Your hope is that your Skye Terrier will be with you and your family for many years. In order to achieve this goal there are certain steps that can be taken to insure that your Skye is as healthy as possible for as long as possible. For best results, begin your care for your Skye before you select your Skye and bring her home.
It's All in the Genes
Genetics are often an excellent indicator of life expectancy, susceptibility and predispositions for certain breed traits, and other indicators of overall health and well-being. Make sure the breeder you are working with has and provides a full history of heritage for your Skye as well as any medical issues that might affect your Skye. Prevention is the best cure but diligent care and concern for certain conditions can lead to early discovery and treatment if there is a history within the bloodline.
If the breeder you are considering hedges on providing information about the history of the Skye then find another breeder. Any reputable breeder should be very open about issues that may affect your Skye because of heredity and educating you about issues that are specific to the breed. Do not purchase from a breeder that doesn't show genuine concern for her animals.
Proper Care and Feeding
As with most living things, proper care and feeding lead to better health. You want to feed your Skye a well balanced diet that is relatively high in protein (at least 25%) in order to maintain a healthy and beautiful coat. Make sure you choose a high quality food for your Skye. She depends on you to provide for her do not let her down by filling her bowl with what is the equivalent of junk food every day.
You also want to avoid having your Skye jump or taking steps until she is at least 9 months old until a year. For this reason it is wise to build a ramp if you have steps leading into and out of your home and to avoid putting them in situations (such as on furniture) that might require them to jump to the floor.
Obviously you will want to make sure they have all their shots and regular check ups with a veterinarian. You may want to interview several veterinarians before you choose the one that will ultimately be responsible for the care of your Skye. You want to feel comfortable working with this veterinarian and you want to see for yourself if he or she really has your Skyes best interest at heart. Go with your gut and find a doctor you trust for your Skye.
There are no guarantees when it comes to animals and illnesses. Following the advice above however, can minimize the risks for many common health problems that plague dogs around the world. If you take excellent physical and emotional care of your Skye chances are good that she will be your faithful and loyal companion for many years.
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