What to feed a Yorkshire Terrier at home: puppy and adult dog

Proper feeding is one of the main components in caring for a Yorkie. The breed is prone to dental disease and gastrointestinal disorders. And, as a rule, such problems are associated with improperly organized nutrition. Mixed and unbalanced feeding are the main causes of disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system as a whole. The dog owner needs to decide in advance on the type of food and create the correct diet. The owner chooses what to feed the Yorkshire Terrier, industrial food or natural food.

Consequences of poor nutrition

Feeding the Yorkshire Terrier high-calorie, fatty foods is one of the main reasons for the development of acute pancreatitis. The dog suffers from bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain in the abdominal area. Mixed feeding also often leads to problems.

Frequent overfeeding and a high-calorie diet cause obesity, to which Mini Yorkies are very prone. As a result, pathologies of the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system develop.

All dental problems that arise in Yorkies are associated with improperly organized nutrition.

In representatives of this breed, saliva contains a large amount of mucin, which leads to the accumulation of plaque. The lack of solid food or specialized dry food leads to the formation of tartar in the dog. The latter problem contributes to the development of gingivitis, periodontitis and, as a result, tooth loss.

General feeding recommendations

Yorkies are a small breed of dog. Unlike large canines, they do not expend as much energy. Therefore, their food should contain less protein and carbohydrates.

An adult dog needs 50 kcal per day per 1 kg of weight. The average body weight of a Yorkie is 3 kg. Accordingly, a pet needs 150 kcal per day.

Approximately 50-60% of your Yorkie's diet should be animal protein. The remaining 40-50% comes from fats and carbohydrates. Additionally, the Yorkshire Terrier must receive vitamins and minerals from its food.

The amount of food eaten is influenced by factors such as:

• Age. Older Yorkies should receive 15-20% fewer carbohydrates than younger dogs.
• Gender. Males that are used for breeding need more high-calorie food. The nutritional value of feed for producers is increased by 10-15%.
• Season. In autumn and winter, calorie content increases by 15%.
• Physical exercise. With active training, the amount of protein in the diet is increased to 15-30%.

Yorkies are prone to overeating and obesity, so the food bowl should not be constantly available. 15 minutes are allocated for feeding, after which the remaining food is removed.

An adult dog from 1 year of age is fed 2 times a day at the same time, a month-old puppy - up to 6 times a day at equal intervals. Food should be at room temperature.

The Yorkie is given food at least an hour before the walk or the same time after it.

When feeding natural food, additional vitamins are added to the diet 2 times a year (in consultation with the veterinarian). Breeders recommend using vitamin supplements from Royal Canin.

Can dogs be given milk? Do adult dogs need milk?

Cow's milk contains the milk sugar lactose. To process it in the animal’s intestines, the presence of a special enzyme, lactase, is necessary. The enzyme is contained in sufficient quantities in the body of puppies, they perfectly absorb the useful product. However, with age, the production of the enzyme decreases and even stops completely. Therefore, adult animals digest milk with difficulty. In 40% of individuals it can cause loose stools and even allergic reactions.

In many cases, growing dogs stop drinking milk on their own. But sometimes love for him remains for life. So can an adult dog be given milk? It is possible if the animal does not experience any adverse reactions after consumption.

Important: give your animal milk with a low fat content (2 - 2.5%). And it’s better not to feed low-fat. With low fat content, calcium is poorly absorbed. And dogs digest yogurt and kefir best.

Natural or industrial feed: pros and cons

The debate between supporters of industrial feed and natural nutrition continues. Each type of feeding has its own advantages and disadvantages. What to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at home is up to the owner to decide for himself, after weighing all the pros and cons.

Which one to choose?

As mentioned above, not all terriers of this breed have negative symptoms from drinking milk. There are exceptions. If your pet falls into this category, then sometimes you can pamper him with this treat. Once a month will be more than enough.

In this case, choose whole milk with a low fat content (no more than 2.5%). Pay attention to the composition ; as a rule, a cheap product may contain milk powder.

Natural nutrition

Feeding your Yorkie with natural food is a whole science. Some foods are important for a dog, others are useless or even dangerous to health.

Approximately 50% of a Yorkshire Terrier's diet should consist of animal protein. Fruits and vegetables account for 20-25% of the daily requirement. Porridge makes up 25% of the total daily diet.

