Everything You Need to Know About Yorkshire Terriers (From a Vet!) - The Dr. Molly Says Podcast | Lyssna här

This week on Dr. Molly Says, we're back with another dog breed deep dive!!! You guys loved the last breed episode so much that we had to do it again, and this time it's extra personal: we're talking about the Yorkshire Terrier, in honor of my patient (and honorary muse) Sophia, who bosses everyone around and 100% deserves her own bow collection. 💅

But first, a quick PSA/clarification on the clinic front: after all the love (and questions!) on the open-concept ER clips from Veg Emergency Group, I wanted to walk you through exactly how it's laid out so you know it's not just one big room where everyone's staring at each other lol. More clinic footage coming soon!!!

OK let's get into Yorkies: did you know they were NOT bred to be fancy lap dogs?! Scottish textile workers brought them into Yorkshire to hunt rats and mice in mills and coal mines — literal blue collar pest control that somehow became Victorian royalty's favorite accessory. We get into breed standard (under 7 lbs, no such thing as an official "teacup" or "micro" Yorkie, sorry), temperament (bold, smart, opinionated, shockingly athletic, and yes big barkers), and the grooming commitment that comes with that gorgeous coat (daily brushing please!!).

We also talk nutrition and then the big one: health issues to know before you bring one home. Dental disease and retained baby teeth, patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, liver shunts, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, pancreatitis, mitral valve disease, cataracts. It's a lot, but knowledge is power, and it's exactly why ethical breeding and health testing matter so much.

Plus: are Yorkies actually good family dogs? (Yes, with the right training and expectations!) What to look for (and avoid!) in a breeder, and why Sophia may be a princess but could probably also thrive as a farm girl.

LOVE YOU GUYS 🐾

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome back to Dr. Molly Says! + new Figs scrubs drop

3:06 – Yorkshire Terrier episode: meet Sophia + breed history

7:57 – Breed standard, appearance & temperament

12:52 – Grooming & nutrition

18:00 – Yorkie health issues: dental disease, patella, tracheal collapse

22:19 – More health issues: liver shunts, Perthes disease, heart & eyes

26:15 – Are Yorkies good family dogs? + breeder tips + Sophia's send-off

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