Best Wet & Dry Dog Food For Yorkies
Yorkies are energetic, playful, and intelligent too, but they can have very sensitive stomachs, which is why you need to select the best dog food for yorkies to help them grow old with you. Thankfully, you can now find many brands offering both dry and wet dog foods for yorkies. You can prefer one over the other or use a mix of both to provide your dog with important nutrients. Here are some good options to help you choose the best dog food:
The Best Dog Food for Yorkies: Our Top Picks
Blue Buffalo Small Breed Chicken/Rice Formula
BEST for protein
Rated by: Amber
Wellness Core Grain-Free Dog Food for Yorkies
BEST Overall
Rated by: Amber
Wellness Complete Healthy Chicken and Oatmeal
Best Active Dogs
Rated by: Amber
1. Blue Buffalo Small Breed Chicken/Rice Formula
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
When your goal is to buy the best dog food for yorkies, you can always put your money on Blue Buffalo. The company is known for producing high quality dog food for small breeds, like yorkies. It's a good yorkie food because it relies mainly on natural ingredients. It means your pet is going to get loads of vitamins and minerals along with other essential nutrients while on this recipe.
In terms of protein, which is an essential part of any quality dog food for yorkies, Blue Buffalo small breed formula won't disappoint. Your Yorkshire terriers get quality protein from the muscles of chicken. What it also means is that you can opt for this dog food if you're looking for one with no chicken meal and chicken by-products for that matter.
While you don't find fish oil in this dog food for Yorkshire terriers, you will find flaxseed, which serves effectively to provide your dog with the right amount omega3 and omega 6 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for the overall health of your beloved Yorkshire terrier.
Other than these ingredients, you can also find blueberries, cranberries and brown rice in the formula. So, overall, this dog food is a great option for a small breed dog like yorkies, but keep in mind that some dog owners believe that it's a bit more expensive than other similar dog foods for small breeds.
PROS
CONS
2. Wellness Core Grain-Free Dog Food for Yorkies
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're after the best food for yorkies with sensitive stomachs, Wellness Core seems to have the solution. It’s likely to serve as the most suitable dog food for your sensitive Yorkshire terrier because it's grain free and 100% natural in every respect. The main ingredients are salmon oil, chicken, and fruits/veggies.
Because of its ingredients, it may also serve as a good dog food option for small yorkie puppies. Another reason it's good for your dog's digestive system is the available of antioxidants, probiotics, as well as vitamins and minerals. To keep your dog's coat healthy, it also includes fish and flaxseed omega fatty acids.
Many dog owners consider it the best dog food because it contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. In fact, it serves as a protein powerhouse and gives plenty of nutrition to your Yorkie puppies and active adult dogs.
Overall, it serves a perfect dog food with premium quality ingredients. But, you need to bear in mind that though its grain free, it's not free of poultry. It means that if your dog is sensitive to chicken, you may have to look for a different type of dog food for him.
PROS
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3. Wellness Complete Healthy Chicken and Oatmeal
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for the best Yorkshire terrier food for your highly active dog, this yorkie food is just what doctor ordered for your small breed friend.
You may choose it if your small breed yorkie gets at least an hour of exercise daily. To provide enough fuel for your dog, this dry dog food for yorkies contains plenty of whole-grain carbs. The carbs come from ground brown rice, barley and oatmeal. Brown rice really makes it an impressive choice for most yorkies.
However, it's worth mentioning that it doesn't contain a lot of protein though – only 24% of protein in this small breed dog food. It does contain a good amount of vitamins and minerals though. Similarly, it's not the most impressive dry dog food for senior dogs because it doesn't contain enough chondroitin and glucosamine. It does contain some taurine, which makes it a reasonably good choice for dogs with some heart conditions.
Overall, it's a great choice for most dog owners and it has the features to be the best dog food yorkie, but keep in mind that it's not suitable for your dog allergic to chicken as well as senior dogs with low energy because it's really high in carbs.
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CONS
4. Blue Buffalo Small Breed Wet Dog Food
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
Blue Buffalo should be the choice if you're looking for the best food for yorkies. This wet dog food is suitable for adult small breeds as well as yorkie puppies. Although most yorkies are quite happy with dry dog food, you can opt for Blue Buffalo if yours has a liking for wet dog food.
While it may not be the ideal choice for those looking for the dog foods with the highest percentage of protein, it does work well in other regards. It gets its protein content from lamb meat, but it also provides your yorkie with a good dose of omega3 and omega6 fatty acids. Because of its moisture-rich form, it won't be heavy on your yorkie puppies stomach. The presence of glucosamine means that this dog food for yorkies is good for the joints of your puppy.
