New to the group/New to my Yorkie...and I've got questions :-) - YorkieTalk.com Forums

MyYorkieFancy · 07-05-2013, 10:10 AM

Hi!!!!

I'm new to the group and glad that there is a place that i can go to ask questions! sooooo, here it goes...

I have an 18 month old (so says the previous owner) Yorkie, Fancy. Fancy is currently in heat and has thrown up twice in 3 days. The first time was in PetSmart but i think that was due to the excitement of her first trip to the store. Sounds silly but all of the smells of the other animals, dog food and people gawking over her may have excited her to the point that she vomited, shook it off and went right back to being super excited again. The vomit was a little bit of brown liquid (from the food), and food. We just got her a few days prior on Sunday so her diet has changed to Kibbles n'Bits for small breeds. That (vomiting) was Wednesday. Today is Friday and my daughter took her for a walk and Fancy threw up again. There was a bunch of grass in the vomit. Should I be worried? There are quite a few factors going on. 1. New owners/home/rules/space 2. 1st heat cycle (according to the previous owner, never been in heat before) and 3. It's very hot outside and I'm not sure if this plays a role. And before everyone jumps on me about having Fancy spayed.....we will....when we got her, she apparently was already in heat and we didn't know it...but we found the cutes washable diaper covers for her and it's not too much of a hassle...plus we're in love with her personality already!

Oh, one other thing. I have a friend who has a Yorkie and she says that you have to give them heartworm meds monthly...do all of you have to do this with your Yorkies or is it based on the dog?

Maximo · 07-05-2013, 02:25 PM

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Congratulations on the new addition to your family.

Yes, heartworm preventatives monthly, definitely! We do them year-round because the weather is unpredictable and the risk of not being protected isn't worth it. We also test annually for heartworms. Talk to your vet ASAP.

The vomiting episodes may be any number of things, including the ones you listed. It also could be related to a change in diet. Food is highly debated subject among doggy parents and everyone has their favorites. To be honest, I would look for something other than Kibble & Bits. I feed my boys Fromm, which is a relatively low cost food from what I believe is a quality company. There are many other choices too.

If the vomiting continues, see the vet. Darkish brown liquid is concerning. Always make sure she stays hydrated, and be careful with the heat, hot pavement. I always put my hand on the pavement to test how hot, and limit time spent outdoors in the intense heat.

pstinard · 07-05-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximo

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Congratulations on the new addition to your family.

Yes, heartworm preventatives monthly, definitely! We do them year-round because the weather is unpredictable and the risk of not being protected isn't worth it. We also test annually for heartworms. Talk to your vet ASAP.

The vomiting episodes may be any number of things, including the ones you listed. It also could be related to a change in diet. Food is highly debated subject among doggy parents and everyone has their favorites. To be honest, I would look for something other than Kibble & Bits. I feed my boys Fromm, which is a relatively low cost food from what I believe is a quality company. There are many other choices too.

If the vomiting continues, see the vet. Darkish brown liquid is concerning. Always make sure she stays hydrated, and be careful with the heat, hot pavement. I always put my hand on the pavement to test how hot, and limit time spent outdoors in the intense heat.

Sound advice! Also, about the heat, the previous owner says your Yorkie is 18 months old and is having her first heat? That seems awfully late for a first heat...

MyYorkieFancy · 07-05-2013, 02:59 PM

I'm worrying myself sick reading all of these post.... There is so much information and so many die hard opinions that i feel overwhelmed. :'(

Lovetodream88 · 07-05-2013, 03:21 PM

Welcome to YorkieTalk! She does not need to be going to stores or on walks while she is in heat and if you take her outside even if you have a fence you need to be with her. Kibbles and bits is one of the worst foods I know of so I would switch as soon as you can to something like Wellness, Blue Buffalo, Acana, and Now small breed. When ever you get a new dog you need to get them checked out by a vet asap. All dogs should take heart warm preventive all year long as well as be treated months with a flea and tick topical like Advantix or Frontline. Small dogs also should be walked using a harness not a collar. Make sure when you take her for a vet check you get blood work done to make sure everything is ok. The throwing up is not normal but I have heard of it happening when being on a food like kibbles and bits but it is something you should bring up with the vet.

