treat Inflammation and Pain
Does your dog suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis, a skin wound? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to help reduce inflammation and pain.
Complete list of Silky Terrier health problems
The Silky Terrier Club conducted a health survey that included 985 dogs. According to this survey, the most common (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.
To help you train and care for your dog
Dog training videos. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy (or adult dog) when you can see the correct training techniques in action.
The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership.
My puppy training book is Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. For puppies 2 to 18 months old, this highly-acclaimed training program is based on respect. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all great family dogs need to know.
My dog training book for adult dogs is Teach Your Dog 100 English Words. It's a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your dog to listen to you and do what you say.
Do the 11 Things in my dog health care book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, and your dog will live a longer, healthier life and seldom need to visit the vet.
My dog buying guide, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a good-tempered, healthy family companion.