TEST                                                     YES        NO   Hip Radiograph*                                        5          96 CERF                                                       25        178 Patellas                                                 193          19   Preventive Tests       Heartworm                                             151          46 Fecal                                                     182          22 Dental Checkup                                     206            5 Blood Work                                            193          15 Other                                                       22        100

* 107 only tested if there was a problem

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The Health Survey asked respondents to provide information on the General Health Conditions of the Yorkshire Terrier that had been documented and that were personally experienced in the Yorkshire Terriers that they had bred or owned.  This information was noted in the survey by identifying the various canine diseases by the particular body system involved.  The tabulation of this data by system is presented in the next graph.

GRAPH IV- GENERAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER

 

The data presented in GRAPH IV has been broken down by the system group and each of these system groups is being presented in the following series of individual graphs.  All of these individual graphs include only the most significant pieces of data in each of the conditions with the remaining ones noted below each graph.   This was done so that the presentation was easier to read, as well as to be able to look back at the data individually if needed in the future.  A complete summary of all the data received is included in Appendix II.

GRAPH V – SKIN   80 % of the data on Skin Conditions is represented above  20% included color-mutant/color dilution alopecia, autoimmune skin disease, contact dermatitis, cysts on back, dry skin, nodular panniculitis, sebaceous adenitis and other-not specified.

 

GRAPH VI - NEUROLOGY   94 % of the data identified the above three Neurology Conditions  6 % included brain aneurysm, dementia, GME and Laryngeal paralysis

 

GRAPH VII – HEMATOLOGY – BLOOD DISORDERS   All four of the data are represented above

 

GRAPH VIII – ENDOCRINOLOGY   94.6 % of data represented above 5.4 % included Addison’s Disease, adrenal, and polydypsia

 

GRAPH IX – DIGESTIVE SYSTEM – GASTROENTEROLOGY   89.7 % of data included in above graph 10.3 % included coccidia, gall bladder, H G E, irritable bowel Megaesophagus,  obstructed bowel and P L E

 

GRAPH X – LIVER DISORDERS   87 % of data included in above graph  13 % included active hepatitis and portosystemic shunt–unknown

 

GRAPH XI – OPTHALMOLOGY   90 % of the data is represented in the above graph 10 % included blindness, corneal dystrophy, ectropion, eyelash disorder, Glaucoma, micro opthalmia, prolapsed gland of the third eye lid,  retinal dysplasia, and ulcerated eye

 

GRAPH XII – EARS   99.3 % of the data represented above 0.7 % was included in deafness

 

GRAPH XIII – HEART – CARDIOLOGY   90.4 % represented in the graph above 9.6 % included heart attacks, defects, cardiomyopathy and COPD

 

GRAPH XIV – DENTAL   89.4 % of data represented in graph above 10.6 % included blocked saliva gland, brachygnathia,  Lack of full dentition and nasal fistula

 

GRAPH XV – CANCER – ONCOLOGY   76.9 % of data is represented in the above graph for Cancer-Oncology 23.1 % included adenocarcinoma of the intestines, bladder, brain tumor, Carotid artery, liver, mast cell, stomach, testicular and other-unknown type

 

GRAPH XVI – MUSCULOSKELETAL   95.3 % of data is represented above 4.7 % included arthritis, arthritis-Rheumatoid, and back problems

 

GRAPH XVII – RESPIRATORY   96.4 % of data in represented in Graph XVII for Respiratory Conditions 3.6 % included deviated septum due to trauma, pulmonary stenosis, reverse sneezing, and other-not specified

 

GRAPH XVIII – REPRODUCTIVE   70 % of data in Reproductive is represented above 30 % included abortion-spontaneous, breech birth, herpes virus, infertility-female, infertility-male, inguinal hernia, mastitis, and small litters

 

GRAPH XIX – BIRTH DEFECTS   95.6 % of data is represented above 4.4 % included born blue puppy, puppy born without anus and underdeveloped kidney

 

GRAPH XX – KIDNEY – URINARY   95.3 % of data represented above 4.7 % included Glomerulonephritis, kidney stones and polyurea

 

GRAPH XXI – TEMPERAMENT PROBLEMS   89.3 % of data in represented in the above graph 10.7 % included fear biting, female urinating and then licking it up,  and separation anxiety

 

GRAPH XXII – OTHER   66.7 % represented in above Graph 33.3 % included parasite infection and pneumonia

 

INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA

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The reader should agree, after looking at all of the data, that there certainly are concerns that are now documented in a way that can be useful for further investigation and follow up.  The statistician presented a comment worth considering.  She commented that

"The length of time the respondents have been involved with the breed could, potentially, yield   responses that are not representative of the average Yorkie." Therefore in making an assessment of this data, one needs to weigh "the cause of death data more heavily in any decision-making activities when considering the results of the general health conditions data." 

One last comment by the statistician was:  

"It should be noted that even though almost half of the respondents have seen cataracts, very few CERF their animals." 

The statistician was not asked to analyze the information that she collected and entered in the database the above mentioned observation became clear to her and she shared these concerns with the Board. 

GRAPH XXIII  SIX MOST RECENT PRIMARY CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER AND THOSE > 10 YEARS OF AGE YELLOW – The Number of Deaths in the Particular Disease Category PURPLE – The Number of Yorkies that were over 10 years old when they died

 

A consideration when looking at the age the four highest causes of death above; in generalities, are these health conditions not a common part of the aging process?  It is necessary to consider this when making decision on what and where to invest research funds. 

GRAPH XXIV – ACCIDENTS

 

GRAPH XXV – TEN HIGHEST HEALTH CONDITIONS AS REPORTED IN YORKSHIRE TERRIERS

Even though the statistician did not address the issue of old age as shown in the following GRAPH XXVI - Old Age, she did allude to it. Taking into account the characteristics of the respondents both in terms of longevity in the breed and as interests in the breed, she noted that they must be doing their breeding by keeping the best of the best.   One certainly would have to believe this assumption as there are Yorkies who live to eighteen years and then, too, how many that are in this old age category alone that ranged from twelve to eighteen years of age at time of death.  It would appear that breeders must be doing something right.

GRAPH XXVI – OLD AGE

 

APPENDIX   I

 

APPENDIX  II