Here’s The 10 Best Dog Food For Yorkies (2020 Review)

Ingredient Quality 

You might assume that a cheaper food is of lesser quality than an expensive one, but that’s not the case with this one. The protein consists of chicken and chicken meal, both perfectly good and easy-to-digest ingredients.

Although there are grains in this one, they’re the digestible kind (barley and rice), and they also aren’t the only source of carbs – there are high-quality fruits and veggies in there too, including kale, pumpkin, spinach, carrots, blueberries, oranges, and dried kelp. This makes this food stand out above other grain-containing foods, as the mix of grain and fruits and veg means that no nutrients are left out. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that are missed when grains are the only source of carbs. 

Other Benefits 

The addition of grains also does wonders for adding fiber to your dog’s diet. The Omega fatty acid content is also good, so your little one’s coat will b soft and sleek, and their skin supple and well-nourished. Although this food doesn’t contain glucosamine, it’s not the end of the world. It does have a bit of L-carnitine in it, which helps your pup’s metabolism run smoothly and use up energy sources, and keeps them at an optimal weight (provided they eat the correct amount for their size).

Superior Quality Ingredients 

Deboned chicken and chicken meal are great protein sources, and the gluten-free grains are easily digestible and should be soft on your dog’s stomach. It also contains some fruits and vegetables, which add nutrients that can’t be found in grains. Chicken fat and flaxseed make up the fat content of 15%, and up the Omega-3 and -6 fatty acid levels which keep your pup’s skin and fur soft and shiny. 

Great For Small Breeds 

It doesn’t matter whether you choose a food formulated for small breeds or toy breeds – they are the same thing. This food is perfect for little pups, as the nutrient levels fall right in the healthy zone (26% protein, 15% fat). There’s a nice bit of glucosamine, which will keep your little one’s joints strong and reduce the risk of hip dysplasia. They’ve also created the kibble especially for tiny jaws, and its unique triangular shape helps with tartar removal. Dental health is super important for pups with little mouths, so this is a bonus.

Raw Food 

This food is freeze-dried, raw bits of chicken, sprinkled with blueberries, strawberry pieces, and bits of banana. The benefits of adding a dash of raw food to your pet’s diet have been thoroughly researched and many dogs have shown improvements in health, digestion, allergies, and immune system when eating raw food. The lack of processing means that the nutrients are locked in and nothing is lost in any sort of cooking process. If you’re keen to try raw feeding, this is a great way to transition and get your pup’s tummy used to raw food. 

Health-Promoting Formula 

The minimal processing means that there’s no need for artificial preservatives, and there are no added artificial colours or flavours either. Grain-free, packed with nutrient-dense, high-quality protein, organic superfood vegetables and fruits, and chelated minerals for easier digestion, this raw kibble topper also contains probiotics for extra immune system health. 

High Protein and Fat 

The protein counts sits at 36%, which may be considered a little higher than is necessary for a Yorkie, but as long as they get enough exercise they’ll be all good. The fat comes in at 16%, which is great to give them easy-to-metabolize energy. The ingredients are great quality and easy to digest, and there’s no indigestible grains or artificial stuff to complicate matters. It would be particularly suitable for bouncy, energetic Yorkies who can put that protein to good use. 

Kibble Made For Littlies 

Blue Buffalo has a unique kibble shape that looks like little triangles. This is the only pellet around this shape, and they’re made this way to help promote tartar removal as your Yorkie chews on it. They’re also specially made to be easy for tiny jaws to eat, which is essential when it comes to a food that’s made for small and toy breeds.

Low Calorie, High Protein 

With just 4 calories per treat, you can give your Yorkie a good few of these per day without overfeeding them. This is a characteristic of a good treat for a Yorkie, as they need so few calories a day for their tiny bodies. Those 4 calories contain a good amount of nutrients, though, with 14% protein, 11% fat, and a good dose of Omega fatty acids too. 14% protein is quite a bit higher than most treats, which is great. 

The protein comes from lamb meat and lamb meal, so it’s high-quality. Chicken fat and flaxseed up the healthy fat content, and apples, chickpeas and cinnamon add to the nutritional value. Provided you are feeding your Yorkie the right amount of kibble, you can give them a couple of these each day with no worries at all. 

Great For Sensitive Stomachs 

Although these treats have dried ground potatoes in them, which some dogs can find hard to digest, the ingredients are pretty great for pups with sensitive stomachs. Lamb meal is easily digestible, and a great source of protein. There are no grains in these treats, which helps quite a lot when it comes to pups like Yorkies with little and troublesome tummies. 

The flavour variety is also a bonus, so your pup won’t get bored or too fussy. They also contain different spices in different flavours, which are not bad for your pup in small doses. Cinnamon can be an analgesic (pain-killer), and ginger promotes health and immunity.

