Senior Yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Lindaah · 05-07-2012, 09:42 PM

I have a 12 year old Yorky that was recently diagnosed with an enlarged heart, although, for now, she remains fairly active and, thank God, doesn't act her age.
She has gained weight recently and i am trying to decide on the best choice of food for her weight issues and her health. I want to keep her on a grain free diet. I had her in Call if the Wild for awhile, tho she wasn't crazy about it and now I bought her Blue for Small Breed Dogs, which she likes, but I noticed the fat content is 15%, protein 26%...I am concerned about the fat content. I am not sure if I should try the weight management formula in the Blue, or not. Whenever I tried her on a weight mgmt formula before, her coat became dry and here eyes seemed dull ( it wasn't Blue, it was Royal Canin)... I want to keep my baby as healthy and fit as long as possible so I would appreciate any advice !

Yorkiemom1 · 05-08-2012, 01:16 AM

Just wanted to say my little matriarch was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure @ 9 years old....they started her on medication (Vasotec and Lasix), and put her on weight mgmnt. (RC, with no problems encountered), and she lived until 17 years old....so your little darling's diagnosis is treatable and she can have a long life ahead of her.

Lindaah · 05-08-2012, 01:52 AM

Thank you so much for your input and sharing your story. I am so sorry you lost your baby but glad you had her as long as you did:-). I am not sure why the vet didn't put Wikki, my baby, on any medication. She did consult with a cardiologist specialist for dogs and said that, for now, she isn't in congestive heart failure. Maybe that's why no meds? What is the RC? Not familiar with that? Is is part of the Prescriptive dog Food line? I really want to keep her on a grain free diet...she seems perkier since I switched her to grain free, but just trying to figure out the best one. It's a bit over-whelming! Thank you again!

Joyce Adams · 05-08-2012, 05:24 AM

Hello and welcome, I think RC is Royal Canin.

ladyjane · 05-08-2012, 05:35 AM

My George is at least 12, could be older. I adopted him 7 years ago. He is unable to see or hear and until recently has been doing well getting around. He now has started acting a bit strange, standing in different places looking for me where he used to find me right away. This behavior is baffling because it is so intermittent...I am not sure if he is having cognitive dysfunction or what. I spoke with my vet yesterday and asked her about Senilife....she said it was worth trying but that she did not any pups on it. She also said that Hills Science Diet has a food for this: B/D Not only is it good for the brain, but it also is good for the heart and kidneys. I looked it up and it sounds interesting. It does have corn, and George has some environmental allergies. I am not sure if he is allergic to corn or not....but, I am going to try this food. I am not like others believing that corn is horrible ... I have had many pups on RX foods over the years with great success. So...I am hopeful this food might be good for him. If he has problems, I am considering going to a vet nutritionist and home cooking for him.

http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-...tness-dry.html

Lindaah · 05-08-2012, 08:33 AM

Ah! Guess it was my insomnia from 4-7 am! Color me red...RC -Royal Canin. I had my wikki on that for most of her life and even tried the weight mgmt formula. She always seemed unsatisfied on it and her coat became very dry and dull. My BF was researching foods for his new puppy and suggested I try wikki on a grain free diet. So far, I have tried Blue, Blue wilderness ans Taste of the Wild. She wasn't crazy about Taste of the Wild and the kibbles are rather large for small breeds. I went to Pet Smart where I asked for advice on the best formula for her and got conflicting advice...one said to put her on Blue wilderness for adults , but then another sales clerk said the protein content was too high for her and she would gain weight ( which I am trying to take weight off a little, especially with her heart issues)..I went ahead and tried it based on my knowledge of higher protein and weight loss in humans, but she did seem to get a little more of a tummy the two weeks she was on it. So, I bought Blue for Adult-small breeds yesterday and she loves it, but after I got home, I realized the fat content was higher than the other..15%...so now I am
Confused! She has a sensitive stomach ( which I now think was due to food Wirh grains in it) so I hate to keep changing her diet . In my bout of insomnia, I googled grain free foods and came across a brand called NOW. I like the fact it has coconut oil, because I have researched all it's health benefits. Has anyone tried it? Would love to hear your experience.

Yorkiemom1 · 05-08-2012, 04:43 PM

We are smack dab in the middle of an expanding pet food recall...whatever you do, keep one eye glued to the FDA report on recalled foods....there are several of the really good names that have been recalled.....I agree, your pup may not be symptomatic yet, and they is no CHF as of yet, so they wont start her on medication yet.....

