Puppy First, Health First
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The big picture
Yorkiepoos typically live 10–15 years.
Like any cross, a Yorkiepoo can inherit health problems from either side of its family, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Toy or Miniature Poodle. This page explains the conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to, and what you can do about each one.
A few everyday habits help prevent many common problems.
Keep your dog lean, brush its teeth every day, walk it on a harness and book a checkup every year.
Worth knowing
Knee, windpipe, liver, eye, gum and heart problems are conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to.
This list is not exhaustive or official. Keep asking your veterinarian as your puppy grows.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) runs on the Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle and Miniature Poodle sides. The kneecap slips out of place, most often toward the inside of the leg.
You might see a skip in your dog's step, or a back leg held up.
Your vet feels the knees at checkups, and a lean weight eases knee problems.
Tracheal collapse is a weakening of the windpipe, and it runs on the Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle sides. It usually shows up in middle age or later.
Listen for a dry, honking cough.
Walk your dog on a harness, not a collar, keep it lean, and keep it away from smoke and hot, humid air.
A liver shunt, a problem with how blood flows through the liver from birth, runs on the Yorkshire Terrier side. A related problem with the liver's smallest blood vessels (microvascular dysplasia) runs on the Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle sides.
Poor growth, or odd behavior after meals, in a young dog can be a sign.
A bile acid blood test checks for both, since an exam alone cannot rule them out.
Cataracts, a clouding of the lens, run on both sides of the family. The Poodle side can also pass on progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a slow loss of sight.
Watch for cloudy eyes or trouble seeing at night.
Ask your vet about a yearly eye exam, which catches changes early.
Gum disease (periodontal disease) runs on the Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle sides, and it can start young. Toy dogs also often keep baby teeth after the adult teeth come in.
Your vet checks for crowded or leftover baby teeth at puppy visits.
Brush the teeth every day, and book professional cleanings when your vet advises.
A heart valve disease of older dogs (myxomatous mitral valve disease) runs on the Miniature Poodle side, and it is often mild.
A new heart murmur can be an early sign, and your vet listens for one.
Book a yearly checkup that includes listening to the heart.
Less common
A gut disease that makes the body lose protein, called protein-losing enteropathy (Yorkshire Terrier side): it shows up in adult dogs.
A brain inflammation, called necrotizing encephalitis (Yorkshire Terrier side): it appears in adult and older dogs.
Leftover strands of tissue across the pupil, called persistent pupillary membranes (Yorkshire Terrier side): an eye exam finds them.
A hip problem of young toy dogs, called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (Toy Poodle side): it is seen mostly from about 4 months to a year of age.
Diabetes runs on the Toy and Miniature Poodle sides.
An unstable joint at the top of the neck, called atlantoaxial instability (Toy Poodle side): it is present from birth.
An optic nerve that did not fully form, called optic nerve hypoplasia (Miniature Poodle side): the affected eye cannot see.
A form of dwarfism, called osteochondrodysplasia (Miniature Poodle side): a DNA test can find it.
A hip joint that forms poorly, called hip dysplasia (Miniature Poodle side): a vet can check the hips with X-rays.
DNA tests
A DNA test can check a dog for several uncommon inherited diseases from both parent breeds. Each result comes back as clear, carrier or at risk. A carrier has one copy of the gene change and is healthy. An at-risk result means a higher chance of the disease, not a diagnosis. With some of these diseases, such as a bleeding disorder called von Willebrand disease, an at-risk dog may never show signs.
Panels for the Yorkiepoo look for one form of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), the lens slipping out of place, a risk of bladder stones and von Willebrand disease. They also look for a gene change that raises the risk of back disc disease, a seizure disease of newborn puppies and a form of dwarfism. Tests from the Yorkshire Terrier side also cover two inherited nerve diseases. A test being available does not mean the condition is common in Yorkiepoos.