Lovetodream88 · 07-05-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyYorkieFancy

I'm worrying myself sick reading all of these post.... There is so much information and so many die hard opinions that i feel overwhelmed. :'(

Just take a deep breath. Most of us here care very strongly for yorkie

Verbena · 07-05-2013, 03:25 PM

Hello and welcome to YT. First. . . . Take a deep breath . . . Now . . . There is a lot of information on here. It can be overwhelming. Take one thing at a time. The most important is her vomiting. Has she seen your vet yet? If she hasn't I would take her for a wellness check up. If she has call the vet. Tell them what is going on. She might need to be seen.

Second the food. It is really sad to say a lot of supermarket dog foods are not great. They have a lot of fillers in them. There are some you can find like wellness, Royal Cainin, Nature's Variety you can find in petco and petsmart. There is Fromme, Taste of the Wild, Canine caviar etc are carried in smaller speciality pet food stores. You can find a lot of them on line also. You have to find the best that works for you and Fancy. I just went through finding a new dog food because of a pet food recall. We are here to help you not feel so overwhelmed. Hugs

spiritwings1202 · 07-05-2013, 03:29 PM

you might want to get her on a good quality dog food. Dog Food Reviews and Ratings | Dog Food Advisor This site has a lot of good foods. I currently feed my dogs Earthborn Holistic meadow feast. There are many good quality foods to choose from.
Heartworm meds are very important.
Welcome to YT and congrats on your new lil girl

CouversMom · 07-05-2013, 03:45 PM

Welcome to YorkieTalk!

You have receved some great advice. Here is mine

1. Change her diet to a higher quality kibble. Some brands that I would consider feeding: Acana, Fromm, even Wellness, Blue Wilderness. Kibbles n Bits is really garbage, so that might be her problem.

2. YES, heartworm meds are important. We order ours online at Pet Supplies | Dog & Cat Supplies, Pet Meds | DrsFosterSmith.com Pet Products or 1800-PetMeds® - Huge Savings and The Best Guarantee I usually shop around and find the best price, but make sure you purchase from a reputable site.

3. As you know, get her spayed when she is done with her heat. Talk to your vet about this now.

4. Flea/tick medication is also important. I only use these during the warmer months because we don't have problems during the winter, but some people give them year round.

5. Get her a harness if you haven't already. Yorkies are prone to collapsed trachea, and walking her on a collar is not a good idea. I recommend Buddy Belts from Kristin

Designer Dog Clothes, Dog Accessories | W. Field's Dog Boutique

I would not start the flea/tick or heartworm meds until she stops puking. You don't want to introduce more things to her system until she is okay.

Welcome to being owned by a yorkie!

gemy · 07-05-2013, 04:01 PM

\sorry that you are feeling overwhelmed with a couple of posts.

If your gal is in heat, diapers will not insure no mating occurs. So that is one of the first orders of care. No off lead, no walking the female too far from home. Best is to keep her in a fenced in back yard to do exercise and to potty.

The vomiting is of concern.

Get a trip to the vet pronto, to have her health checked out, and mention the vomiting and of course that she is in heat

ladyjane · 07-05-2013, 04:06 PM

Welcome to YT.

Personally, I use the following website for information about dog food. It is run by a veterinary nutritionist.

PetDiets - VNC putting pets' health first!

I have always used Heartworm preventatives year round, even when I lived in NJ. Not worth the risk. Preventing heartworms is cheap!

Look forward to seeing pics of your new family member!

dawn27 · 07-05-2013, 07:53 PM

Welcome to YT !!

