Yorkshire nutrition: What food does a Yorkshire Terrier eat?

Yorkshire Terriers may be a small breed, but they come with an adorably outsized personality!

Like other small breeds, Yorkies have a unique set of needs. And this extends to their diet.

If you own a Yorkie, you’ve no doubt wondered: “What is the best dog food for Yorkshire Terriers?”

In a hurry? Here are our top five picks for the best food for Yorkies.

Brand	Benefits	Score
Royal Canin	Dry adult Yorkshire Terrier food	[usr 5]
Hill’s Science Diet	Small breed, sensitive dry food	[usr 4]
Eukanuba	Dry food specially for adult Yorkshire Terrier dogs	[usr 5]
Royal Canin (puppy)	Dry Yorkshire Terrier puppy food	[usr 5]
Eukanuba Small breeds	Dry food for small breeds	[usr 4.5]

How often to feed a Yorkshire terrier

The feeding schedule for a Yorkshire terrier is different from that of larger breeds. This is because they need small, frequent meals.

While some larger breeds may do well with one meal per day, a Yorkie could run into problems, such as low blood sugar or stomach upsets.

For this reason, the following feeding schedule may help:

Puppies up to 2 months old: actually every puppy at Woefkesranch stays with its mother until 8 weeks. So the customer need not worry about this part.

At this young age it is important that the puppies gain strength quickly. That is why with us they are constantly provided with a bowl of food. We use royal canin mother & baby, which we also recommend purchasing. This is to be able to continue giving their familiar food and slowly switch to a other puppy food.

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2 months to 1 year old: now is the time to give scheduled meals to your Yorkshire Terrier. If you keep offering food constantly, house training will become much more difficult. What goes in at the front will soon come out the back. You will also have a hard time controlling how much your puppy has eaten. A few nibbles from a full bowl can still look like it’s full. While it is vitally important that your Yorkie eats every meal to maintain blood sugar levels.

You should feed your Yorkie 2 to 3 meals per day. These would be in the morning, at midday (optional but recommended for mini breeds) and in the evening. Make sure to give the last meal at least 2 hours before bedtime.

1 year and older: your Yorkshire Terrier is now an adult, which for many large breeds means they can get by on one meal a day. But for small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier it’s best to give 2 meals per day. Even for extreme toy Yorkies under 2 kilograms, it is better to give at least 3 meals per day. From this adult age you should also stop giving puppy kibble and gradually switch to adult food.

How much to feed a Yorkshire Terrier

That said, the average meal size for Yorkshire Terriers is relatively small — at least compared with larger dogs. A Yorkie puppy weighing 0.5 to 1.5 kg needs only 1/3 to 1/2 cup per day. Adult mini Yorkshire Terriers (between 1.5 and 2.5 kg) generally eat the same 1/3 to 1/2 cup per day. And Yorkies between 2.5 and 4 kg eat about 2/3 cup per day.

Dry vs. wet dog food

Many dogs prefer wet canned dog food. But this is not the best choice because it does not promote healthy teeth and gums and can cause a runny nose. Moreover, wet food contains too much water instead of nutrients.

So it is wise never to teach your Yorkie what canned food is. If it is too late for that, you can mix a little canned food into a dry kibble to offer a compromise.

Making dry kibble more appealing 

Apart from mixing canned food with dry kibble, there are other ways to make kibble more attractive or acceptable for dogs that have difficulty eating hard kibble (due to tooth loss or other issues). Kibble can be soaked briefly in warm water (just a minute or two, though this can be longer for Yorkies with few or no teeth) or low-sodium chicken or beef broth can be drizzled over the kibble. 
It can also help to warm the food; many Yorkies find this much more palatable than eating at room temperature and most will outright refuse chilled or cold meals. Meals can be warmed in the microwave; note that small meals usually need about 10 seconds to warm and that the food should be stirred well to avoid hot spots. 