Checkups your dog will get
Care plan by life stage
Planning for Yorkiepoo vet costs
These are typical published costs for treating what a Yorkiepoo vet exam looks at and the conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to. Each range shows where it comes from and when, and your own vet's estimate will differ.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Eye tests before cataract surgery (ERG and eye ultrasound) | $500–$1,300 | per workup | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Missouri, Tennessee) | 2025–2026 |
| Cataract surgery, one eye | $3,800–$5,500 | per eye | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023–2025 |
| Cataract surgery, both eyes under one anesthetic | $5,600–$6,700 | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2025 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental disease care in the first 30 days after diagnosis (80th percentile of insurance claims) | $1,284–$1,420 | per 30 days after diagnosis | US pet insurer claims data (US) | 2024–2025 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver shunt workup (before any surgery) | $1,622–$3,937 | per workup | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Liver shunt surgery, shunt outside the liver (workup and surgery) | $5,408–$7,571 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Liver shunt surgery, shunt inside the liver, open surgery (workup and surgery) | $6,685–$9,605 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Liver shunt closure with coils through a vein (workup and procedure) | $10,600–$12,309 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collapsing trachea workup (before a stent) | $2,000–$3,500 | per workup | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023 |
| Tracheal stent placement | $3,200–$3,600 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023 |
| Tracheal stent, workup and placement together | $5,900–$6,500 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023 |
Planning for pet insurance
When you are ready to compare plans, here is one option for Pawrade buyers.
Only with Pawrade, you receive a pet insurance policy with no waiting period included for immediate accident or illness coverage, 1 month, with every puppy.† You activate it by calling MetLife; instructions arrive with your travel details. Continuing MetLife coverage after the first month is strongly recommended.
View the MetLife 30-day offer →†NH, NY, RI, SC and TN residents excluded. Activated by calling MetLife; coverage begins immediately following policy activation. See the offer for full terms.
Whichever plan you look at, read the policy before you buy. Check the waiting periods, how it defines a pre-existing condition, and its deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit.
A waiting period is how long after you buy a pet insurance policy before a claim counts.
| Policy | Accidents | Illness | Joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife policy included with your Pawrade puppy† | None | None | None |
| MetLife, bought directly | None | 14 days | Not listed |
| Industry standard | 0–14 days | 14–30 days | 6–12 months |
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days | Not listed |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Embrace | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days | Not listed |
The breeder's licensed vet checks your puppy before it goes home. The vet follows PetPay's exam standards, and the results go in your puppy's Veterinary Health Report.
Focus
Eyes
Discharge · Vision problems · Eyelash problems · Cherry eye
05
Ears and hearing
Debris or discharge · Ear mites · Signs of infection · Hearing
06 Focus
Mouth and bite
Teeth and jaw alignment · Bite (overbite or underbite)
07
Skin and coat
Fleas and ticks · Hair loss · Signs of infection
08 Focus
Kneecaps
Kneecaps that slip, and how much (grade)
09
Hips
Hip pain
10
Hernias
Belly-button (umbilical) hernia · Groin (inguinal) hernia
11
Soft spot on the skull
An open soft spot, and its size
12 Focus
Body condition and weight
Body condition score · Weight
13
Reproductive organs
Both testicles in place (males) · Extra skin folds around the vulva (females)
14
History of vomiting or diarrhea
Any history of vomiting or diarrhea (reported, not examined)
15
Stool test for parasites
Fecal flotation test, with any treatment given
16
Past surgery and notes
Any past surgery · The vet's explanation of anything abnormal
With a small light, the vet checks both eyes for a cloudy lens or other signs of a vision problem, and for eyelash problems.
Cataract runs in both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle, so an early look at the eyes is a useful record to start from. Leftover strands of tissue in the eye and eyelid problems need a closer look, which your own vet or a veterinary eye specialist can give.
The vet checks how the teeth meet and notes any overbite or underbite.
Toy dogs often keep baby teeth after the adult teeth arrive, so the mouth is worth checking again while the adult teeth come in.