Heartworm preventative is a must. Flea meds are optional depending on your surroundings and if there is a need for it. My pups are only on flea meds during the fall months.

As for her heat I find it very odd that this is her first heat at 18 months old. But anyway be very careful not to have her around any intact males. A male can mount a female within minutes, what you may think is just friendly playful dog can and will indeed turn to a full on breeding cession.

The vomiting could be have been caused from the heat combined with pressure from her color due to the pulling and what not from the excitement. But if your pup continues to vomit you will want to get her into the vet for a check up to see what's going on. Plus if you do decide to change her food, it must be done gradually so not to cause GI issue or an upset or worse Diarrhea. It should be done gradually over 3-4 weeks time period. (80/20 60/40 50/50) and so on of the new and old.

yorkiefan_ · 07-05-2013, 08:08 PM

I think dogs eat grass when they have upset stomachs. Don't know why.

wemple2 · 07-05-2013, 08:55 PM

I'm so happy you found YorkieTalk, I think once you get use to the site and all the advice given...you are going to love it, I know I do. You have really gotten some fabulous advice from the members so far...just take it easy, go slow, we don't want you to be overwhelmed. What did the previous owner feed Fancy, if it was something different than what you are currently feeding her could very well be the cause of her upset tummy. Get Fancy in to see a vet, get a heartworm check before starting her on the prevention, she should have a blood workup as well. Has she been tested for liver shunt? If not you may want to get a BAT (Bile Acid Test) done too. Of course, listen to your vet, ask questions and make educated decisions. Fancy is going to depend on you to do what's best for her. Good luck, keep us all updated on her progress...and last but certainly not least, love her, enjoy her she's gonna be so happy at her new forever home!!!

Khoojy · 07-05-2013, 10:15 PM

Welcome to YT....

I was feeling exactly like you 1 week ago when I join YorkieTalk...
Information overloaded and so many things to do but I'm not sure where to start....

But rest assure, there are many experience Yorkie parents here that will guide newbies like us thru....

07-05-2013, 10:10 AM	#1
MyYorkieFancy Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: philadelphia, pa Posts: 24	New to the group/New to my Yorkie...and I've got questions :-) Hi!!!! I'm new to the group and glad that there is a place that i can go to ask questions! sooooo, here it goes... I have an 18 month old (so says the previous owner) Yorkie, Fancy. Fancy is currently in heat and has thrown up twice in 3 days. The first time was in PetSmart but i think that was due to the excitement of her first trip to the store. Sounds silly but all of the smells of the other animals, dog food and people gawking over her may have excited her to the point that she vomited, shook it off and went right back to being super excited again. The vomit was a little bit of brown liquid (from the food), and food. We just got her a few days prior on Sunday so her diet has changed to Kibbles n'Bits for small breeds. That (vomiting) was Wednesday. Today is Friday and my daughter took her for a walk and Fancy threw up again. There was a bunch of grass in the vomit. Should I be worried? There are quite a few factors going on. 1. New owners/home/rules/space 2. 1st heat cycle (according to the previous owner, never been in heat before) and 3. It's very hot outside and I'm not sure if this plays a role. And before everyone jumps on me about having Fancy spayed.....we will....when we got her, she apparently was already in heat and we didn't know it...but we found the cutes washable diaper covers for her and it's not too much of a hassle...plus we're in love with her personality already! Oh, one other thing. I have a friend who has a Yorkie and she says that you have to give them heartworm meds monthly...do all of you have to do this with your Yorkies or is it based on the dog?

