Yorkshire terriers are a popular that’s full of love, energy, and attitude. However, as with all small breeds, there are some nutritional needs that your Yorkie may require. Catering to their tastes while painting a healthy diet for them as a can be challenging.
So, if you’re still asking what foods or ingredients can eat, continue reading to know the right for your sassy friend.
What Can My Yorkie Eat?
While there are some human foods that are big no-nos, there’s a variety of homemade ingredients that we can give our .
Cooked Fish
Fish can be a great source of animal proteins, which should be the first ingredient in every main meal for your . Also, fish, such as salmon and Sardines, provide dogs with / that support their brain development, boost their immune system, improve their coat health, and reduce inflammation.
Lean Meats ()
Just like you would benefit from low-fat meats, your Yorkie would too. Lean beef benefits your with selenium, zinc, and vitamins B12, B3, and B6. Plus, dogs get from cooked lean beef.
Don’t forget about feeding your Yorkie boneless and skinless and turkey, as these ingredients are an important that’s also abundant in , amino acids, selenium, and tryptophan.
Veggies
While most people imagine dogs as carnivores, they’re actually omnivores. So, you may want to give your canine companion some vegetables to improve their health.
need their plant-based proteins, which they can find in peas and green beans. These legumes are rich in proteins, essential vitamins, minerals, and fibers. So, we highly recommend them.
Also, cooked sweet potatoes provide plenty of iron, calcium, and essential vitamins. Plus, as a whole like , they’re a good source of carbohydrates.
Cooked Eggs
Boiled or A is packed with nutrients that will help your ‘s skin, coat, teeth, and bones. This protein-rich contains vitamin A and B12, , selenium, iron, folate, and more. This is not just that your can eat; it’s that your needs.
and Oats
owners constantly debate on whether to feed dogs whole grains or put them on a grain-free diet. Incorporating whole grains into your can help make it more balanced. nutrition can definitely benefit from easy-to-tolerate grains, such as cooked and oats.
Like sweet potatoes, is a good source of carbohydrates. Also, it’s highly nutritious, containing vitamins D and B, calcium, iron, and fibers. Just remember not to feed your dog too much of it, just like you wouldn’t eat too much rice yourself.
In addition, oats are a good place to start in terms of carbohydrates. Plus, they’re high in proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibers.
What Kind of Fruit Can Eat?
Fruit can be the most beneficial for , but remember which fruits are safe for such a .
However, make sure to remove the seeds, leaves, and stems because they can pose a choking hazard or cause digesting problems.
Apples are a great source of vitamins and minerals for dogs, especially vitamin A and C. Also, apples have the necessary fibers for a healthy digestive system.
Like humans, dogs can really benefit from oranges because they’re rich in vitamin C, an important antioxidant. In addition, they provide your canine friends with potassium and calcium for their kidneys and bones. Just remember to peel the oranges beforehand.
Blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries are excellent for your Yorkie’s health. This trio is more than enough to provide your pup with the vitamins and minerals that they need.
Watermelon is also a healthy treat on a hot day that hydrates your and nourishes them with vitamins A, B6, and C at once.
Also, the next time you eat some mangoes, save some pieces for your , as they enhance their immune system and regulate their blood sugar levels with carotenoids, potassium, vitamins, and trace minerals.
Plus, we can’t talk about healthy without mentioning bananas since they’re packed with potassium and healthy carbohydrates.
How Much Should a Yorkie Eat Daily?
Unlike larger breeds that can survive on two servings a day, the generally needs to eat frequent small meals from three to four times per day. However, many factors come into play regarding the frequency and quantity of you give your .
Weight
Bodyweight is one of the most important factors determining how much you should feed your Yorkie and how many calories they should get.
For instance, Yorkie puppies need around 55 calories per pound of body weight per day, while adult dogs of this need no more than 45.
Yes, counting calories and measuring becomes essential when you feed your Yorkie, as toy breeds are notorious for becoming overweight quickly if their owners aren’t careful. They may also get “finicky” and not eat enough, so you have to pay attention.
As a rule of thumb, healthy Yorkie puppies range from 1 to 3 pounds, while the adults range from 4 to 7 pounds.
Age
There are certain estimates about what the needs as a whole, but you have to keep the age of your in mind because it can make a difference. Generally, Yorkshire terriers may require no less than 1/4 cup of per day.
