The average lifespan of a Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. Smaller dogs, those that are around three pounds or less, tend to have a shorter lifespan. This is due in part to the fact that the smaller the dog, the more health problems they tend to suffer from.

The Yorkie has a delicate digestive system and if fed foods outside of their regular diet, they are likely to develop vomiting and diarrhea. They also tend to be picky about what they do eat and will leave what they don't like to the side. It is generally a poor idea to mix or change dog foods on these dogs.

The Yorkie usually has a poor tolerance to anesthesia and often have injection reactions. These dogs are also prone to injury and are more likely to be injured by falls, playing with other dogs and being around clumsy people and specifically young children. Many breeders do not allow their dogs to go to homes that have young children, as this can pose a large risk to the dog.

Typical health issues with the Yorkshire Terrier include:

• Bronchitis
• Cataracts
• Hepatic Lipidosis
• Lymphangiectasia
• Hypoglycemia
• Distichiasis - Eyelashes growing into the eyes
• Legg-Perthes Disease – Thigh bone begins to degenerate
• Patellar Luxation
• Hypoplasia of dens – The pivot point of the second cervical vertebrae does not form and causes spinal cord damage
• Portosystemic shunt – Malformation of the portal vein which brings blood to the liver and causes the blood to bypass the liver and then causes blood poisoning.
• Tracheal collapse – Often caused by pulling on the neck with a collar. Harnesses are recommended for walking.
• Cushing's Disease
• Bladder stones

Most of these health conditions are congenital defects in these dogs and purebred Yorkies tend to suffer more than Yorkie mixes.

Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar and is common in puppies. The condition may continue as the dog ages, but this is generally rare. This condition is often seen in pppies at 5 to 16 weeks of age. Small Yorkie puppies are predisposed to the condition because of their lack of muscle mass, which makes it difficult for the dog to store glucose and regulate blood sugar. A change in diet, poor nutrition, fatigue, a cold environment and stress can cause hypoglycemia in these dogs. (A good way to maintain your dog's health is exercise and a good diet, regular dog obedience training is one way to improve your dog's health. The dogs tend to become drowsy, shaky, uncoordinated, and listless. They may also have a lower than normal body temperature. Hypoglycemia must be treated by a veterinarian, as recurring attacks of the condition can cause seizures and can be fatal.

Other health conditions that these dogs are known for include early tooth decay and abnormal skull formations. Some females have difficulty during the birthing process. Dogs should be fed dry food and not canned food to help prevent tooth decay. Their teeth should also be kept clean.

Regular grooming is important and the clipped coat may need daily to weekly combing or brushing. The topknot on their head is usually tied up with a ribbon. Full show coats can take hours to groom. These dog tend to shed very little.