07-05-2013, 02:25 PM	#2
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Yes, heartworm preventatives monthly, definitely! We do them year-round because the weather is unpredictable and the risk of not being protected isn't worth it. We also test annually for heartworms. Talk to your vet ASAP. The vomiting episodes may be any number of things, including the ones you listed. It also could be related to a change in diet. Food is highly debated subject among doggy parents and everyone has their favorites. To be honest, I would look for something other than Kibble & Bits. I feed my boys Fromm, which is a relatively low cost food from what I believe is a quality company. There are many other choices too. If the vomiting continues, see the vet. Darkish brown liquid is concerning. Always make sure she stays hydrated, and be careful with the heat, hot pavement. I always put my hand on the pavement to test how hot, and limit time spent outdoors in the intense heat. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

07-05-2013, 03:21 PM	#5
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,249	Welcome to YorkieTalk! She does not need to be going to stores or on walks while she is in heat and if you take her outside even if you have a fence you need to be with her. Kibbles and bits is one of the worst foods I know of so I would switch as soon as you can to something like Wellness, Blue Buffalo, Acana, and Now small breed. When ever you get a new dog you need to get them checked out by a vet asap. All dogs should take heart warm preventive all year long as well as be treated months with a flea and tick topical like Advantix or Frontline. Small dogs also should be walked using a harness not a collar. Make sure when you take her for a vet check you get blood work done to make sure everything is ok. The throwing up is not normal but I have heard of it happening when being on a food like kibbles and bits but it is something you should bring up with the vet. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

07-05-2013, 03:25 PM	#7
Verbena Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: with my flying monkeys Posts: 15,620 Blog Entries: 7	Hello and welcome to YT. First. . . . Take a deep breath . . . Now . . . There is a lot of information on here. It can be overwhelming. Take one thing at a time. The most important is her vomiting. Has she seen your vet yet? If she hasn't I would take her for a wellness check up. If she has call the vet. Tell them what is going on. She might need to be seen. Second the food. It is really sad to say a lot of supermarket dog foods are not great. They have a lot of fillers in them. There are some you can find like wellness, Royal Cainin, Nature's Variety you can find in petco and petsmart. There is Fromme, Taste of the Wild, Canine caviar etc are carried in smaller speciality pet food stores. You can find a lot of them on line also. You have to find the best that works for you and Fancy. I just went through finding a new dog food because of a pet food recall. We are here to help you not feel so overwhelmed. Hugs __________________ Teri . . . Galen Jameson Frazier Seraphina Luna Rosencrantz, Saber Tooth Tiger, Pussy Willow Pandora Guildenstern

07-05-2013, 03:29 PM	#8
spiritwings1202 Pixie and Daisy Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT USA Posts: 2,680	you might want to get her on a good quality dog food. Dog Food Reviews and Ratings \| Dog Food Advisor This site has a lot of good foods. I currently feed my dogs Earthborn Holistic meadow feast. There are many good quality foods to choose from. Heartworm meds are very important. Welcome to YT and congrats on your new lil girl __________________ Proud Mom of Daisy and Pixie

07-05-2013, 02:59 PM	#4
MyYorkieFancy Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: philadelphia, pa Posts: 24	I'm worrying myself sick reading all of these post.... There is so much information and so many die hard opinions that i feel overwhelmed. :'(

07-05-2013, 03:45 PM	#9
CouversMom and Khloe Mae's too! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 14,732	Welcome to YorkieTalk! You have receved some great advice. Here is mine 1. Change her diet to a higher quality kibble. Some brands that I would consider feeding: Acana, Fromm, even Wellness, Blue Wilderness. Kibbles n Bits is really garbage, so that might be her problem. 2. YES, heartworm meds are important. We order ours online at Pet Supplies \| Dog & Cat Supplies, Pet Meds \| DrsFosterSmith.com Pet Products or 1800-PetMeds® - Huge Savings and The Best Guarantee I usually shop around and find the best price, but make sure you purchase from a reputable site. 3. As you know, get her spayed when she is done with her heat. Talk to your vet about this now. 4. Flea/tick medication is also important. I only use these during the warmer months because we don't have problems during the winter, but some people give them year round. 5. Get her a harness if you haven't already. Yorkies are prone to collapsed trachea, and walking her on a collar is not a good idea. I recommend Buddy Belts from Kristin Designer Dog Clothes, Dog Accessories \| W. Field's Dog Boutique I would not start the flea/tick or heartworm meds until she stops puking. You don't want to introduce more things to her system until she is okay. Welcome to being owned by a yorkie! __________________ Michelle- mommy to Couver and Khloe Mae! http://yorkiehavenrescue.com/

