4 Year old Yorkie diet transition question!

[IEkoa]

Hello, this is my first post here and I want to thank all in advance who share their tips, info, time, and experience with me.

Koa, my four year old yorkie is 7-8 pounds and healthy. He has been eating cesar (turkey flavor) his entire life. About once or twice a week, he gets boiled chicken instead. He also sporadically eats dry royal canin kibble throughout the week.

My question is should I transition him to be eating dry food only? Feeding him wet food every day is very taxing on time and frustration as he is a very picky eater. Some days he will gobble it up with ease and others he will not eat it at all. He has to be force fed in those situations. He also tends to throwup and have diarrhea immediately after. Needless to say, I dont believe his diet should be this way!

Is it possible/should I try to transition him to be eating dry food only? To the point where dry food is put out once a day and is available to him throughout the day for him to eat whenever he wants?

Any tips or info is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

[kjc]

Hi and Welcome to YT!

If you do decide to feed dry exclusively, always measure the amount you put out for him so you can tell exactly how much he is eating.

FYI: Turkey is high in purines, chicken would be a better choice.

Has any bloodwork been done on him recently? Chronic vomiting /diarrhea should be sorted out by your vet, as it can be a symptom of something going on with him. The bloodwork may give a clue as to the best dietary adjustments to make for him.

Good luck and keep us posted on how he's doing...

[IEkoa]

Originally Posted by kjc

Hi and Welcome to YT!

If you do decide to feed dry exclusively, always measure the amount you put out for him so you can tell exactly how much he is eating.

FYI: Turkey is high in purines, chicken would be a better choice.

Has any bloodwork been done on him recently? Chronic vomiting /diarrhea should be sorted out by your vet, as it can be a symptom of something going on with him. The bloodwork may give a clue as to the best dietary adjustments to make for him.

Good luck and keep us posted on how he's doing...

Hello, thanks for the reply. Bloodwork/vet visits report him being very healthy! The vomiting is mostly whenever he DOESN'T eat, so its the yellow liquidy type acid.
I would really like to have him on a "free-feeding" schedule.

[IEkoa]

We also go from chicken/turkey/steak flavored cesar to add variety. However, Like I said, Id really like to get him on a "free feed" eating schedule.

[Patti]

I feed mine wet and dry. I have just started transitioning them from one wet food to another that is a better quality food. I use to feed Cesars but was told it was not a good quality food more like us eating Mcdonald's everyday. I have learned a lot on here too.
I think all kibble is easier and better for them, but mine love their wet food.

[IEkoa]

Originally Posted by Patti

I use to feed Cesars but was told it was not a good quality food more like us eating Mcdonald's everyday

Exactly my thoughts. second reason why I'd like to change his diet. However, main reason is for both ease of me and ease for him, which is why id like to get him on dry food

[IEkoa]

I guess my question at this point is HOW to transition to a free-feeding diet from a hand fed wet food diet. I dont mind doing some wet food every once in a while (Once a week maybe) , but Id like the entirety of his other meals to be "free-fed".

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by IEkoa

Hello, this is my first post here and I want to thank all in advance who share their tips, info, time, and experience with me.

Koa, my four year old yorkie is 7-8 pounds and healthy. He has been eating cesar (turkey flavor) his entire life. About once or twice a week, he gets boiled chicken instead. He also sporadically eats dry royal canin kibble throughout the week.

My question is should I transition him to be eating dry food only? Feeding him wet food every day is very taxing on time and frustration as he is a very picky eater. Some days he will gobble it up with ease and others he will not eat it at all. He has to be force fed in those situations. He also tends to throwup and have diarrhea immediately after. Needless to say, I dont believe his diet should be this way!

Is it possible/should I try to transition him to be eating dry food only? To the point where dry food is put out once a day and is available to him throughout the day for him to eat whenever he wants?

Any tips or info is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

If you haven't, I believe I would have a BAT test done and other labwork and second opinion to be sure nothing is malfunctioning. The throwing up and diarrhea and anorexia leading to forcefeeding are not normal and don't sound healthy and I would want a good work-up to be sure my baby wasn't dealing with an underlying condition. It could be the Cesar is too rich, has to much fat or something and is throwing his bowel into a reaction but I would want current studies and assurance my dog wasn't struggling with perhaps an early or mild disease process that could progress without you knowing it. Could be getting him on the right food as guided by the veterinarian will do the trick and stop the anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea.

[IEkoa]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

If you haven't, I believe I would have a BAT test done and other labwork and second opinion to be sure nothing is malfunctioning. The throwing up and diarrhea and anorexia leading to forcefeeding are not normal and don't sound healthy and I would want a good work-up to be sure my baby wasn't dealing with an underlying condition. It could be the Cesar is too rich, has to much fat or something and is throwing his bowel into a reaction but I would want current studies and assurance my dog wasn't struggling with perhaps an early or mild disease process that could progress without you knowing it. Could be getting him on the right food as guided by the veterinarian will do the trick and stop the anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea.

As I've said before in the previous posts, the bloodwork is healthy AND the vomiting is only when he doesn't eat(yellow acid). I would edit the first post, but I do not believe its possible.
Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the reply.

[dottiesyrky]

I am sorry your baby is so picky and does not eat well. As you say, he throws up bile when he has an empty stomach, and also the tests show no apparent health problems.
I do not think Cesar is healthy food and you are wise to try and change it ASAP.
Have you tried first weaning him from Cesar to some other good wet food, like Blue Buffalo etc, and if he eats that, mix with the same variety of dry? Then you may try the dry only. I agree dry is so much easier to deal with.
It is so frustrating to have a picky eater, and I have been there. But sooner or later you will find the right food. So hang in there! Good luck.

[jadabug]

My mom has a picky eater and was adding cesar to her little girls dry food to get her to eat. She had episodes of diarrhea and throwing up bile. She changed her to a grain free venison dry food and Jazzy now eats her kibble without adding the cesar..no throwing up or diarrhea since then.
I hope if all testing is normal that it might be a food intolerance issue. Sending good thoughts and prayers that you are able to get your little one to eat a food that agrees with him.