The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, sweet lap dog often found in city apartments. They have a kind nature and get along well with small children. However, to ensure a long and healthy life for your pet, delighting everyone in the family, it's important to feed and care for them properly. Due to their small size, they have a sensitive digestive system, particularly their liver and pancreas. It's important to understand that Yorkshire Terriers cannot be shared with their owners; they are fed only prepared food. Natural foods or prepared foods sold in pet stores are suitable for feeding.
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What type of food should I choose for my pet?
Today, veterinarians are considering the following: Types of feeding a Yorkshire Terrier:
- food prepared by the dog's owner from natural products;
- soft store-bought canned food;
- different types of dry food.
The advantage of dry and canned foods is their ease of use. Additionally, dry foods:
- when stored properly, they are absolutely hygienic and safe;
- have a high-quality balanced composition;
- sold ready to use.
The following disadvantages of prepared feeds should be highlighted:
- Yorkies quickly get bored with the same food;
- Some manufacturers add harmful additives and preservatives to food;
- there is no guarantee that the food contains high-quality products;
- It is difficult to find good food due to the wide range of products on the pet market.
To avoid problems with choosing ready-made food, it is advisable to consult with veterinarians or experienced Yorkshire Terrier breeders.
What portion of food should I feed my Yorkie?
Adult Yorkshire Terriers rarely weigh more than 3 kilograms, and therefore, a single meal, based on the animal's body weight, should not exceed 60 grams. This is both a good and a bad thing. Despite the minimal cost of purchasing a few spoonfuls of food, the pet owner will have to fit all the beneficial nutrients for the Yorkie's health into a tiny portion. Therefore, the animal is fed small portions several times a day.
Yorkshire Terrier Feeding Frequency
What needs to be done to properly feed Yorkshire Terriers is a question that concerns many breeders of this breed. Naturally, it's important to understand that the nutrition of puppies and adults is very different. Furthermore, pet owners must decide for themselves whether to feed dry food or natural ingredients.
Once you have decided on the Yorkshire Terrier's diet, you need to buy kitchen utensils for the dog - a bowl for food and waterDue to the breed's physical characteristics, it's advisable to purchase dishes with adjustable height stands. Your pet should have a dedicated area where they can regularly eat.
Yorkshire Terrier feeding frequency depends directly on the dog's age, weight, and physical activity. Puppies up to 4 months old are fed up to 5 times a day, and from 4 to 9 months old, they are fed three times a day. Dogs 9 months and older are fed no more than twice a day.
Pet food should be at room temperatureUnder no circumstances should you feed a dog with hypersensitive taste buds hot or cold food. Yorkshire Terriers should be fed only fresh, high-quality ingredients or dry food. Avoid introducing fatty, smoked, fried, or strong-flavored foods.
Feeding a Yorkie food from the common table is strictly prohibited. From the very first days, the puppy should be accustomed to a healthy diet, and not be allowed to grab anything from your hand. An unbalanced diet can lead to irreversible health problems for your pet.
Store-bought food in a dog's diet
What can you feed a Yorkshire Terrier? A question that never loses its relevance. Today, there are dry and canned ready-made pet foodMeanwhile, veterinarians are actively debating the advisability of feeding dry food to terriers. Some breeders are categorically opposed to such feeding, while others claim that commercial food is complete nutrition for Yorkies.
The main advantage of this food is its hygiene; your pet will never get dirty while eating the kibble. This food is convenient for frequent travelers and those who move frequently. If your dog's diet consists exclusively of dry food, it's important to ensure a bowl of clean, fresh water is always available.
Unlike dry food, canned pet food contains a large amount of liquid. It consists of meat, vegetables, and grains, providing all the vitamins a dog needs to thrive. This type of feeding is balanced. without the need for additivesBefore feeding Yorkshire Terriers canned dog food, always check the expiration dates and quality of the purchased product.
When purchasing a puppy from a breeder, it's best to immediately inquire about what it was fed. If the animal's diet was primarily prepared food, it's important to clarify whether it was canned or dry kibble, the manufacturer, and other feeding details. If the Yorkshire Terrier's new owner decides to transition their pet to a different food, they should do so by gradually mixing the new food with the existing food. It's important to understand that mixing dry and canned food is strictly contraindicated. Prepared food should be selected only according to the breed and from reputable manufacturers.
Natural products in a dog's diet
What to feed a Yorkshire Terrier at home, other than prepared food, is a pressing question for all pet owners. Owners who truly love their small dog cook exclusively with their own hands and only with natural ingredients. This method of feeding has many advantages: the food is relatively inexpensive, and by choosing all the ingredients yourself, you can be sure of their freshness and quality. However, when choosing natural products, it's important to supplement the pet's diet with minerals and vitamins.
The owner of a miniature pet should ensure that the dog's natural food is balanced. A Yorkie's diet should include meat products, cereals and, of course, vegetablesThe proportions of ingredients should be 2:1:1, respectively. For canines, only lean meat should be used. Turkey, veal, chicken, or rabbit are all suitable. Occasionally, no more than once a week, a terrier can be given boiled offal. Other meats should be given raw, or better yet, lightly scalded.
When considering grains for Yorkies, buckwheat and rice are especially important; they need to be cooked thoroughly before feeding. There are virtually no restrictions on adding vegetables. Vegetables can be given boiled or raw, with the addition of vegetable oils. Natural dog food should be prepared without salt or other seasonings.
The Yorkshire Terrier, a true connoisseur of fruits, always has fruit in his diet. apples, pears and plums must be presentThey should be given as a treat during walks or as a reward during training. Natural foods such as cheese and fermented milk products are acceptable. Boiled, boneless seafood should be given to your pet no more than twice a month.
What should not be in a terrier's diet?
People often ask how to properly feed a Yorkshire Terrier, as the dog is small and can't digest anything in its tiny stomach. First of all, don't give it human food. It's important to understand that highly seasoned human food is not suitable for a pet.
From the products that should not be given to a Yorkshire Terrier It is important to highlight the following:
- seasonings in any form;
- fatty and freshwater fish;
- fatty meats;
- smoked products;
- flour products made from wheat or cereals;
- bird bones are hollow inside;
- fatty cheeses;
- raw chicken proteins;
- legumes (green peas and beans).
According to experienced veterinarians, mixed feeding or a sudden transition from one type of feeding to another is strictly contraindicated. When changing diet, digestive system disorders are observed, and for Yorkshire Terriers, this is their weakest point. Since dogs' stomachs are poor in enzymes, beneficial microflora is crucial for digestion.
Feeding Tips for Yorkshire Terrier Puppies
Between the second and fourth months, the animal experiences rapid growth, so the Yorkshire Terrier diet at this stage should consist of high-calorie foods rich in fiber, vitamins, and microelements. You can add boiled eggs, rice with meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and seafood.
This diet will continue until the puppy reaches nine months of age. Once the Yorkie grows, transition to two meals a day, in the morning and evening. The diet can be varied with meat, grains, and vegetables.
When choosing meat products it is advisable give preference to chicken and beef, rather than hard-to-digest pork or lamb. All prepared ingredients are finely chopped and mixed with the main ingredients. Vegetable oils (sunflower or olive) are added to the vegetables. This diet will be maintained until the pet reaches 12 months of age.
It's important to approach your Yorkshire Terrier's diet responsibly, using only fresh ingredients and proven commercial foods. Avoid feeding them cold or hot foods and avoiding prohibited foods, and your Yorkie will delight its owners for many years to come.