A Yorkie should eat approximately 10% of its total body weight per day. For example, with a weight of 3 kg, the daily norm for a dog is 300 g.

Table of feeding rates for an adult dog per day:

The specified amount of food is divided into 2 feedings of the dog.

Protein sources

The main source of protein for Yorkies is muscle meat. It should make up 25-30% of the total daily ration and be present in feeding daily. An adult dog approximately requires 15-20 g of pure meat per 1 kg of weight, not including offal. For puppies, the need for meat food is 1.5-2 times higher.

The Yorkshire Terrier can be fed the following types of meat:

• beef;
• lean lamb;
• rabbit meat;
• horsemeat.

In addition to meat, Yorkies also benefit from offal: beef tripe (not advisable for up to 7 months), liver, heart. In addition to meat, they should make up no more than 15-20% of the total diet. Light can be given occasionally. It is not recommended to feed kidneys to Yorkies.

Pork is not suitable for feeding Yorkshire Terriers. It is highly allergenic, contains a lot of fat and often causes disorders of the digestive system.

Allowed meat products are given boiled to eliminate the risk of helminth infection. However, experienced breeders and veterinarians recommend feeding your Yorkie raw meat, previously frozen for 3 days. A thermally untreated product retains much more nutrients.

Cartilaginous bones and tails are fed raw. To strengthen and clean teeth, from 3 months of age, beef shins are allowed to be gnawed after trimming.

Your Yorkshire Terrier can be given chicken and turkey up to 2 times a week. Chicken by-products in the form of liver, stomachs and hearts are given exclusively in boiled form and no more than once a week.

Dogs are occasionally allowed weak meat broths. They are recommended to be given on the first day after giving birth to a Yorkie. You can also cook porridge in meat broths to increase the nutritional value.

Meat products are cut into small pieces and mixed with the “side dish”. It is not recommended to feed your Yorkie minced meat - it is poorly digestible and often causes digestive disorders. The exception is ground turkey, which is ideal for feeding Yorkshire Terrier puppies.

Once a week, boiled sea fish is introduced into the diet. Your dog can eat pollock, hake, and cod that have been previously deboned.

It is forbidden to feed Yorkshire terriers red varieties of fish, as they are highly allergenic. Mackerel, capelin and herring are too fatty and cause bowel problems. River fish is not recommended due to the high content of small bones.

When feeding fish, the daily ration is doubled, since the seafood product is less rich in protein than meat.

Once a week, give 1-2 chicken or 3-6 quail eggs, fresh or boiled.

Yorkies should have fermented milk products in their diet every day. Allowed are 5% cottage cheese, 1% kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, sour cream. Low-fat varieties of cheese (up to 10%) can be given as an occasional treat. Milk is only allowed for puppies under 3 months of age. In adult Yorkies, the fresh product is poorly absorbed.

Porridge and flour products

Cereals should make up 15-20% of the daily feeding norm. You can include rice and buckwheat in your Yorkshire Terrier's daily diet. During the cooking process, it is allowed to mix the recommended cereals in proportions of 1 to 1. Since rice removes sodium from the body, it is recommended to add a little salt to the porridge.

Semolina is allowed to be fed to dogs only during the period of rehabilitation after illness.

Oatmeal, peas and other legumes, pasta, and fresh bread are prohibited for Yorkies. These foods lead to indigestion.

Occasionally it is allowed to feed your pet unleavened bread and dry biscuits.

Vegetables and fruits

Vegetables must be present in your Yorkie's diet every day. Plant foods are a source of vitamins and fiber for dogs. Vegetables should make up 20-25% of the daily feeding intake. Yorkshire Terrier can be fed:

• broccoli and cauliflower;
• pumpkin and zucchini;
• cucumbers;
• carrots.

It is advisable to give vegetables raw - most vitamins are destroyed during the cooking process. It is recommended to mix carrots with vegetable oil or low-fat sour cream to increase nutritional value. It is also very useful to give the root vegetable whole. Chewing helps massage the gums and cleanse teeth of plaque.

Greens are added to food up to 3 times a week. Dill, parsley, and fresh salad are allowed.

White cabbage, potatoes, onions, beets, and spinach are prohibited. These vegetables cause flatulence and diarrhea in your Yorkie.

Wheat sprouts are sometimes added to the feed as a vitamin supplement.

As a fruit, you can add green apples to your daily diet. Red varieties can provoke an allergic reaction.

Watermelons, melon, and any edible berries are allowed.

