Fat Yorkie & Yorkie coat

[Leesha]

My 5 and 1/2 month old yorkie loves to eat and is a true fatty. I cannot ration his food because my other yorkies don't eat much. So food has to always remain down for them.

Any suggestions... also if you trim your yorkies coats do they grow back thicker?

[bchgirl]

Sometimes food becomes a "competition" in homes with packs. In the wild...they would gobble it all. You either need to make the food inaccessible to puppy...or feed at specific times. Weight can be a serious issue and it's easier to prevent it than to take the weight off.

No, it doesn't come back "thicker". Yorkies have a single layer coat and the desire is a silk texture. It is not thick "fur".

[Leesha]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Sometimes food becomes a "competition" in homes with packs. In the wild...they would gobble it all. You either need to make the food inaccessible to puppy...or feed at specific times. Weight can be a serious issue and it's easier to prevent it than to take the weight off.

No, it doesn't come back "thicker". Yorkies have a single layer coat and the desire is a silk texture. It is not thick "fur".

Thank you... my yorkie has very thin hair while some of the others are thicker coated and one has a cotton dry and coat that tangles very easily(that is my little fatty). Because he couldn't play much in the winter outside now that the weather is nicer he is running and playing lots in the yard. I'm hoping this will help his little belly. He is a solid little guy. Very muscular and solid. I thought maybe if I trimmed my baby with the thin coat it will grow in a little fuller.

My other yorkies eat throughout the day and because of her size I keep food down 24/7. Is there anything else I can do? Maybe switch to adult food or is it too soon?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Leesha

My 5 and 1/2 month old yorkie loves to eat and is a true fatty. I cannot ration his food because my other yorkies don't eat much. So food has to always remain down for them.

Any suggestions... also if you trim your yorkies coats do they grow back thicker?

Puppies need to have extra weight and fat so that they can go through growth spurts. Don't give any extra snacks, and if only healthy food is provided, dogs will generally not over eat. It's possible that there is some type of genetic problem and if the dog is truly obese, he needs to be seen by a vet. Once a dog is 8 months, you can start worrying about restricting calories or giving more exercise. What makes you think your pup is fat, is it the tummy? Does the vet say he's too fat? Remember, some Yorkies have more of a cobby body.

Trimming hair does not make it grow thicker, hair growth is under the skin, so cutting or trimming it does not make it grow thicker. Cutting hair sometimes makes it appear thicker, but the hair will get thicker as the dog matures. This sometimes coincides with cutting, and people think the cutting or shaving did it, but its not true.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by Leesha

Thank you... my yorkie has very thin fur while some of the others are thicker coated and one has a cotton dry and tangle coat. I thought maybe if I trimmed my baby with the thin coat it will grow in a little fuller.

My other yorkies eat throughout the day and because of her size I keep food down 24/7. Is there anything else I can do? Maybe switch to adult food or is it too soon?

I have some cotton poofy coats here...and some silk. The silk is thin.

I have never fed puppy food formulas to mine...switching now is fine. Puppy formulas generally have a higher protein content and if puppy doesn't use all that with activity...it'll turn to fat. Keeping him active will help too.

[Leesha]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Puppies need to have extra weight and fat so that they can go through growth spurts. Don't give any extra snacks, and if only healthy food is provided, dogs will generally not over eat. It's possible that there is some type of genetic problem and if the dog is truly obese, he needs to be seen by a vet. Once a dog is 8 months, you can start worrying about restricting calories or giving more exercise. What makes you think your pup is fat, is it the tummy? Does the vet say he's too fat? Remember, some Yorkies have more of a cobby body.

Trimming hair does not make it grow thicker, hair growth is under the skin, so cutting or trimming it does not make it grow thicker. Cutting hair sometimes makes it appear thicker, but the hair will get thicker as the dog matures. This sometimes coincides with cutting, and people think the cutting or shaving did it, but its not true.

His body is round...lol... He has a fat belly yes. However he is very solid so maybe he is just different to my smaller structured females?? His neck is thicker and you feel more muscles on him. His fur may add to the round look I guess. He isn't overweight by the vet's description. I just think he feels a little round to me...

[Leesha]

When I pick him up he also feels way to heavy. He feels heavier than he looks.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Leesha

His body is round...lol... He has a fat belly yes. However he is very solid so maybe he is just different to my smaller structured females?? His neck is thicker and you feel more muscles on him. His fur may add to the round look I guess. He isn't overweight by the vet's description. I just think he feels a little round to me...

He may be "just right", if you look at different pictures, some yorkies have very small petite looking frame; others seem to have a sturdier looking frame. I don't think it has anything to do with the sex, just genetics. I love the cobby body style, and they can hold much more weight, but still look small. Your description of the neck area, makes me think this is the case.

I read something about, if the tummy was really puffy and round, it could indicate worms, but I can't remember the details, and I think most pups, are like toddlers, and have rounded tummies. Remember, if the vet says that he's not overweight, he's not overweight. They tend to be pretty strict in this area.

[Leesha]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

He may be "just right", if you look at different pictures, some yorkies have very small petite looking frame; others seem to have a sturdier looking frame. I don't think it has anything to do with the sex, just genetics. I love the cobby body style, and they can hold much more weight, but still look small. Your description of the neck area, makes me think this is the case.

I read something about, if the tummy was really puffy and round, it could indicate worms, but I can't remember the details, and I think most pups, are like toddlers, and have rounded tummies. Remember, if the vet says that he's not overweight, he's not overweight. They tend to be pretty strict in this area.

LoL...definitely not worms. He hogs the food... I feed him Blue Buffalo and Royal Canine as I am swithching over. Their fav is the RC and they will eat that first. I like the holistic natural stuff much better for them. He leave's that one alone and only eats it because he has to. RC cannot stay down they finish it in no time.

True a bout the size. My Pebbles is a skinny minnie with small structure. My cobby baby is solid! So I guess this is normal. I thought it could be because he is also a male. I will keep and eye on him and switch to adult food.

[hugz4all4]

How much does he weigh? Tucker who is the same age as your little guy has a smaller cobby body and feels heavier than my leaner toy poodle but they both wiegh about the same (5 ish pounds, she varies between 4.5 and 5) and she is only an inch taller then he is (she is 8 inches, he is 7 inches) but He looks heavier than her cause of his body shape. He looks like square box. lol.

[WoodyMorgan]

Originally Posted by Leesha

My 5 and 1/2 month old yorkie loves to eat and is a true fatty. I cannot ration his food because my other yorkies don't eat much. So food has to always remain down for them.

Any suggestions... also if you trim your yorkies coats do they grow back thicker?

Leesha, thanks for commenting on mine, you are the only one so far. I feel like such a bad mommy for him getting so big! He's almost 7yrs now and I switched them both to "diet" food about a year ago (Bogie is almost 5). I did let him swim in the bath tub today, it was hillarious Something is better than nothing I suppose. I will keep checking yours and for ideas and let you know what comes up on mine.