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In this guide we’ll take a look at the best dog food for Yorkshire Terriers.
We’ve compared the quality of ingredients, nutritional information, and value for money.
Our top recommended Yorkshire Terrier dog food is Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley.
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Yorkshire terriers can vary in size and body weight, but most will do well if fed on a toy or small breed dog food diet. These diets are usually formulated for dogs with naturally smaller stomachs and, therefore smaller appetites, than larger dogs.
Yorkie puppies are renowned for being picky and fussy with their food which can complicate things. It is best to try and get them on a nutritious diet right from the start and avoid feeding table scraps in an attempt to encourage them to eat.
Here are some key things to look out for when selecting a diet for your Yorkie.
Yorkshire terriers have small jaws and teeth so the size of their dry food kibble should take this into account. If the size of the biscuits is too large, then he may struggle to chew them. Wet food can also help with this as it can be easier to eat.
Small dog breeds like Yorkshire terriers have a higher metabolic rate than larger breeds, making them burn off calories more quickly.
This means that they can be at a higher risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Compare the calorie content per cup and choose the diet that has the higher amount.
Yorkshire terriers, as with many small breeds, can be a bit fussy with their food. Healthy fats from chicken or fish oils can make a diet tastier, with many dogs preferring the flavor over vegetables and other plant-based oils. Most foods contain a crude fat content of somewhere between 8 and 18%.
Puppy or senior dog food rich in omega fatty acids, including EPA and DHA, plus omega 6 fatty acids, and biotin, will help with your Yorkie’s skin and coat condition. This will keep their signature silky coat looking its best.
All of our dog food suggestions are carefully selected by professionals. We extensively research the products to check if they’ve been approved by governing bodies before making recommendations. You can read more about our stringent review standards here. And remember, always consult your veterinarian first, before changing your dog’s food.
Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley is a diet that has been specifically crafted to address the unique needs of toy and small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier.
This food takes venison as its first ingredient, a novel protein that is unlikely to trigger any food sensitivities in dogs who have shown a predisposition to allergies.
A protein-rich food, the venison in this diet has been reinforced through the addition of lamb meal to fortify the number of amino acids contained in the recipe.
Considered to be one of the best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers, Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley is grain-free. This diet bases its carbohydrates on nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.
This approach ensures the Yorkshire Terrier has nutritional support to achieve good digestion and a strong immune system.
Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley is free from grains, wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. A probiotic blend has been added to encourage optimal gut health.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Grain-Free is a high-quality dog food that is often recommended as one of the best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers available on the market today.
This diet contains a high-quality protein content to provide a powerhouse punch of the amino acids dogs need to maintain strong and healthy muscles.
This grain-free dog food was designed to meet the needs of active small-breed dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier. The kibble pieces are small, making it easier for little dogs to chew while still providing a scrubbing action against the teeth to help with ongoing oral hygiene.
LifeSource Bits have been added to this diet to ensure support for healthy digestion and a strong immune system. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Grain-Free contains no by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food offers families with Yorkshire Terriers top-quality nutrition at an excellent price point.
The main ingredient in this Yorkie puppy diet is salmon meal, a protein that is rich in the essential fatty acids required to support coat and skin health and fuel strong energy reserves in the lively Yorkshire Terrier.
A grain-free diet, Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food prioritizes the use of antioxidant and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. This ensures a foundation that encourages fluid digestive processes and strong immunity in dogs.
Rated as the best overall dog food for Yorkshire Terriers available for purchase today, Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food contains no corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
For excellent nutrition at a price point that is affordable for most families, it’s hard to go wrong with Solid Gold Mighty Mini Dog Food.
This exceptional food formulation, rated among the best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers, has been designed specifically to address the unique needs of toy breed puppies, making it an excellent selection for the Yorkie.
Each piece of kibble included in this diet is bite-sized. Its exterior is ridged to help provide a scrubbing action against the teeth to promote good oral hygiene.
Solid Gold Mighty Mini Dog Food contains no grains. Its recipe lists more than 20 foods that are rich in nutrients to increase the number of antioxidants, fiber, and essential fatty acids found in this diet.
Chicken plays a starring role in this food. It is included in its whole form. Chicken is a lean meat that is easy on the digestive system of the Yorkshire Terrier.
Holistic Select Small & Mini Breed Food offers all of the nutritional benefits that Yorkshire Terriers need to thrive. This diet places a high emphasis on the inclusion of probiotics and foods that are easy on the digestion of toy and small breeds like the Yorkie.
