Top 10 Best Dog Food for Yorkies at walmart

06/20/2023

Table of Contents

Top 10 Best Dog Food for Yorkies

The right food for other toy dogs may not be right for Yorkies. This breed, which is more formally known as a Yorkshire Terrier, has specific needs and potential health conditions that we’ll address below. It’s important to purchase the best food based on their current stage of life since puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional and caloric requirements. And be sure to adapt your Yorkie’s food to her changing needs as she grows.

We’ve compiled a list of the best overall options for Yorkies based on their stage of life and whether they tend to prefer wet or dry foods so you can select the best food for your furry friend.

The Best Food for Yorkies

While your Yorkie may not take up much space in your home, they do take up a huge space in your heart. Because of this, they deserve the best nutrition you can provide. To help you make a smart choice for your Yorkshire Terrier’s diet, we’ve assembled a list of the best food for Yorkies, based on the recommendations above.

Orijen Puppy High-Protein Dry Dog Food for Yorkies

Made with 85% premium animal ingredients including meat, organs, and bone, this dry puppy food delivers biologically appropriate nutrition to nourish your puppy’s growth and development. In other words, it offers a diet similar to what your dog’s canine ancestors ate in the wild.

Merrick Lil’ Plates Pint-Sized Puppy Plate Wet Food

With deboned chicken as the main ingredient, this protein-rich wet food is uniquely formulated to meet the nutritional needs of small-breed puppies like your Yorkie.

Solid Gold Mighty Mini Toy and Small-Breed Wet Food

Nourish your Yorkie’s health and wellness with this holistic, natural wet food. Grain- and gluten-free, it features lamb, sweet potato, and cranberry in a moist and flavorful gravy.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small-Breed Grain-Free Dry Food

Packed with natural ingredients and flavors, this kibble is a grain-free food for your Yorkie who gets only the best. It features real venison as the number one ingredient. Supplemental protein comes from lamb, duck, and fish for a total of 32% protein.

Castor & Pollux Pristine Small-Breed Free-Range Chicken Stew

When it comes to the best food for Yorkies, this small-breed wet food is a strong contender. Conveniently packaged in small cans, this flavorful stew features organic-fed, free-range chicken in a recipe formulated specifically for small breeds.

Wellness Toy Breed Complete Health Adult Dry Food

This toy breed food was developed to support small dogs’ energy, skin and coat health, and hip and joint health. It’s a complete and balanced dry food—just what your Yorkshire Terrier needs for well-rounded nutrition.

Nutro Natural Choice Small-Breed Adult Dry Food for Yorkies

Fresh chicken and chicken meal are the first two ingredients in this protein-rich dry food that ranks among the best food for Yorkies. It’s loaded with healthy nutrients from natural sources and specially formulated for small breed adults like your Yorkshire Terrier.

Instinct Original Small-Breed Grain-Free Canned Food for Yorkies

Featuring cage-free chicken with fresh fruits and vegetables, this high-protein canned food for small breeds is packed with real, wholesome ingredients. Plus, you won’t find any fillers or artificial additives in the recipe, making it a healthy, natural option.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small-Breed Senior Food for Yorkies

If your veterinarian recommends a senior recipe to support your Yorkie’s joint health, this Blue Buffalo Life Protection small-breed formula is a great option. One of the best foods for Yorkies of a certain age, it’s protein-rich and supplemented with all the essential nutrients your dog needs for optimal health throughout their golden years.

Instinct Raw Boost Small-Breed Recipe Dry Food

High-protein kibble is blended with freeze-dried pieces of raw meat in this small breed formula. Full of flavor, this option is chock-full of premium nutrition that caters to your Yorkie’s dietary requirements.

Are Yorkshire Terriers fussy eaters?

Yorkie are notorious for being picky eaters, though this may be in part because their humans are eager to make them as happy as possible (and who can blame them).
For a picky eater, you can buy food toppers or put a whole, lean meat chopped up into their food. Think lean ground beef heated up and mixed into kibble. Hardly any dog will turn up their nose to that!
Don’t give in and let them eat unhealthy food just because they like it. This can cause health problems down the road.

What can I feed my Yorkie besides dog food?

Everyone wants to give their dogs a little bit of human food, and that’s totally okay so long as it doesn’t happen too often.
A little teaspoon of peanut butter or a piece of carrot is a welcome treat.
Feel free to give your dog a tiny piece of meat from your plate now and then (but don’t give it to them if they beg!), so long as it doesn’t have sauce or a lot of fat and salt in it.
Fruit like blueberries and strawberries is also welcome.

