How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier? The digestive system of representatives of this breed is famous for its exactingness. The dog’s health and even life directly depends on its nutrition, poor-quality and inappropriate food will cause great harm to it. What should the owners know?
A few words about the breed
How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier to give him long life? To begin with, it is worth understanding what this breed is. York is a decorative dog whose weight does not exceed 3.5 kg. On average, representatives weigh no more than 2.5 kg. Therefore, it is very difficult to make a diet so that the dog’s body receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
The answer to the question of what to feed the Yorkshire Terrier directly depends on the temperament of the animal. One dog can be mobile and playful. Another can be slow and phlegmatic. Due to differences in activity, experienced dog breeders are advised to select food individually.
Newborns
How to feed a puppy of the Yorkshire Terrier who has just been born? As a rule, they are born very small, the weight of newborns rarely exceeds 120 grams. In the first two weeks, the obligation to feed them rests entirely with the mother. It is important that puppies have a daily weight gain.
If the dog that gave birth is missing milk, you can use the milk mixture sold in the pet store to feed the puppy. Of course, it is not necessary to buy it, you can make it yourself. This requires cow, sheep or goat milk. To it is added a boiled pounded stomach. The power interval is 1-2 hours.
At the age of two weeks, you can gradually add sour-milk products to the diet - yogurt, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir.
1-2 months
What does the Yorkshire Terrier eat in a month, than to feed a puppy? Already at this age, the representative of the breed begins to be transferred to an adult diet. The menu should contain a small amount of raw meat. It is important that the product is pre-frozen, this will help prevent helminth infections. Thawed meat can be twisted through a meat grinder or finely chopped. It is also necessary to scald it with boiling water.
At 1.5 months, you can introduce marine boiled fish, boiled cereals, finely chopped boiled vegetables into the York diet.
How to feed a puppy of the Yorkshire Terrier in 2 months? It depends on how the dog will eat in the future. If you plan to give the animal natural food, then the products remain the same. The frequency of food intake can be reduced to four times a day. If York will eat dry food, then it's time to start translating it into it. Sour-milk products should be added to the diet.
3-4 months
How to feed a puppy of the Yorkshire Terrier in 3-4 months? At this age, the animal should already be switched to dry food, if it is planned that it will feed on it. Of course, you can give him only special brands that are designed specifically for puppies. Feeding is carried out three times a day. Leaving food in a bowl is not worth it, as this is fraught with overeating. At this age, it is already possible to exclude dairy products. However, once a week it is necessary to treat the puppy with a raw egg.
Will the food be natural? In this case, the puppy is available all the products that are present in the diet of an adult.
Number of feedings by age
How much to feed the Yorkshire Terrier once a day? It directly depends on how old he is. The approximate number of feedings by age is as follows:
- 0-2 months - 5-6 times;
- 2-4 months - 4-5 times;
- 4-6 months - 3-4 times;
- 6-10 months - 2-3 times;
- after 10 months - 2 times.
It is necessary to pay attention to the ratio of products in the diet, it must be correct:
- proteins (meat, fish, cottage cheese) - 50%;
- fruits and vegetables - 25%;
- cereals - 25%.
How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier: meat and fish
Meat is the main element in a pet’s diet. It can be offered raw York, but it is preferable to cook. It is important that meat products do not contain fatty layers. The animal can be given beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit.
How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier, is it worth adding offal to the menu? It should be remembered that the liver, stomach, lung, heart should be given to the dog only in boiled form. They should not be construed as a substitute for meat. Offal is included in the menu only once a week.
Also, the animal will benefit from the addition of pitted, scaled and visceral marine fish to the diet. In raw form, this product should not be given to York, it is necessary to cook. It is better not to feed the pet with species that do not allow iron to be absorbed, for example, blue whiting, pollock. Fish is introduced into the diet approximately once a week.
Vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, greens
How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier, in addition to meat, offal and fish? The animal also needs vegetables, which must be cooked. Carrots, beets, pumpkin, zucchini - such options are possible. It is better to add carrots to the diet in raw form, finely grating them and adding a few drops of vegetable oil. York is strongly discouraged from feeding potatoes.
Greens should also be present in the pet's diet. It is used in small quantities, as an additive to the main product. Green onions, spinach, salad - all this can be York.
How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at home, does he need fruit? Yes, the dog will benefit from adding apples, melons, watermelons, bananas, pears to the diet. From time to time it is necessary to pamper the animal with dried fruits, which contain a large amount of potassium, manganese and iron. This will make up for the shortage of important trace elements, a positive impact on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Dairy products, eggs, cereals
How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at home, whether to give the dog dairy products? Yes, as they are valuable sources of calcium. Cottage cheese, low-fat kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk must be present in the pet's diet. This is especially important in puppyhood, when the formation of the bone and teeth. The Yorkshire Terrier needs milk only for up to four months, after which it should be excluded.
In the diet of the dog, porridge must also be present. They will supply the body with potassium and magnesium, as well as fill the need for B vitamins. Rice, oat, buckwheat - you can feed your pet with such cereals.
Do york need eggs? Twice a week, a yolk should be offered to the dog. Protein is not recommended, as it can cause allergies.