Occasionally and in small quantities, bananas, apricots, and kiwi are given. From dried fruits, you can sometimes pamper your pet with dried apricots or prunes.

Vegetable oils and fats

Sources of fatty acids for Yorkies include sunflower, olive, corn and flaxseed oils. One of the types is included in the dog’s daily diet, 1 tbsp. l., mixing with food.

If the Yorkie does not receive additional vitamin complexes, add 1/2-1 tsp to the food. fish oil daily.

What to do if you feel sick from what you eat?

If your pet suddenly becomes ill after drinking a fermented milk drink (which happens in the rarest cases), you need to take the following actions :

1. If the animal is vomiting, it is necessary to give as much clean water as possible (preferably purified, not from the tap) and wait until the stomach is completely cleansed. If your pet refuses to drink water, you should leave him alone - the digestive system will cleanse itself and the body will return to normal. If vomiting does not stop for a long time, you can give the dog an antiemetic drug - Cerucal, as well as Smecta (to calm the stomach).
2. If your dog has profuse, ongoing diarrhea, he should be given the drug Regidron (dissolved in water) or given rice water to drink (boil a small amount of rice, remove the grounds, and use the resulting liquid for drinking).
3. In some cases, if there is vomiting or diarrhea, you can give an enema of clean water in an amount of approximately 250-300 mg. You should also not feed the animal any food for 12 hours.
4. If your pet experiences frequent bouts of vomiting or upset bowel movements, you should take him to the vet .
5. If the animal exhibits weakness, refusal to eat, or characteristic signs of a possible allergy (itching, rash on the body, swollen tongue, lacrimation), it is necessary to submit appropriate tests to the veterinarian. clinic to find out the exact cause of such reactions.

Products that are strictly prohibited

Feeding unhealthy foods not only leads to health problems, but also shortens the pet’s life. What not to feed your Yorkie:

• any confectionery baked goods, butter, sweets;
• sausages, semi-finished products;
• products containing spices and large amounts of salt;
• raisins, grapes;
• avocado;
• mushrooms;
• juices;
• carbonated and alcoholic drinks.

Dogs that eat human food are prone to obesity, digestive problems and allergies.

You should not feed your Yorkshire Terrier tubular chicken bones. They are not digested, clog the dog’s intestines and often cause damage to the intestinal walls.

What are the benefits of kefir?

This product is as beneficial for a four-legged pet as it is for humans. This should be kept in mind when wondering whether kefir can be given to a dog. From such food, your pet’s digestion improves, immunity increases, and metabolism harmonizes.

Kefir is extremely beneficial for dogs suffering from obesity. Only the product with the lowest fat content should be included in the diet.

Kefir can also be given to pets who do not eat ready-made food well. The sour taste stimulates the appetite, and after taking 2-3 spoons of the product, the dog is more willing to eat the main food.

Industrial dry food

You can feed your Yorkshire Terrier dog dry food marked “for dwarf” or “small” breeds. They have a special kibble shape that allows you to remove plaque and help your dog not gain excess weight, thanks to its balanced composition. The best food for Yorkies is represented by a line of at least premium class.

In addition to croquettes, your Yorkie's diet can be varied with wet food. It is preferable to use spiders of the same brand as the dry food.

For adult Yorkies

The following brands are suitable for feeding dogs over 1 year of age:

• Monge Mini Adult.
• Acana Adult Small Breed.
• Ava Fresh Meat Adult Small.
• Pro Plan Optiderma Small & Mini.
• Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adulto.

Information on how much to feed can be found on the product packaging. Feeding rates may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer due to composition.

For puppies and nursing bitches

The following brands of dry food can be given to your Yorkie puppy:

• Monge dog mini - specially designed for small breeds of dogs under 1 year of age. It can also be used for nursing Yorkies. The food consists of 42% chicken meat. Cereals contain rice and a small amount of corn.
• Brit Care Mini Puppy is a grain-free diet for puppies from 2 weeks to 10 months, pregnant and postpartum bitches. Lamb meat is one of the main ingredients of the feed.
• Royal Canin Starter is ideal for complementary feeding during the weaning period of puppies. Recommended for pregnant bitches in the third trimester and during the period of feeding cubs.

At first, it is recommended to soak dry food for puppies with a small amount of boiled water.