Lindaah · 05-08-2012, 11:53 PM

I just joined this site yesterday, after discovering it while researching grain free weight management dog food for my Yorkie, Wikki.
I am so pleased at the kindness of the responses and all the input! My BF is a member of another dog breed site & I have to say, the people on that particular site are often rude, insulting and condescending. Yorkie and their 'owners' are such special people! thank you all for what has been, so far, a very pleasant experience

05-07-2012, 09:42 PM	#1
Lindaah YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Clyde, Texas, USA Posts: 4	Senior Yorkie I have a 12 year old Yorky that was recently diagnosed with an enlarged heart, although, for now, she remains fairly active and, thank God, doesn't act her age. She has gained weight recently and i am trying to decide on the best choice of food for her weight issues and her health. I want to keep her on a grain free diet. I had her in Call if the Wild for awhile, tho she wasn't crazy about it and now I bought her Blue for Small Breed Dogs, which she likes, but I noticed the fat content is 15%, protein 26%...I am concerned about the fat content. I am not sure if I should try the weight management formula in the Blue, or not. Whenever I tried her on a weight mgmt formula before, her coat became dry and here eyes seemed dull ( it wasn't Blue, it was Royal Canin)... I want to keep my baby as healthy and fit as long as possible so I would appreciate any advice !

05-08-2012, 05:24 AM	#4
Joyce Adams Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,995	Hello and welcome, I think RC is Royal Canin. __________________ Have a great day... Mommy to Yoshi and Miss Priss

05-08-2012, 05:35 AM	#5
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,451	My George is at least 12, could be older. I adopted him 7 years ago. He is unable to see or hear and until recently has been doing well getting around. He now has started acting a bit strange, standing in different places looking for me where he used to find me right away. This behavior is baffling because it is so intermittent...I am not sure if he is having cognitive dysfunction or what. I spoke with my vet yesterday and asked her about Senilife....she said it was worth trying but that she did not any pups on it. She also said that Hills Science Diet has a food for this: B/D Not only is it good for the brain, but it also is good for the heart and kidneys. I looked it up and it sounds interesting. It does have corn, and George has some environmental allergies. I am not sure if he is allergic to corn or not....but, I am going to try this food. I am not like others believing that corn is horrible ... I have had many pups on RX foods over the years with great success. So...I am hopeful this food might be good for him. If he has problems, I am considering going to a vet nutritionist and home cooking for him. http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-...tness-dry.html __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP Last edited by ladyjane; 05-08-2012 at 05:36 AM. Reason: to add a link

05-08-2012, 11:53 PM	#8
Lindaah YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Clyde, Texas, USA Posts: 4	Thanks! I just joined this site yesterday, after discovering it while researching grain free weight management dog food for my Yorkie, Wikki. I am so pleased at the kindness of the responses and all the input! My BF is a member of another dog breed site & I have to say, the people on that particular site are often rude, insulting and condescending. Yorkie and their 'owners' are such special people! thank you all for what has been, so far, a very pleasant experience

05-08-2012, 01:16 AM	#2
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	Just wanted to say my little matriarch was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure @ 9 years old....they started her on medication (Vasotec and Lasix), and put her on weight mgmnt. (RC, with no problems encountered), and she lived until 17 years old....so your little darling's diagnosis is treatable and she can have a long life ahead of her.

05-08-2012, 01:52 AM	#3
Lindaah YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Clyde, Texas, USA Posts: 4	Thank you so much for your input and sharing your story. I am so sorry you lost your baby but glad you had her as long as you did:-). I am not sure why the vet didn't put Wikki, my baby, on any medication. She did consult with a cardiologist specialist for dogs and said that, for now, she isn't in congestive heart failure. Maybe that's why no meds? What is the RC? Not familiar with that? Is is part of the Prescriptive dog Food line? I really want to keep her on a grain free diet...she seems perkier since I switched her to grain free, but just trying to figure out the best one. It's a bit over-whelming! Thank you again!

05-08-2012, 08:33 AM	#6
Lindaah YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2012 Location: Clyde, Texas, USA Posts: 4	Ah! Guess it was my insomnia from 4-7 am! Color me red...RC -Royal Canin. I had my wikki on that for most of her life and even tried the weight mgmt formula. She always seemed unsatisfied on it and her coat became very dry and dull. My BF was researching foods for his new puppy and suggested I try wikki on a grain free diet. So far, I have tried Blue, Blue wilderness ans Taste of the Wild. She wasn't crazy about Taste of the Wild and the kibbles are rather large for small breeds. I went to Pet Smart where I asked for advice on the best formula for her and got conflicting advice...one said to put her on Blue wilderness for adults , but then another sales clerk said the protein content was too high for her and she would gain weight ( which I am trying to take weight off a little, especially with her heart issues)..I went ahead and tried it based on my knowledge of higher protein and weight loss in humans, but she did seem to get a little more of a tummy the two weeks she was on it. So, I bought Blue for Adult-small breeds yesterday and she loves it, but after I got home, I realized the fat content was higher than the other..15%...so now I am Confused! She has a sensitive stomach ( which I now think was due to food Wirh grains in it) so I hate to keep changing her diet . In my bout of insomnia, I googled grain free foods and came across a brand called NOW. I like the fact it has coconut oil, because I have researched all it's health benefits. Has anyone tried it? Would love to hear your experience.

05-08-2012, 04:43 PM	#7
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	We are smack dab in the middle of an expanding pet food recall...whatever you do, keep one eye glued to the FDA report on recalled foods....there are several of the really good names that have been recalled.....I agree, your pup may not be symptomatic yet, and they is no CHF as of yet, so they wont start her on medication yet.....