What else is needed
What can feed the Yorkshire Terrier besides this? Olive or flaxseed oil should be included in the diet. This product is best added to vegetable mixes. Oil will saturate dishes with amino acids, and will contribute to the absorption of nutrients.
The dog must have constant access to clean and fresh drinking water.
The smallest
The above describes what should be in the diet of a representative of a standard breed. How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier mini? In the pet menu, you can include all the products described above.
The main task of the owner is to learn how to correctly determine the portion size. One tablespoon of food should be for every pound of weight. Let's say if a mini-york weighs 1.5 kg, it needs three tablespoons of provisions.
What not
There are products that can not be included in the diet of the Yorkshire Terrier. Some of them can cause minor harm, others are not absorbed at all by the body of the pet. So what is it worth giving up?
- Salt, sugar, pepper, all kinds of spices and seasonings - all this can not be used during cooking for York.
- Fish must be marine, freshwater pet can not be fed.
- Fatty meats are contraindicated for the Yorkshire Terrier. It is better to refuse pork and lamb brisket.
- Sausages and smoked meats attract many pets, Yorkies are no exception. Unfortunately, they are banned, as they are very harmful to the body, they are a source of cholesterol. The pet, in the diet of which they are present, is threatened by diseases of the kidneys, pancreas and other troubles.
- When choosing vegetables for a dog, turnips must be abandoned forever. Bloating can cause cabbage and legumes, they are poorly digested. Of the fruits, citrus fruits are strictly prohibited.
- Sweets causing dermatitis and diarrhea are contraindicated to the Yorkshire Terrier. Also, the pet should not be given pasta, pastries, including bread. However, you can purchase special treats for pets at the pet store and occasionally include them in the diet as a reward.
- Meat, mushroom broths are too heavy for a tender stomach.
- Milk provokes diarrhea in an adult pet, this product can only be given to puppies.
- York's stomach will not absorb protein in its raw form.
Five major bans
Owners who are interested in feeding the Yorkshire Terrier at home often make the same mistakes. So, what is categorically not recommended?
- To regale from the table. Charming Yorks have no equal in the ability to beg for a forbidden piece. Chicken skin, sausage, chocolate - all this can harm a delicate stomach. In addition, the dog must remember that it is served food in a designated place.
- Giving bones. Bird and fish bones are extremely dangerous for the pet, they lead to intestinal perforation.
- Force to eat. The Yorkshire Terrier must decide for himself whether he is hungry. If the dog wanted to arrange a fasting day, this still does not indicate health problems, poor health. Forced feeding can be a source of psychological trauma.
- Overfeed. The pet does not know how to stop on time. The result can be a glut, which will lead to obesity. This will negatively affect the condition of the musculoskeletal system, internal organs. The absence of obesity is evidenced by the fact that the ribs are felt during palpation.
- Be zealous with vitamins. If the Yorkshire Terrier eats natural products, food additives should certainly be added to its diet. It is only important to use a reasonable amount of vitamins.
Important Rules
What else should the Yorkshire Terrier owners remember? Feeding tips are provided below.
- You can’t sharply translate a dog that is used to eating prepared feeds to natural food. This should take at least two weeks.
- New products are introduced into the pet's menu gradually.
- Organic food and prepared dry food should not be mixed.
- You should not feed York to dishes that are prepared for family members. Food for the dog is prepared separately, and salt and spices are not used.
- Food for York should not be too hot or cold. Great if it will be at room temperature.
- Porridge can not be boiled in the broth.
Dry feed
What kind of food is better - a question that has been the subject of discussion by veterinarians for several years. How to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at home, how to choose between natural and dry food? What are the advantages and disadvantages of prepared food?
The positive features of dry feed include the lack of time spent on cooking. Food for the pet is simply purchased in the store and poured into a bowl, no additional manipulations are required. Food can be purchased with a margin, you do not need to constantly go after it. In addition, a pet is less likely to need vitamin supplements, as they are already included. However, along with useful trace elements and vitamins, the dog inevitably receives a certain proportion of preservatives. First of all, this applies to cheap feed.
The main advantage of natural nutrition is its natural composition. The owner can have no doubt that the pet’s diet does not contain a variety of chemicals that can harm the delicate body. Natural nutrition is easy to adjust, while dry food cannot boast of diversity, it has the same composition. However, the diet is compiled "by eye", and therefore the dog may not receive certain trace elements and vitamins. In addition, constant cooking requires a significant amount of time.
Which feed to choose
What kind of food to feed the Yorkshire Terrier? The following options are available to pet owners.
- Economy class. The main advantage of such nutrition is its affordable cost, it consists of bone meal and proteins. Unfortunately, these feeds contain a minimal amount of useful elements. Prolonged feeding by them will negatively affect the health of the animal.
- Custom class. Such feeds are acceptable in terms of cost, have a rich composition. However, it should be borne in mind that they contain a lot of artificial additives that can lead to allergies and are addictive.
- Premium class. It is these foods that are suitable for the Yorkshire Terrier, whose body is distinguished by its demanding food. The finished product contains all the important trace elements and vitamins. Unfortunately, it has a significant drawback - high cost.
Brands that are preferred by experienced dog handlers are heard by everyone. "MeraDog", "Proplan", "Hills", "Royal Canin" - the names of popular brands. In the assortment of species for small breeds at certain periods of life. You can choose food for puppies of different ages, adults, old dogs and so on.