Do Yorkies need supplements?

With the right kind of food, you don’t need to supplement your Yorkie’s food. If you’re in doubt, check with your veterinarian for recommendations.

Should I consult With My Vet Before Introducing New Food to My Dog?

You don’t necessarily need to check with a vet to introduce new food to your dog unless they are having health issues like vomiting, dry, flaky skin, or chronic diarrhea.
Otherise, just be sure to mix a bit of old food with the new food for a while to ensure that you don’t irritate your dog’s stomach.

Should I rotate foods or keep serving the same one?

Keeping your dog on a consistent diet isn’t unhealthy. But rotating balanced dog foods every few weeks or months can help improve appetite.

Is grain-free dog food good for Yorkshire terriers?

Most Yorkies thrive on a diet that provides energy from digestible carbohydrates. But they can also benefit from grain-free diets that provide adequate calories from additional fats and protein.

Is dry or wet food better for Yorkies?

Yorkies are notoriously picky eaters. Wet food is generally the safest bet for palatability, but dry food is more convenient.

What should I do if my Yorkie is a picky eater?

If your Yorkie is a picky eater, select a wet food. Most dogs prefer wet food to dry ones, and you can easily mix extra kibble into his meals.

How To Choose Food For Your Yorkie

After ensuring the food meets basic nutritional needs, select a formula that best meets your Yorkie’s individual needs.

LID formulation

Limited ingredient diets eliminate exposure to common food allergens by using a simple recipe to meet nutrient requirements.
These formulas generally use a single source of animal protein. Since most allergens are proteins, a single protein source limits the potential development of new allergies.
Elimination diets typically do not include fillers or artificial additives. Many dogs with food intolerances experience digestive upset when they consume these ingredients.
If your Yorkie suffers from a sensitive stomach or food allergies, a limited ingredient diet may be beneficial.

High Fiber

Fibers are essential for healthy digestion. Healthy sources of fiber such as beet pulp act as prebiotics and help improve nutrient absorption from food.
Dogs do not rely on dietary fiber as a primary energy source. But, fiber nourishes beneficial gut bacteria that help breakdown food. And a healthy gut and proper nutrient absorption help your Yorkie digest the energy provided by his diet.
Some dog food formulas also include probiotic blends to boost digestibility further. Probiotics introduce additional good bacteria into your dog’s digestive tract. The sensitive gastrointestinal systems of senior Yorkies and Puppies can benefit from feeding probiotics.

Smaller Size Kibble

Toy dog breeds like Yorkies have tiny mouths and need small pieces of kibble. They can’t appropriately chew and digest standard-sized food.
Yorkies can easily choke on large pieces that they cannot comfortably swallow. If they do manage to consume unchewed food, it is more difficult to digest. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies, even if you feed your dog an appropriately balanced diet.

Vitamins & Minerals

A balanced ratio of vitamins and minerals is vital for proper growth and development. Any dog food your purchase should meet AAFCO’s nutrient profile guidelines for dogs.
Proper amounts of vitamins and minerals are especially critical for growing puppies. Essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus contribute to the formation of bones. Chronic skeletal diseases can arise from mineral deficiencies.
Vitamins help boost the health of your Yorkie throughout his life. Some vitamins act as antioxidants. These antioxidants protect damaged tissues against free radicals. They are especially crucial for Yorkies with joint discomfort.

Caloric Needs

An average dog needs a daily diet that provides around 30 calories per pound of body weight. For example, a medium-sized dog will eat about 800 calories per day.

Small breeds have faster metabolisms than their larger counterparts. They require higher calories in smaller meals to meet their energy needs.

Generally, toy breeds need to consume ten calories more per pound of body weight than large dogs to maintain their weight. Yorkies also need access to food throughout the day to avoid dips in their blood sugar.

Yorkshire Terrier Daily Calorie Requirements

Weight (lbs)	Calories
4	160
5	200
6	240
7	280

The average adult Yorkshire Terrier weighs around 4-7 pounds and needs to eat 160-280 calories per day.

Age

Dogs’ nutritional needs can change as they age. Yorkie puppies need higher levels of protein for growth. And digestible carbohydrates help prevent hypoglycemia.

Adult Yorkies thrive on diets high in fat and protein to support their high metabolism. Carbohydrates also help provide adequate energy for their active lifestyle.

Yorkies seniors do not need as much protein as they age. But they still require balanced nutrition to support their weakened immune systems. Added ingredients that help support aging joints can also benefit elderly dogs.