The vet feels both knees to check that each kneecap sits firmly in place.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) is seen in both parent breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Toy Poodle. Between vet visits, a skipping step when your puppy walks can be a sign of a slipping kneecap.
The vet weighs the puppy and scores its body condition, a record of how well it is growing.
Slow growth or odd behavior after meals can point to a liver shunt, a blood-flow problem of the liver, which an exam alone cannot rule out. Liver shunts run in the Yorkshire Terrier side of the family, and if there are signs, a bile acid blood test checks for one.
With a small light, the vet checks both eyes for a cloudy lens or other signs of a vision problem, and for eyelash problems.
Cataract runs in both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle, so an early look at the eyes is a useful record to start from. Leftover strands of tissue in the eye and eyelid problems need a closer look, which your own vet or a veterinary eye specialist can give.
The vet checks how the teeth meet and notes any overbite or underbite.
Toy dogs often keep baby teeth after the adult teeth arrive, so the mouth is worth checking again while the adult teeth come in.
The vet feels both knees to check that each kneecap sits firmly in place.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) is seen in both parent breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Toy Poodle. Between vet visits, a skipping step when your puppy walks can be a sign of a slipping kneecap.
The vet weighs the puppy and scores its body condition, a record of how well it is growing.
Slow growth or odd behavior after meals can point to a liver shunt, a blood-flow problem of the liver, which an exam alone cannot rule out. Liver shunts run in the Yorkshire Terrier side of the family, and if there are signs, a bile acid blood test checks for one.
Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. The exam is a strong early indicator and a documented starting point that your own vet builds on.
Health guarantee
Every Pawrade puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.
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Riley · Cavalier King Charles Spaniel“Everyone we dealt with was very nice. We were however disappointed to find out our puppy (who went to Vet the next day) has a parasite which we have to get medication for because she has diarrhea.”
Yorkiepoo Puppies for Sale
Frequently asked questions
A Yorkiepoo can inherit conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to, from the Yorkshire Terrier and the Toy or Miniature Poodle. The ones most worth knowing about are slipping kneecaps, a weak windpipe (tracheal collapse), liver shunts, and cataracts and other eye problems. Gum disease and a heart valve disease of older dogs are on the list too. Less common ones include a gut disease that makes the body lose protein, brain inflammation, diabetes and a hip problem of young toy dogs.
Copy link to this questionNot automatically, because a Yorkiepoo can inherit problems from both parent breeds. Mixing may lower some inherited risks, but that cannot be predicted for an individual puppy.
Copy link to this questionA slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) runs on the Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle and Miniature Poodle sides. It can show as a skip in the step or a back leg held up, and your vet can feel the knees at checkups.
Copy link to this questionA liver shunt is a problem with how blood flows through the liver, present from birth, and it runs on the Yorkshire Terrier side. Poor growth, or odd behavior after meals, in a young dog can be a sign, and a bile acid blood test checks for it.
Copy link to this questionDNA panels check for several uncommon inherited diseases, including one form of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a bleeding disorder and a form of dwarfism. Each result is clear, carrier or at risk. A carrier has one copy of a gene change and is healthy, and an at-risk result means a higher chance of the disease, not a diagnosis.
Copy link to this questionYour vet can feel the knees and look at the eyes at every puppy visit. From about a year old, a first eye exam with a veterinary eye specialist and a knee check are worth booking. Yearly eye exams carry on after that.
Copy link to this questionYorkiepoos typically live 10–15 years. Its parent breeds live about as long: 11–15 years for the Yorkshire Terrier and 12 years or more for the Toy Poodle.
Copy link to this questionOlder Yorkiepoos are more likely to develop cloudy eyes, night blindness, a heart murmur or a cough. Plan dental care more often in the senior years.
Copy link to this questionEveryday habits do most of the work: keep your dog lean, brush its teeth daily, walk it on a harness and book a yearly checkup.
Copy link to this questionA harness protects the windpipe, because collar pressure worsens the signs of tracheal collapse, a condition on both the Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle lists. Use a harness from the very first walk.
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