If your is somewhere between 4 weeks and 3 months or at the weaning age, they need free feeding, which is, just like it sounds, leaving fresh available for the all day; the keyword here is fresh. The point of free-feeding is to promote their growth and prevent low blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, 3-month old Yorkie puppies require 1/4 to 1/2 cup of daily. Also, this is the time where you need to put them on scheduled meals to promote good behavior and help bond with your .
Once you can call your Yorkie an , which is when they’re one year old, you can switch to feeding them 1/2 to 3/4 cup of per day. The number of meals differs from one pet owner// to another; some feed their two larger meals, while others feed them three. The majority seems to agree on feeding them less but more often.
Activity Level
Your ‘s activity level can definitely control how much you give them. If your is active, like most puppies and young adult dogs, you will give them more because they’re burning more calories.
However, if your is an inactive adult or a senior, you may want to tone it down because they’re not burning as much. Giving an inactive the same amount of as an active one will lead to obesity.
Should Eat Wet or ?
Another common debate among owners is whether to feed them dry or . Your choice may depend on your ‘s preference and age.
Most Yorkie owners prefer because it means less dental problems, which small breeds such as are more prone to have. is also more economical because your feels full with less. Its convenience and cleanliness make it the more popular or top .
However, can be the ideal choice for fulfilling needs for hydration. So, if your doesn’t drink enough water throughout the day, may be it.
What Should I Not Feed My Yorkie?
Dogs have a long history of getting what they want from us, thanks to their faces and mastery of begging, especially if it’s a little . However, there are certain foods that we should never give our dogs to avoid health problems.
Chocolate
It’s pretty much a well-known fact at this point that you shouldn’t give your Yorkie, or any other , chocolate. But why, exactly? This seemingly harmless contains both caffeine and theobromine, and dogs can’t metabolize both.
Theobromine, in particular, is toxic, especially for small dogs. Ironically, it is more present in dark and baking chocolate, which causes dehydration, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, and in advanced cases, death.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are delicious, expensive, and pretty beneficial for humans. Yet, if your Yorkie ever comes up to you while you’re eating your favorite macadamia cookies, hold your ground, as they cause many health concerns.
They’re extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts, and can cause weakness in the hind legs, hyperthermia, vomiting, tremors, lethargy, and much more.
Xylitol
Xylitol, which typically exists in sugar-free candy, gum, and toothpaste, can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, muscle weakness, seizures, vomiting, and even liver failure within a few days in dogs.
So, definitely keep your diet and sugar-free away from your Yorkie. It may be healthy for you, but it can be lethal for a like them.
, Fish, and Meat
Many pet owners put their dogs on a raw diet because it benefits their coats and may seem more nutritious. However, it’s one of these cases where the risks outweigh the benefits.
Buying or making homemade raw for may expose them to bacteria if the is contaminated, which could lead to poisoning. If your getting salmonella or E. coli sounds bad to you, it’s because it is.
Onions () and Garlic
You may think that the only downsides to onions and garlic are their pungent smells or the fact that they’re harder to digest than other foods. However, these ingredients are pretty toxic to dogs, as they contain n-propyl disulfide, which breaks down red blood cells in dogs, causing anemia in the long run.
Alcohol
Alcohol is already bad for people; it damages the brain, liver, bones, heart, and more. It has the same effect on dogs, except it’s much worse, especially since we’re talking about , such as . So, even the smallest amount of this ingredient can be harmful to your and cause diarrhea, restlessness, tremors, panting, lung failure, coma, and in severe cases, death.
So, keep your eyes on your little Yorkie the next time you throw a party or have them in a setting where alcohol is available.
Keep an Eye on These Foods
There is that you can give your dogs in very small amounts. Here is what you need to know.
Salt
Salt can cause some serious dehydration, excess urination, and bloat to dogs. So, try to keep sharing salted with your to a minimum, and keep them hydrated at all times.
Dairy
You’ve probably seen a cute video of a pet parent giving their some ice-cream on a hot day. While it is tempting, we don’t recommend feeding dogs any dairy products because they may be lactose intolerant.
Peanuts
There’s always a debate around peanuts and dogs because these ingredients are high in fat and may harm them. So, stay safe by only feeding your a very small amount of unsalted peanuts/ every once in a while.
Final Thoughts
Have you enjoyed the article? Please tell us what you thought in the comment section below and whether you liked it. I find that knowing what a eats is paramount to their health and well-being.
It’s a , so we can’t risk over-feeding them. Moreover, they need to eat small amounts multiple times per day to avoid the drops in blood sugar levels that they’re prone to.
In addition, we should make sure that they get all of their nutritional needs through a high-quality diet and healthy ingredients. Also, we should make the right choice regarding the different types of foods.
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