Grains versus grain-free dog food

Grain-free dog food in the past: a grain-free diet was usually a quick recommendation for dogs with known or suspected grain allergies. In most cases, however, the real trigger was certain high-gluten grains, particularly wheat or rye. But by going completely grain-free, gluten and low-quality fillers (such as grain by-products, meat by-products, etc.) were avoided, so in general dogs did really well on these diets. Allergies reduced or disappeared and they consumed little or no fillers. 
Recent: there have been some concerns  about grain-free diets and a possible link to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart disease. Breeds not typically prone to DCM developed the disease and were found to be primarily eating grain-free meals. 
In December 2018 Lisa Freeman DVM, Ph.D., DACVN, via a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,  announced a suspected link not only between grain-free dog foods, but more specifically those that fall under a BEG diet. BEG stands for boutique brands with exotic  meats (non-traditional proteins such as kangaroo, alligator and ostrich) together with grain-free and with peas, legumes and/or potatoes as one of the top 5 ingredients. In June 2019 the FDA issued a warning. When analyzing data they identified 16 brands of grain-free dog food that appeared 10 times or more in their database of DCM incidents. They are, in alphabetical order, the grain-free formulas only of: 

• 4Health (32 reports)
• Acana (67 reports)
• Blue Buffalo (31 reports)
• California Natural (15 reports)
• Earthborn Holistic (32 reports)
• Fromm (24 reports)
• Merrick (16 reports)
• Natural Balance (15 reports)
• Nature’s Domain (29 reports)
• Nature’s Variety (10 reports)
• Nutrisource (10 reports)
• Nutro (10 reports)
• Orijen (12 reports)
• Rachael Ray Nutrish (10 reports)
• Taste of the Wild (53 reports)
• Zignature (64 reports)

From 2014 to April 2019 there were 524 case reports of DCM involving mainly dogs and several cats that ate grain-free formulas. Specifically, there were only 4 cases involving Yorkshire Terriers:

1. A 6-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier that ate Zignature Kangaroo kibble 
2. An 8-year-old female Yorkshire Terrier that ate Zignature Kangaroo canned food
3. A 1-year-old male Yorkie mix that ate freeze-dried gold nuggets from Castor & Polloux
4. A 9-year-old female Yorkshire Terrier that ate Acana Light & Fit and Acana Small Breed Adult

In the future there will be more data compilation and many more studies. At this time there are no recalls of grain-free brands. Most veterinarians recommend that breeds susceptible to DCM do not eat grain-free dog food and, if they must because of allergies, that the protein base be a traditional meat and not an exotic  meat.

If you are wondering whether your Yorkshire Terrier should eat grain-free food or foods containing grains , this should be discussed with your dog's veterinarian and will be partly based on your dog's medical history. In the meantime, here are some points to consider: 

• The Yorkshire Terrier is not a breed that is prone to DCM; the list includes the Afghan Hound, American Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Dalmatian and especially larger dog breeds. 
• However, since few cases of DCM have been reported in Yorkies, you may consider adding some healthy whole grains. 
• If you think your Yorkie is allergic to grains, it may actually be a matter of gluten sensitivity. Wheat contains very high levels of gluten, and if that is excluded from the diet, your Yorkie may do very well with grains that are gluten-free, such as rice (brown or white), oats and quinoa (technically a seed). Barley, although it contains some gluten, is also often well tolerated. 
• If you choose grain-free, select a recipe with traditional proteins (to avoid exotic meats). Options include chicken, turkey, beef, duck, lamb or fish. 

Recommendations for both grain-free and kibble containing healthy grains are the following. 

A good brand for grain-free food is e.g. Edgard & Cooper.

Choosing the best food for a Yorkshire Terrier

What to avoid:
When choosing a food for your Yorkie, it’s just as important to know what to avoid as it is to know what you want the kibble to contain. There are countless dog food brands that contain highly harmful ingredients. These include:

• Chemical preservatives. These can cause allergic reactions (itching, hot spots, rashes) and/or digestive issues, and some are known carcinogens. 
• Artificial colorings or flavorings. These additives can also cause mild to severe allergic reactions, and certain dyes (Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #5 and #6, 4-MIE) have also been linked to behavioral problems (hyperactivity and anxiety), and some forms of cancer. 
• Fillers. These are cheap ingredients added to food to bulk it up, but they offer little to no nutritional value. Consuming fillers can cause nutritional deficiencies and digestive problems and is a cause of coprophagia (eating feces). 
• By-products. Added as a cost-saving method to meet protein quotas, these can be lungs, intestines, brains and other meat or tissue not suitable for human consumption. 
  
• Generic meat or oils. This can legally include roadkill and meat from sick animals. 
• Made in China. Pet foods containing ingredients from China have been responsible for thousands of deaths. 

