New Yorkie mom - meet Benjamin Button

[Rescuemomma]

I've tried Stella and Chewies dehydrated before and am not a huge fan, my dogs have never done well on it for long, and tend to get diarrhea easily with it. Maybe that's just my experience. It's also got alot of ingredients I don't care for.

And I agree about the food - I really don't care how much I have to spend - At 3 lbs, no matter what I feed him it's not going to be to hard to afford LOL A good quality food he's not going to need to eat much of to meet his needs!!!!

He has surely found his furever home, he's not going anywhere! I've rescued and placed over 200 dogs in the last 10 years, very few have stayed, but this boy is a keeper!

[Lilymo]

Hi there heart warming to read your story. Lucky you and lucky B B. I have 2 yorkie pups and feed Royal Canin Yorkshire terrier junior. They do the adult one too. The kibble is very small and mine love it. I bought cat harnesses for the girls as the xs puppia was and still is too big. I can't believe a tiny yorkie ended up in a shelter.

[Rescuemomma]

Sadly, Yorkies are not uncommon in the shelters around here Although he's one of the smallest I've seen. The sad thing with Benji Buttons, is that someone has obviously loved this little Yorkie. He came into the shelter as a stray. He was on the euth list and not available for adoption to the general public because he had no teeth - And they thought that made him unadoptable Very sad - I couldn't have possibly hoped for a better dog, he's perfect in every way (well, we're still working on him not lifting his leg inside - But we'll get there! He hasn't even been here a week yet!). He was a bit messy, but not really matted, and someone obviously spent quite a bit of money to have his teeth removed. He's in good weight and condition over all. I can't imagine how this sweet baby ended up as a stray - But I must say I have to feel as if it was ment to be for my sake - But my heart breaks to think that somewhere someone is probably missing this little angel, and can't imagine why they never went to the shelter looking for him - I know if god forbid I ever lost my Benji I'd be frantic checking every shelter and posting notices and ads EVERYWHERE to find him again - I've also had him microchipped so that should help, but I pray I never have to worry about that - He doesn't ever leave my side anyway, but crap can happen to even the best dog owners! I even went as far as checking paper and Craigslist archives for the last couple of months, but it doesn't seem as though anybody there was missing a dog with his description. But for my sake - I'm glad, he has been just what my heart needed to help me recover over the very sad death of my sweet angel Portia who was claimed far to young - Years of neglect before coming to me left her heart and epilepsy so hard to control that despite 5 daily epilepsy drugs and 4 heart meds, and valium as needed we still struggled to keep control, until finally that last bad cluster was to much for both of us, and she let me know she was ready to go. She was with me just under a year - But I take comfort in knowing my dear Portia died knowing she was loved.

[gracielove]

Is he able to eat kibble since he has no teeth? I am feeding Gracie a frozen grain free raw. She has done really well on it and as you said it does not cost a lot to feed a small dog. Once it is defrosted the frozen raw is very soft. There are several different brands of raw out there.

[Rescuemomma]

I've had many toothless pets still able to eat kibble. They do better then you'd think!

Problem with raw I already mentioned. May do that for his regular meals, but I'm a rescuer, and also travel for work and show one of my IGs. So at times I travel quite a bit and the dogs come with me. Often I just don't have a good way to keep things cold - so I need to find a good option for him that doesn't need to be refrigerated when I travel.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Hi, welcome to YT and I am so glad you rescued that little darling. Imagine how alone he was in that jail he was in - a tiny Yorkie. They react so personally to everything and I'll bet it was awful for him. Thank goodness you found out and this little one is now being loved, cared for and pampered by a loving mom. Oh, it hurts my heart to think of him having to eat hard food on just little gum tissue! How sad! I wonder what it feels like when that kibble hits tender or thin spots even on the toughest little gums? And dogs being dogs they just go on and don't even cry out. The little things just make do no matter what. Maybe you could soak his kibble to make it a little easier on him. I have not heard of bald ears on the back myself so maybe a second opinion could diagnose that condition for treatment . I'm so grateful you found out about him and saved his life. I have had 2 Yorkies that size and they are very special if care-intensive and you always have to be so careful of them jumping off couches and beds and such they worry you a lot. But they more than make up for their extra needs in total sweetness and love. BB is a very, very blessed boy to have a loving and caring home and you are very blessed to have him. Looking forward to hearing more stories about him. Here is a big hug from Tibbe and me.

[Joyce Adams]

Hello and welcome, so thankful that you have found each other, sounds like a perfect match..

[Rescuemomma]

He really is special! I'm use to Italian Greyhounds - so my floors are super cushioned and my furniture really low with stairs going up to most of it - but I do still worry and make sure I'm super careful! Don't want any of my babies getting hurt!

I didn't think of soaking it, that may be an option! I'll try it and see how he does! If not, maybe I'll just start looking at high quality canned foods - problem again is going to be traveling because I know even a small can he's not going to eat the whole can at a time!

[Rescuemomma]

For those who want Pics - check ou my thread in pictures. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/my-...in-button.html

[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe loves his kibble soaked from time to time and I would do it daily if he had no teeth just in case he had thin spots over a gum bony prominence, etc., where it could abrade easily and I not know it. Because it could hurt them and you would likely never know as they will do anything and go through pain to eat. I had a dog abscess a tooth and never showed me anything by how he acted until the swelling began to distort his little face! You live & learn with dogs! I learned that usually they are stoics about much of their discomfort unless it is very sudden, sharp or unexpected. That same little dog with the terrible abscess who never cried out or pawed his face & ate normally would yelp if you pulled his fur a bit when brushing him. And yet when the vet saw that tooth, he winced himself, gave him pain medication right away & some to bring home with antibiotics until his surgery to remove it. He told me then that dogs often never show dental-related pain symptoms! I slunk home & learned all about brushing teeth & regular check-ups & cleanings.

[Sammy Mommy]

Welcome and congratulations!! I'm glad that you and Benjamin found each other. I had a beagle named Benjamin (Benji). As far as the hair loss on the ear, if it is leather ear, try Lotrimin cream (people medicine-can get it at any supermarket or pharmacy). That's what I used when my yorkie Sammy had it. Good luck to you and Benjamin. Enjoy your precious pup!

[Rescuemomma]

Thanks everyone for the great tips! I've started looking at some home-made diet recipes and think I'll start that way, and go from there - I'll see if he likes Ziwi Peak, that may be a good option for when we travel - he's silly, he found a bully stick and is gumming it to death LOL

[beachdog]

Aw you are so sweet to take in this little fellow. so glad he has a buddy to play with. Love the photos!

[Rachael x]

Congratulations on your new addition

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Rescuemomma

Thanks everyone for the great tips! I've started looking at some home-made diet recipes and think I'll start that way, and go from there - I'll see if he likes Ziwi Peak, that may be a good option for when we travel - he's silly, he found a bully stick and is gumming it to death LOL

Dick Van Patten Natural Balance has lots of formulas of dry food. I feed mine the Ultra Premium that is very small bites and then I mix it with Fromm's Chicken a la Veg, which has almost as small of kibble.

You can use this link to check out the different NB formulas as well as almost any other brand. They have a list of ingredients at the bottom of the page on each item that you click on.

http://www.petfooddirect.com/Brand/N...-Balance/page1