Skye Terrier Health Care & Feeding
By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books
Jump down to this list of
Skye Terrier Health Problems
Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Skye Terrier puppy or adult dog:
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... [read more]
3 Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Healthy Food
You can dramatically increase your dog's chances of living a long, healthy life by feeding the right food. Cutting right to the chase, the best foods for your Skye Terrier are... [read more]
A Quick Way To Make Homemade Dog Food
Your Skye Terrier will love real chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, yogurt, broccoli.... this is not just "people food" and I'll tell you why... [read more]
5 Best Kibble and Canned Dog Foods
Some are better than others, but I must be honest – I'm not a huge fan of dry or canned dog food. Here are my concerns... [read more]
Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Skye Terrier puppy really need? Does your adult dog need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed! Find out what some vets aren't telling you... [read more]
Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Should your female Skye Terrier be spayed? Current research says, "The AGE at which you spay can be vitally important to your dog's future health." So what's the best age? [read more]
Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Have you been told that you must neuter your male Skye Terrier? Current research shows that the issue is not so simple. Pet owners are not being told about some risks associated with neutering male dogs, especially neutering too early... [read more]
Make Sure Your Vet is the Best!
Is your current veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Here's how to tell... [read more]
Assisi Loop Review
Does your Skye suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, disk disease, colitis? My honest review of a veterinary device you can use at home to reduce inflammation and pain. [read more]
Complete list of Skye Terrier health problems
Cancers are the #1 and #2 causes of death in Skye Terriers. Specifically, breast cancer and spleen cancer (hemangiosarcoma).
The #3 cause of death is autoimmune disease, which means the immune system attacks some part of its own body. In Skye Terriers, autoimmune diseases are usually blood-clotting diseases or thyroid disease.
Skye Terriers are deliberately bred with a deformity called chondrodysplasia (short legs, long back). So it isn't surprising that intervertebral disk disease affects about 10% of the breed and is responsible for a number of deaths.
A high rate of both luxating patella (loose knee joints) and hip dysplasia occurs in Skye Terriers.
Skye puppies and adolescents often limp. This 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 hypertrophic osteodystrophy (a very severe condition).
Skye Terriers 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 properly closed. Until this time, provide them with a ramp.
Chronic allergies (which cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial infections) are common in all terrier breeds.
Colitis can cause chronic diarrhea in Skye Terriers.
Other health concerns are copper toxicosis (liver disease) and renal dysplasia (kidney disease).
Preventing health problems
Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.
FREE eBOOK! My free online health care program, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Skye Terrier in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!
My best-selling books – now available FREE on my website