Benefits For Yorkie Puppies 

Yorkie puppies will get some great nutrients and immune-building benefits out of this food. The ingredients are of the highest quality, and the protein and fat counts (28% and 12%) are great for puppies. The fat content comes from good sources, such as salmon, chicken fat, and flaxseed oil. DHA is always a fantastic ingredient to see in a puppy food, as is glucosamine and chondroitin. You may wonder why tiny things like Yorkies need joint-strengthening supplements, but they are prone to joint dysplasia, so this is helpful. The calcium and phosphorus ratio is good too, and will help your pooch grow strong and solidly. 

The Kibble Size Difference 

When you’re feeding a tiny creature like this, it’s essential that you take into consideration that their mouths are very small and can’t fit a whole lot in there at a time. The size of the kibble you’re feeding them can make a huge difference to whether mealtimes are a happy or uncomfortable time for your puppy. These puppy pellets are around the size of a pencil eraser, which is small enough for your Yorkie to crunch easily and happily. 

Another reason this makes a difference is that paying attention to your Yorkshire terrier’s oral health from when they’re a puppy helps reduce chances of them suffering from dental issues later in life. The fact that these pellets are of optimal size for your Yorkie means that this food would be a super option for your puppy, because the quality and the size are both positives.

Best For Acute Hypoglycemic Attacks 

Because of the high calorie content of this supplement, it’s not recommended to feed this to your Yorkie daily. They only need a few calories to sustain their little systems, so giving them this supplement every day may contribute to overfeeding them. It is, however, great for very specific moments when your pup is suffering an acute, sudden low blood sugar episode. In these cases, they may not be able to crunch some kibble, especially if they are drowsy and disoriented. This gel is super easy to administer, and gives them a little boost in blood sugar which should help them recover quicker. 

Nutritional Information 

There are 26 calories in a teaspoon of this gel, so slipping just a little into your pup’s mouth should add between 5 and 10 calories, which isn’t too bad. There’s 0.5% protein and 17.9% fat in this supplement. It’s a nice dose of Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, so in addition to perking your pup up when they’re feeling a bit woozy, they’ll get a bit of a fatty acid boost too. 

There are plenty of vitamins and minerals in this gel, and although your Yorkie won’t be eating much of this if you’re just using it as an emergency supplement, it’s good to know that when you do use it, it’s good quality ingredients going into your Yorkie’s system.

Benefits Of Using Canned Food 

A canned food is great for feeding pups who are ill, injured, or too old and fragile to chow down crunchy kibble. While it’s not recommended to feed them only canned food (unless they really can’t handle dry food), it’s great to add a little on top of their kibble as a treat, extra calories (if needed), or to help your pup eat if they’re a little more fussy, by giving them a bit of a tasty, texturey treat. 

Low Calorie 

Many canned foods out there have similar, if not higher, calorie counts to dry foods. This is great for pups who need extra calories, but when you have a tiny fluff who needs to be careful not to overeat, it can be tough to find something suitable. This wet food has only 190 calories per can which is around half of what most do. Considering you’re unlikely to be feeding your Yorkie a whole can anyway, this calorie count is perfect for the size of your little guy or girl.

The Limited Ingredient Philosophy 

The idea behind limited ingredient diets is providing your pooch all the nutrients they need in the fewest ingredients possible. These diets came about as an attempt to limit food allergies and bad reactions to ingredients or combinations thereof. 

For Yorkies, who tend towards fussy tummies, a limited ingredient diet is a great idea to keep them as full and comfy as possible. As with any dog food, the protein source needs to be high-quality, real meat, and the carb sources should be easily digestible (and preferably not grains for Yorkies). Chelated minerals are often present in these foods, which is great as they’re easy to digest and absorb. 

Salmon As Both Protein & Fat 

Salmon is a fantastic source of both protein and fat, and is a great ingredient in limited ingredient food as their dual fat and protein content can help keep the ingredients to a minimum. The Omega fatty acid count in this food is very good, which will keep your Yorkie’s fluffy coat sleek and shiny. The crude fat in this food is at 14%, which is quite all right for Yorkshire terriers. 

Glucosamine and chondroitin are great for these little pups and help to prevent hip and knee dysplasia later in life. This is great for dogs of all ages and isn’t only beneficial when your pup is old, though. Vitamins and minerals added to the food make it easier on the tummy too.

Seniors’ Nutrition Requirements 

As pups get older, their joints begin to take a bit more strain (yes, even tiny breeds!). They also generally gain a bit of weight as they become less active. This means that they need a food that helps with joint and bone support, as well as something that caters for less active pups. A lower calorie option is usually great, and glucosamine helps a lot with keeping joints supple. 

L-Carnitine For Maintaining Weight 

L-carnitine is an amino acid that is found mainly in red meat, but also occurs in poultry and fish. It helps keep energy levels up and maintain a healthy weight, which is super for dogs who are older, less active, and need to keep their weight from ballooning while they’re eating a similar amount. It keeps the metabolism working smoothly, and also assists in liver function and brain health. It’s a really good thing to see on a dog food for seniors.