07-05-2013, 04:01 PM	#10
gemy YT 2000 Club Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Huntsville,Ont,Canaada Posts: 12,340 Blog Entries: 2	\sorry that you are feeling overwhelmed with a couple of posts. If your gal is in heat, diapers will not insure no mating occurs. So that is one of the first orders of care. No off lead, no walking the female too far from home. Best is to keep her in a fenced in back yard to do exercise and to potty. The vomiting is of concern. Get a trip to the vet pronto, to have her health checked out, and mention the vomiting and of course that she is in heat __________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018

07-05-2013, 04:06 PM	#11
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,490	Welcome to YT. Personally, I use the following website for information about dog food. It is run by a veterinary nutritionist. PetDiets - VNC putting pets' health first! I have always used Heartworm preventatives year round, even when I lived in NJ. Not worth the risk. Preventing heartworms is cheap! Look forward to seeing pics of your new family member! __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

07-05-2013, 07:53 PM	#12
dawn27 2+2=4 X the Love ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bean Town Ohio Posts: 9,456 Blog Entries: 1	Welcome to YT !! Heartworm preventative is a must. Flea meds are optional depending on your surroundings and if there is a need for it. My pups are only on flea meds during the fall months. As for her heat I find it very odd that this is her first heat at 18 months old. But anyway be very careful not to have her around any intact males. A male can mount a female within minutes, what you may think is just friendly playful dog can and will indeed turn to a full on breeding cession. The vomiting could be have been caused from the heat combined with pressure from her color due to the pulling and what not from the excitement. But if your pup continues to vomit you will want to get her into the vet for a check up to see what's going on. Plus if you do decide to change her food, it must be done gradually so not to cause GI issue or an upset or worse Diarrhea. It should be done gradually over 3-4 weeks time period. (80/20 60/40 50/50) and so on of the new and old. __________________ Mommy to: Quincy, & Ruby Bella / Miah & Brandi Gone but Never Forgotten Visit: Bella Dawns for all of your Custom Pet Wear needs.

07-05-2013, 08:08 PM	#13
yorkiefan_ I ♥ my Cookie Monster! Donating Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: South Texas Posts: 3,007	I think dogs eat grass when they have upset stomachs. Don't know why. __________________ Cookie ;;; RIP Minnie

07-05-2013, 08:55 PM	#14
wemple2 Wee Winston Wiggles Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kewanee, Illinois Posts: 9,666	I'm so happy you found YorkieTalk, I think once you get use to the site and all the advice given...you are going to love it, I know I do. You have really gotten some fabulous advice from the members so far...just take it easy, go slow, we don't want you to be overwhelmed. What did the previous owner feed Fancy, if it was something different than what you are currently feeding her could very well be the cause of her upset tummy. Get Fancy in to see a vet, get a heartworm check before starting her on the prevention, she should have a blood workup as well. Has she been tested for liver shunt? If not you may want to get a BAT (Bile Acid Test) done too. Of course, listen to your vet, ask questions and make educated decisions. Fancy is going to depend on you to do what's best for her. Good luck, keep us all updated on her progress...and last but certainly not least, love her, enjoy her she's gonna be so happy at her new forever home!!! __________________ As Ever, Kathy Intruducing Bentley Winston and Spencer: RIP My Sweet Angels

07-05-2013, 10:15 PM	#15
Khoojy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Selangor, Malaysia Posts: 43	Welcome to YT.... I was feeling exactly like you 1 week ago when I join YorkieTalk... Information overloaded and so many things to do but I'm not sure where to start.... But rest assure, there are many experience Yorkie parents here that will guide newbies like us thru....