In terms of ingredients, you don't really have to worry about anything because it contains the Lamb Dinner, formulated mainly with real lamb meat, broth, and liver. Just keep in mind that as the protein content is on the lower side, you can consider adding it to the regular dry dog food kibble to get some amazing health benefits.
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FAQ - A Buyer's Guide
What Should I Not Feed My Yorkie?
You already agree chocolate may be deadly to your little Yorkie. It produces a xanthine compound named theobromine; chocolate that is not sweetened, used for baking, has much more theobromine than the milk chocolate type. Here are several other foods to avoid when you have a yorkie at home.
- Onions, chives, and garlic: Thiosulphate is the main harmful substance of such species. Onions are worse than garlic; both are the effect of toxin build-up over time, and repetitive concentrations are toxic, even though they are low.
- Grapes: They damage your Yorkie's kidneys with a material that is still unknown.
- Mushrooms: You can love mushrooms, but they contain toxic chemicals that can damage dogs and contribute to death, as well as liver and kidney disorders.
- Fatty foods: Feeding your Yorkie foods with high-fat content will contribute to complications over time. Will you want your dog to be fat or to have diabetes? Since they enjoy food and are curious, the Yorkie can discover certain leftovers that are not good for them; you can avoid your little one from consuming that kind of food.
- Milk and dairy: Dogs do not have lactase, an enzyme that breaks down food, and according to ASPCA, animal foods cannot be used to avoid stomach pain.
- Raw or undercooked meat or eggs: It can contain Salmonella and E. coli. Raw eggs produce an enzyme named avidin, which increases the absorption of vitamin B required for a healthy coat and skin.
- Salt and snacks that are salty: Thirst and frequent urination, and sodium toxicity, could be the result of feeding the Yorkie too much salt, also contained in cookies, etc. Vomiting, vomiting, nausea, tremors, elevated body temperature, epilepsy are symptoms that the dog has too much water. Moreover, it will end in death.
- Alcohol: Food items involving alcohol as well as drinks can be harmful and can induce a wide variety of complications, including vomiting, nausea, trouble breathing, poor balance, central nervous system fatigue, tremor, elevated blood acidity, coma, and the risk of death.
- Coconut and coconut oil: Limited quantities may not be dangerous, but oils can induce loose stools, stomach discomfort, or diarrhea. Coconut water is rich in potassium and should not be offered to your Yorkie.
- Citrus: Citrus acid is present in stems, branches, peels, berries, and citrus seeds. Huge quantities consumed can induce anxiety (see also Best Dog Food for Yorkies with Allergies) and likely central nervous system distress. A small amount of fruit is not likely to be a concern, but a disturbed stomach can result.
- Avocados: In addition to the swallowing threat of the pit, the avocados include persin, which may cause stomach discomfort in your Yorkie. They are toxic to many animal organisms.
Although it's important to have some clue about yorkie foods to avoid, you sometimes just can't protect your yorkie from having some digestive issues. It's mainly because small breed Yorkshire terriers are known for having extra sensitive stomachs. In case you notice your dog has eaten something bad and is now experiencing some symptoms, you may consider giving him hydrogen peroxide – a tablespoon for every 20 pounds of bodyweight. It usually helps but if your dog has other health problems as well, it's a good idea to consult with your vet before giving him anything at home.
However, sometimes, small breed yorkies will have constipation, which can make them extremely uncomfortable. If that's the issue with your furry friend, it's a good idea to avoid whole grains first and then make him drink plenty of water daily. Some dog owners try to withhold water because their small breed dogs are prone to accidents. Understand that you just need to spend more time training your dog than keeping him away from his water bowl. Some experts are of the view that you should be giving at least 1.7 cups of water to your 11-pound dog.
What is the Best Wet Food for Yorkies?
Most dog owners would say dry food is the best dog food, and it's true to a great extent. However, there are so many reasons why you may want to use wet food, and it's certainly the best food if your yorkie loves it. Here's why you may want to consider making the switch or at least combine wet and dry food to create the best food for your small breed companion.
Canned diets normally involve more meat than Yorkies diets, which is why they are typically more costly. This is excellent news for dogs who need little if any, grain-based carbohydrates. But, dog food tags for canned products are deceptive. They that make you believe that your food contains more protein than it really does.
Since certain dry foods contain much less water than wet foods (about 10% moisture relative to 70% moisture), protein levels are likely to be significantly higher for dry Yorkies. However, when you transform the wet food to a dry matter basis, you will see how much more nutrition you get in canned food relative to dry Yorkies-even from the same company.