It is rich in calories, meaning it has very high value for families as less food needs to be fed for the dog to reach full satiation.
A diet consistently rated the best food for Yorkshire Terriers, Holistic Select Small and Mini Breed Food includes many powerhouse ingredients such as blueberries and pomegranates in its recipe.
These items provide vital help for digestion and also assist with the development of a strong immune system.
The spunky, little Yorkshire Terrier makes for a charming family companion. Often affectionately referred to as a Yorkie, this charming pooch is self-assured, believing itself to be the center of its family’s world.
Characterized by its flowing, silky coat and sophisticated topknot, the Yorkshire Terrier is the picture of class, earning itself fans from every corner of the globe.
Though the Yorkshire Terrier’s distinctive looks make it easy to identify, it is the breed’s personality that has the most powerful effect on every person it meets. This pooch is small in size but big in personality.
The Yorkie is an active dog that thrives when given the opportunity to enjoy an adventure. But make no mistake, the Yorkie can be prone to mischief, a trait that aficionados of the breed find quite delightful.
The Yorkshire Terrier is loving and affectionate towards its family. However, the breed can be very wary of new people.
A breed that enjoys the sound of its own voice, the Yorkie will bark at unusual people and sounds, meaning it is necessary to teach this breed a “no bark” command to maintain positive relationships with the neighbors.
As with most toy breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier is predisposed to teeth problems. Maintaining good dental health is very important. The best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers contain small bite-sized pieces of kibble with a texture that helps to scrub away any tartar or food debris.
The Yorkshire Terrier should be walked daily to maintain good health and excellent body condition. The breed is not particularly prone to becoming overweight; however, free feeding is still strongly discouraged.
To ensure the Yorkshire Terrier’s nutritional needs are properly met, owners should select a diet that contains a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Deciding how much excellent quality food to feed a Yorkshire Terrier can be almost as difficult as selecting which kind. Thankfully, AAFCO regulations require all commercially prepared diets to provide suggested serving sizes for their product.
These can be found on the side of the bag of food. Owners can use these as a starting point and make adjustments accordingly.
The dog’s weight, appetite, age, and activity level can also be considered in helping to determine how much of the best dog food for Yorkshire Terriers to feed.
To prevent weight gain from occurring, it is important to always measure the Yorkshire Terrier’s daily meals. In addition to this, all intake should be carefully monitored.
Though small in size, the Yorkshire Terrier still needs meat in order to enjoy optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers base their formula on whole meats or meat meals.
Meat by-products are of inferior quality, having typically been taken from parts of the animal that humans find undesirable to eat themselves. These are best avoided.
Soy, corn and wheat are plant-based proteins that are common allergens for many dogs including the Yorkshire Terrier. Experts agree that foods containing these ingredients are best left on the shelf.
Other ingredients to avoid in food for this breed are chemicals, fillers, additives, preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors.
Carbohydrates help the Yorkshire Terrier to enjoy fluid digestion and a healthy immune system. This breed can enjoy either a grain-inclusive or grain-free diet without any ill effects unless the dog has previously expressed food allergies.
Ground brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and buckwheat are all excellent sources of carbohydrates. The main priority of any carbohydrate included in Yorkie dog food is its amount of antioxidants and fiber.
From healthy fats, the Yorkshire Terrier gains support for healthy coats and skin and strong reserves of energy to fuel their active lifestyle. The best sources for these items are animal-based and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish.
Plant-based oils such as canola and safflower also offer ample servings of these essential fatty acids. Wet dog food is also a great option for Yorkshire Terriers. These meals provide the moist texture and flavor that these dogs need to maintain a healthy appetite. The most common wet puppy food found in specialty stores is canned or pouch-style.
Supplements help food to be its most effective. The most desirable supplements for the Yorkshire Terrier include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Yorkshire Terrier:
Yorkshire Terriers are carnivores, and thus, do best on a diet that is based on lean meat. The best foundation for a high-quality diet is whole meats or meat meals.
By-products and plant-based ingredients such as soy, corn, and wheat are of limited benefit to the Yorkshire Terrier, and foods that include them are best avoided.
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to a Yorkshire Terrier. Diets containing these items should be avoided.
Supplements help to boost a diet’s effectiveness for dogs. The best supplements to look for in food for the Yorkshire Terrier are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
All foods appropriate for the Yorkshire Terrier should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.
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