I would change brands of dog food. I was feeding that to Pennie...Royal Canin is too rich, has to much protein and fat in it and causes tummy upset to a lot of dogs.

Are you sure RC is too rich and has too much protein or have you read this and repeated it? I think too many people take what they read as fact, and we should be careful before we suggest that someone change their food. Dogs do not like food changes, this upsets their tummies, and her dog is already having issues. Also, she lives in South Africa; there may not be the numerous choices that we have. To the OP, I feed Joey Royal Canin, and he does better on it than any food I've found. I do not believe it has too much protein and fat, it is in the range that vet nutritionists think is healthy.

Ladyjane, great advice on how to make your dog less fussy, I wish you'd write a sticky!

Agreed...I would not change that food! I have never heard of it being too rich either. My thinking is that this pup is having problems because of the meat she is getting on the side!

You write the sticky! :p:D

Yes Ma'am I am sure of it. I don't just go around repeating something as true just because someone else may have said it. I do my research and I do it pretty well:) I have been studying dog nutrition for what seems like all my life, but really only the past 10 years. I also have a really BIG, very expensive book on nutrition.

Then of course I have experience with the product as well as many other people I know. And a yorkie breeder who is well known in her expertise in anything to do with yorkies. If it wasn't for her, Pennie would be dead.

Too much protein can cause kidney and liver damage as well as gastrointestinal upset.:(

Also, it is not on the Whole dog journal's approved dry foods of 2010

Well, you really don't know whats causing it. I am just sharing my opinion that comes from my own research. She can take it or leave it. However, my opinion is not wrong just because one may not agree. :)

How much protein is too much?

Yes ma'am I am also sharing my opinion. :) Feeding a pup chicken and meat is more apt to cause problems than the dog food she is feeding. My research has told me what giving chicken and meat to a yorkie can do.:)

To me, the obvious process of elimination to find out what the problem is, is to eliminate the chicken and meat! Then, if the problem continues, look at the type of dog food. :)

Yes, and protein is what is in chicken and meat which is what she has been feeding her. The pup is not really eating her kibble much at all from what she said.....not unless it has the added things.

Maybe you don't think that the dog food she is feeding is good, but you probably would not approve of what I feed my pups either.

Lots of people feed different things. I don't get into debates with the holistic people. They have their opinions and I have my own as do many others.

My suggestion is to stick with something natural - change the food or add probiotics.

Well I did not say she should continue to feed the extra meat. I agree on that point.

Well that can vary from breed and size, etc.. But they don't need any more than 22-24%, and fat really shouldn't be over 10-14%. Royal Canin is very high on both of those. (comparing to what OP is feeding, the yorkie kibble)

Something else you may not know is that RC was one of pet foods that were recalled, and MANY animals have died, before, during and still are getting sick. They may not use rice with melamine in it any more but dogs and cats are still dying from this kibble.

Most of the complaints I have seen have been renal failure in both cats and dogs. And lots of gastrointestinal issues!! This is just not a good dog food. I know it made Pennie vomit when I fed it to her.

Did you know RC is not even made in the USA?? It is from france, but also other countries (other than the USA) make it, there are a few plants, even one in Africa.

Not being made in the US the dog food is not regulated, how can they? They can't because ALL ingredients are bought from other countries like China.

The ingredients is full of garbage, corn, wheat, beet pulp (filler) and several other things that just aren't really good for our pets.

One of the MAIN ingredients is cellulose, do you know what this is? it is WOOD, yep, it is sawdust and used as a cheap filler/fluffer. :eek:
Here read about it yourself Dog Food Reviews - Royal Canin Mini Yorkshire 28 - Powered by ReviewPost ..It is considered a 2 star kibble by this site.

When you check out those ingredients, look some of them up. I have looked them all up..yuck.. Here are 2 more links that might be helpful as well.
You're feeding me what?: Just what IS in my dog's food? Part 4: Fiber
You're feeding me what?: July 2007 Parts 1-4 on ingredients is on this page.

Thanks guyz for all the replies. lol was fun going through all the comments. I will do my research of all the ingredients in RC and i will check with the vet what i should feed her. In actual fact the vet sells the RC to make a profit so i think i will rather go with my gut feeling on this one. Will see how it goes without the mixed goodies and I will let you know if it is in fact the RC.
Thanks again. :)

You say the recommended amount is 22-24%, I'm seriously looking for a scientific link that says that. I have read that Yorkies need a little higher than other breed, not sure if this is true either. RC has 28%, but we give him green beans in addition to his RC, so I suppose that cuts down on the percent of protein. Also from what I understand, it's not the amount of protein; it’s the quality of protein that can be harmful. Poor quality protein gives off too much ammonia, and can damage the kidneys. I don't care for the "Dog Food Reviews", if you look at the credentials of the people who review; they have none. There is only ONE person who reviews each food, if they had some type of formal training in nutrition, they might sway me, but without any type of training, their words are merely words.

By the way, I disagree that just because a food is manufactured in another country, that it's somehow inferior, the French love their dogs, and dogs are welcome everywhere. I wish Americans had the same respect for dogs, and food. However, the bag I buy does say it's made in the good old USA. The OP is from Africa, so suggesting that RC is inferior because it's made in Africa seems really rude, we've been using it 3 years and there have been no recalls since I've been using it. Joey doesn't ever have any gas, and never gets diarrhea or vomiting. His teeth are in great condition, good breath, and his hair is very shinny and thick. I think some of the proof of how good a food is, is how well the dog is doing on it. I'm not suggesting that other people switch to it, but I don't think you should try to tell them to change from it. I think saying it's garbage, it really rude too. I'm doing the best I can for my dog, we have tried a variety of foods that he didn't do well on. I don't like it when people say I'm feeding him garbage. Just because your dog vomited when you gave it to her, does not mean that it's harmful, some dogs, will vomit after any food switch. I don't think switching foods is good for dogs, and you need to go slowly if you do a food change. I know some dog have problems with corn, but I don't think the majority do.

By the way, you commented on the fact that RC has beet pulp, the source you linked says,

ok, don't go attacking me because I said it was made in France, Africa and other countries. If you look at their web site they show you where it's made, and NONE is made in the USA, maybe the bag is made in the USA.. I was trying to be helpful, NEVER was I ever rude.

NOW, I will say that I was incorrect on 1 thing, they do have a plant in the USA but they still were part of the recalls and was using the cheap crap from china...

They have plants: USA, Descalvado in Brazil, Gonzales Catan (Buenos Aires) in Argentina, Johannesburg in South Africa and Dimitriov (Moscow) in Russia. I am not perfect, I made an error, sorry...

And yes, I have a serious problem with ingredients coming from other countries when we have enough farmers here that can supply this stuff and our farmers have been hurting for many many years now. Buy from home first!! To imply that the french love their pets more is kinda silly, what does that have to do with anything, really??!!

Well I didn't post to have an argument about food anyhow. I only said I would start with changing food... Maybe you don't like what I have to say, that is fine. But I am not here for a fight or to get a slap on the hand for my opinions.
I am done with this subject, I am sure the OP has enough information now.