For sterilized pets

After sterilization and castration, it is recommended to feed the terrier kibble with a reduced amount of calories. The following brands are used for feeding:

• Brit Care Mini Light & Sterilized.
• Pro Plan Optiweight Small&Mini Light Sterilized.
• Royal Canin Neutered Adult Small Dog.

Food for sterilized Yorkies not only helps control weight, but also prevents the development of urolithiasis in the dog.

For allergy sufferers

For Yorkies with sensitive digestion and prone to allergies, the following brands are recommended:

• Brit VetDiets Dog Hypoallergenic
• Royal Canin Hypoallergenic
• Farmina Cibau Sensitive Fish
• Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin.

The food prevents digestive disorders and maintains healthy coat and skin.

For dogs over 7 years old

After 7-8 years, Yorkies are considered elderly. Suitable for this category of dogs:

• Hill's Science Plan Dog Adult Small & Miniature;
• Royal Canin X-Small Adult 8+
• Monge Daily Line.

Kibble for senior dogs helps maintain dental, musculoskeletal, and digestive health.

Feeding a Yorkie puppy

Until 4 weeks old, a Yorkie puppy eats only its mother's milk. Then the first complementary foods are introduced. You can start feeding a one-month-old puppy once a day with dairy products or pureed raw meat.

How many times a day to feed a Yorkshire Terrier puppy depends on its age:

• 1.5-2 months – up to 6 times;
• from 2 to 4 months – 5 times;
• from 4 to 5 months – 4 times;
• from 5 to 12 months – 3 times.

It is recommended to maintain equal time intervals between meals. After a year, the Yorkie is considered an adult dog, and he is transferred to two meals a day.

Puppies of small breeds, which include the Yorkshire Terrier, develop faster than the cubs of their larger counterparts. Therefore, in the first months of life they need more calories and nutrients.

The basis of the Yorkie's diet at 1-2 months is dairy products. Milk is fed separately or porridge is prepared with it. Also, the diet must include cottage cheese, yoghurt, kefir or yogurt.

At 1 month, the puppy can be given a small amount of pureed meat. Turkey and chicken work best at this point.

At 2-3 months, in addition to dairy products, the puppy’s diet is enriched with low-fat varieties of sea fish (once a week), permitted vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots) and apples.

By the age of 4 months, you can feed your Yorkie puppy all the foods that are allowed for an adult dog. The exception is beef tripe, which is recommended to be given to babies no earlier than 6-7 months.

Approximate daily menu for a 1-2 month old puppy:

• 6 am – rice porridge with milk;
• 9 am – vegetables with pureed meat;
• 12 days – cottage cheese or milk;
• 00 – buckwheat porridge with chicken and fresh carrots;
• 00 – yogurt or kefir;
• 00 – pureed raw meat.

When feeding a puppy with natural food, the amount of meat eaten per day should be 20-30 g per 1 kg of weight.

The amount of food eaten at one time is 1 tbsp. l. on the. 0.5 g puppy weight. If the baby looks hungry and greedily licks the bowl after each feeding, the portions can be increased slightly.

Sometimes puppies vomit 20-30 minutes after eating. This may mean that the baby has eaten too much. It may be necessary to reduce feeding portions. If the pet owner is sure that the phenomenon is not associated with overeating, and episodes of vomiting are repeated from time to time, it is necessary to contact a veterinarian.

When should you not give?

The biggest problem that may arise when taking this product is possible allergic reactions. They can manifest themselves in different ways: sneezing, itching, fever, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate. But most often, individual intolerance manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, literally on the day of administration.

Thus, initially it is necessary to give one, maximum two teaspoons of the drink, and then closely monitor the pet for several days. Then increase the dosage to one tablespoon, observe again, then move on to standard nutrition.

How to correctly transfer from one type of nutrition to another

The correct process of transition from one type of feeding to another takes 10-14 days. This time is enough for the Yorkie’s body to adapt to a new type of nutrition.

Over the course of two weeks, the amount of food the pet is switched to is gradually increased. This rule applies both when switching from natural products to industrial croquettes, and vice versa.

Mixed food types are prohibited for Yorkies. According to statistics, dog owners who practice simultaneous feeding of natural food and industrial food are more likely to encounter digestive problems in their pets.

What is this?

Kefir is a pleasant-tasting fermented milk drink obtained by fermenting cow's milk using kefir “fungi”. It contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids , which together are vital for both children and adults. The lactic acid product improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and has a beneficial effect on vision and skin condition.