Their tiny size is itself a health liability, not just a look — Yorkies are prone to airway collapse, liver shunts and severe dental disease largely because they've been bred so small, and 'hypoallergenic' is marketing rather than biology: no dog breed, Yorkies included, is truly allergen-free.
13.3years, median
0.8 years above the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 24,088 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 13.3 to 13.4 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is small and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.065.21% of Yorkshire Terriers had at least one disorder recorded in 2016.
From the clinical records of 3,308 Yorkshire Terriers under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2016
| Disorder | Share of Yorkshire Terriers | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Gum disease (periodontal disease) | 21.1% | 19.71–22.49 |
| Overgrown nails | 6.47% | 5.63–7.31 |
| Anal sac impaction | 3.99% | 3.32–4.66 |
| Overweight or obese | 3.72% | 3.07–4.36 |
| Retained baby teeth | 3.57% | 2.94–4.20 |
| Slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) | 3.42% | 2.80–4.03 |
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 3.3% | 2.69–3.90 |
| Diarrhea | 3.11% | 2.52–3.71 |
| Dental disorder | 2.93% | 2.36–3.51 |
| Aggression | 2.51% | 1.98–3.04 |
Age at death in this sample
Median 13.56 years (middle half 11.3 to 15.15), 2016 data. Of the 378 deaths with a recorded cause: Brain disorder 9.79%, Kidney disorder 8.73%, Appetite problem 8.2%, Heart disorder 7.67%, Collapse 6.61%, Gut disease 6.61%, Cancer (neoplasia) 6.08%. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
Gum disease at 21.10% is almost twice the 12.52% the authors cite for dogs overall; retained baby teeth (3.57% against 1.01%) and slipping kneecaps (3.42% against 1.01%) run about three times.
“Overall, the Yorkshire Terrier has high longevity, which is suggestive of robust overall health.”— the authors, O'Neill et al. 2025, Companion Animal Health and Genetics 12:6
Health tests to ask the breeder for
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America sets the tests a Yorkshire Terrier needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation, after one year of age)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (OFA; recommended every 3 years)
When to spay or neuter a Yorkshire Terrier: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is any age. For females, any age. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA) DNA test
- Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) DNA test
- Serum bile acid test (liver shunt screening)
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Yorkshire Terrier near you
Shelters and rescues list Yorkshire Terriers and Yorkshire Terrier mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies have big personalities — bold, yappy, and surprisingly game for their size — but the size itself is a daily management issue: they're easily injured by a dropped object, a slammed door, or an overly enthusiastic child or larger dog. They need genuine dental care (brushing, professional cleanings) from a young age or they'll be losing teeth by middle age, and a coat kept long is a real daily-brushing commitment, which is why most pet owners keep it clipped short instead.
Health you should know about
- Tracheal collapse — a weakening of the windpipe cartilage causing a persistent honking cough; Yorkies are considered genetically predisposed among small breeds.
- Dental disease — small, crowded jaws mean periodontal disease sets in early and severely in this breed without consistent dental care.
- Portosystemic (liver) shunt — a congenital blood-vessel defect that lets toxins bypass the liver; seen at above-average rates in the breed and can require surgery.
- Patellar luxation and juvenile hypoglycemia — kneecap dislocation is common in toy breeds generally, and Yorkie puppies specifically are prone to dangerous blood-sugar crashes if meals are missed.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Yorkshire Terrier? British dog and cat names, 89 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 2 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 2 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.