Yorkies usually need more carbohydrates than wet food as the carbs serve like binders to keep the food together. You have learned about gluten. This carbohydrate ingredient is a protein contained in wheat and other starch products, and it acts as a cement to hold food together and part of what's responsible for making the bread-like shape that we're familiar with. Food items, including gluten, are more chewy, foldable, and keep together better-they are less crumbly. Although Yorkies can appear to slip into the crumbly category, if you think about it, it holds pretty well together.
Less Protein Means More Carbohydrates
Apart from the binder factor, someone needs to cover the hole that the lower protein level of dry dog food creates. Yeah, there are usually more sugars in dried dog food since there's less calcium in the meal. Fat is the only other element, so you usually don't see a variation in fat in pet foods when you equate daily so normal foods. Even then, the gap is not as big as when contrasting protein and carbohydrate rates. That is where you can find a huge improvement in the price of dog food. Better quality products should usually contain more protein than carbohydrates because proteins are more costly.
Fewer Preservatives
Canned food is normally conserved via the canning phase, while dry food is not preserved. Wet food often winds up becoming fresher when you complete the package at best within a couple of days, opposed to a couple of weeks or a month or more with other dry food containers. Such aspects add up to less average preservatives being applied to packaged foods.
So what is the problem with the preservatives? For one instance, certain preservatives in inexpensive pet food are not naturally-derived. They are non-foods that will never exist normally in your pet's diet. Most will not have any other health value to your pet's food other than having it last a long time on the shelf.
Most of the time, long shelf life isn't a huge luxury for you. Generally, you're going to purchase dog food and have it for a matter of months at best. Instead, this profit is for the pet food supplier and the pet shop. They can have the same food packed in their warehouses, backrooms, and shelves for a few years until they have to search for expiration and refill their stock.
Other than supplying you or your dog with little clear advantage, preservatives will potentially hurt your pet. Any specific preservatives, such as nitrates or nitrites, are classified as carcinogens. There are other options out there. Choose products with natural preservatives wherever possible or using a non-preservative path for packaged goods.
What are Good Treats for Yorkies?
It's natural for dog owners to look for the best dry food or the best wet food for that matter, but it's equally important to find the best protein rich treats for your Yorkshire terrier. Do you know why? Here's why it can be the best food to offer to your dog.
- Many dog owners want to think that their dog should be able to work with them as it makes them happier, and although certain dogs will consider the owner's acceptance and appreciation satisfying, it's not as inspiring as having a slice of food. You don't turn up at work to make your employer look nice (though it's an added bonus), your biggest incentive is to get paid so that you can cover your mortgage, buy food, and save for a holiday.
- Food is used as a supplement while you exercise your puppy. A booster is something that allows the level of movement (or inaction) to increase. For example, any time you affirm your sitting posture with a treat, you raise the chance that your dog will sit more frequently. Food is the treatment of preference for the overwhelming majority of pets.
- Food drive (their ability to function for food) is strong in most dogs as food is deemed a key enhancer. A key booster is something your dog doesn't need to know how to like — food is what they need to live! They are genetically programmed to figure out what behaviors get them food.
- Treats are easy to use when they're behaving. This is critical when you first add a prompt or when you work in a community class setting. For e.g., if you reward your pup with a tug game every time they're called, it'll take more time to run ten rehearsals than if you rewarded them with a little treat every time they're good.
Training techniques are often readily seen as a reward when introducing a new trait to the puppy. A lure is where you put a reward in your pocket, close your fingers around it, and then use your pocket in front of the dog's nose to encourage them to pursue it. If you monitor the head of a dog (by getting their nose — the smellier, the better!), you will manipulate their body, such that a trap allows you a strong means to push a dog to a certain location. What's crucial if you use an incentive to train your dog is to turn to what's called a cue as soon as possible.
The warning is the same thing as the appeal, only that there is no food concealed on the side. Many dogs are too used to chasing a trick that they will quickly follow a hand gesture command because they realize they've already expected something yummy to happen to them.
When Is a Treat a Bribe?
It's crucial that you don't use food rewards as a reward while you train your puppy. At the very beginning of training a dog anything different, you use food (as a lure) to make an action happen, and then turn to the activity that makes the food happen. This turn has to happen as early as possible to show the dog that you would not pay them to conduct behaviors. You can avoid bribes by fading out the hand appeal as soon as possible and holding the medication secret before the required action has been done.
The Best Dog Food for Yorkies
How much food you need to give to your Yorkshire puppy and what to choose for your adult yorkies are questions sure to make things difficult for an average dog owner. However, you can now find grain free varieties for sensitive dogs and the best dog foods with ingredients suitable for senior dogs. Know the requirements of your dog before buying but if confused, try Wellness Core Grain Free formula, as it's rich in protein, contains good carbs, and use other premium quality ingredients.
About the Author Steven
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