Foods for Teacup Yorkies

Yorkshire terriers live up to their reputation as pampered lap dogs when it comes to being finicky about food. A Yorkie might turn up its nose at the $20 per pound kibble you bought at the pet boutique, but happily share a burger and fries with you. Yorkies have specific nutritional needs, though, and table scraps don't fit the criteria. Instead, try to balance your dog's diet as well as please its palette.

  1. Dietary Needs

    • In order for a Yorkshire terrier to maintain optimal health, it needs a balance of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables in its diet. Because smaller breed dogs have a longer life expectancy than larger breeds, foods with high sodium content should be avoided so that heart and kidney problems can be reduced or avoided. Yorkies' coats resemble human hair more closely than dog fur, so natural oils and amino acids are necessary to keep their coat shiny and healthy. Another consideration is the health of their teeth. If the food that you feed doesn't have a solid texture that will help clean your dog's teeth as it eats, you should consider supplementing its diet with rawhide or other products that will encourage it to chew, which helps scrape the teeth and gums clean.

    Canned Food

    • As veterinary health advances, it is becoming more common to see pet food companies produce foods that are made for specific breeds as well as sizes of dogs. There are good premium canned foods on the market made for small breed dogs. Brands such as Cesar and Nutro Ultra have varieties of canned foods that are specifically for small breeds with a balance of protein, natural oils and carbohydrates. You should read the labels for nutritional information. Higher-end brands include whole chunks of vegetables like carrots and potatoes that are good sources of necessary vitamins and carbohydrates.

    Kibble

    • Just as with the canned foods, pet food companies are producing and marketing their dry foods to specific breeds. Reviewing the label for the ingredients and nutritional information is always recommended. Dry food, or kibble, typically has a good mix of carbs and protein as well as amino acids and oils. The benefit of choosing kibble over canned food, or feeding it to your Yorkie in addition to canned food, is that the nuggets are usually sized just right for your little dog's jaw. It will be able to easily and comfortably chew the food, which will help keep its teeth clean. Pedigree and AvoDerm are both brands that make varieties of kibble for small breed dogs. Kumpi brand is a top choice, as it was developed by vets and nutritionists, and the kibble size is perfect for small dogs. Royal Canin is a brand of note, as it makes a line of kibble specifically for Yorkies.

    Homemade Fare

    • If you want to be absolutely sure that the food you're feeding your Yorkie is well balanced and fresh, the best thing you can do is to make it at home. You will be able to control the balance of protein, carbohydrates and other ingredients like calcium and vegetables. An added bonus would be if your Yorkie considers it "people food" just because you made it, which might encourage the dog to eat it. For a simple recipe, brown some ground beef and drain the fat. While the beef is draining, saute some chopped garlic in a small amount of olive or vegetable oil. Mix the beef in with the garlic and stir in some chopped carrots (be sure they are Yorkie bite-sized) and mashed potatoes. Cover the entire mixture with water and simmer until the carrots are soft. Allow the Yorkie food to cool before stirring in cooked rice and serving it to your pup.