What to look for:

If you avoid the above, your Yorkie’s food should have:

• Natural preservatives. Dog food can be successfully preserved using a vitamin blend (usually listed as mixed tocopherols) and/or certain herbs or plant extracts, including rosemary and spearmint. 
• No artificial colors or flavors
• Healthy traditional meat (this can be whole or meal (pressed) chicken, turkey, goose, duck, rabbit, lamb, beef or a variety of fish, including whitefish and salmon)
• Fruits and vegetables
• Omega-3 fatty acids. While linseed is a source, the best source is fish oil. This is important for joint health. 
• Small kibble. To make eating more comfortable. 
• Made in the US or Canada. In addition, ingredient sources from New Zealand are considered very safe. 

recommendations:

Royal Canin Yorkshire terrier adult

Every breed is unique. That is why Royal Canin has specially tailored dog food for your Yorkshire Terrier that meets your pet’s needs.

The benefits

• Supports the coat
  Yorkshire Terrier Adult helps maintain the health of Yorkshire Terriers’ long coat. The food contains an adjusted level of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) and omega-6 fatty acids.
• Satisfies picky eaters
  Thanks to a combination of exceptional aromas, Yorkshire Terrier Adult satisfies even the most picky eaters.
• Supports vitality
  The formula contains a selection of nutrients that meet the nutritional needs of the older Yorkshire Terrier.
• Supports dental health
  The kibble’s formulation provides optimal dental hygiene thanks to a mechanical cleaning effect and ‘calcium traps’.

Buy at bol.com

Eukanuba Yorkshire terrier

EUKANUBA’s breed-specific nutrition for Yorkshire Terriers (also ideal for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, miniature and toy poodles and Shih Tzus) is carefully formulated to help your dog live a long and healthy life.

This special dry food provides your dog with 100% complete and balanced nutrition and contains essential minerals for the teeth to help keep the mouth strong and healthy and has a higher level of prebiotics* to promote healthy digestion in your dog.

Developed in collaboration with veterinarians and recommended by top breeders: EUKANUBA offers expertise in nutrition for every life stage of your dog.

*compared to EUKANUBA Adult Small Breed

Benefits

• Provides optimal digestion with a higher prebiotic content (vs Adult Small Breeds).
• Helps support the natural immune system of an aging dog with optimal amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin E.
• Helps strengthen natural defenses with antioxidant vitamins
• Unique DentaDefense to help keep teeth clean and healthy
• With animal proteins clinically proven to support lean muscles.
• Promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat with a clinically proven ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Eukanuba Small Breed

Our unique Active Adult formula is specially formulated to support optimal body condition, supple muscles and balanced energy levels. Suitable for adult dogs of very small breeds from 10 months to 9 years old.

Our tasty, small kibbles are rich in fresh chicken and specially tailored to the needs of very small breed dogs. In addition, the unique hexagonal shape helps care for your dog’s teeth.

Developed by nutritionists, approved by veterinarians and recommended by top breeders: EUKANUBA delivers all the nutrients your dog needs for a long and healthy life.

When it’s time to switch, our experts recommend continuing to support your dog with our Vital Older formula for very small breed dogs.

Benefits

• L-carnitine to help with weight management
• Yucca to help reduce stool odor
• Prebiotic FOS and beet pulp contribute to healthy digestion
• Natural sources of omega 6 and 3 for a healthy skin and coat
• Antioxidant vitamins E and C to help support the immune system
• Special kibble shape and unique DentaDefense to help keep teeth clean and healthy

Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Junior

From 2 to 10 months

Every breed is unique. That is why Royal Canin has specially adapted dog food for your young Yorkshire Terrier to meet your pet’s needs.

Benefits

• Supports the coat
  Yorkshire Terrier Junior helps maintain the health of the long coat of Yorkshire Terriers. The formula contains an adjusted level of Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) and Omega-6 fatty acids.
• Supports digestion
  This formulation contributes to optimal digestion and a healthy gut flora.
• Natural immunity
  This formula helps support the puppy’s natural defenses.
• Supports dental health
  This formula helps reduce tartar formation.

Hill’s Mini Food sensitivities

Prescription Diet™ d/d™ Canine Duck & Rice (duck & rice) is specially formulated to help reduce food-related allergic reactions and support healthy skin. 

Main benefits

• Helps reduce the symptoms of a food allergy reaction.
• Clinically proven to support healthy skin.
• Duck is a single animal protein that rarely causes an allergic reaction in dogs.
• Very good taste that your dog loves.

Consult your veterinarian for more information and advice on whether this food is suitable for your dog.