Food for Thought - YorkieTalk.com Forums

AJ12 · 08-20-2005, 05:06 PM

I have been doing some research on YT regarding how much to feed our babies and i am getting a mixed review.

my breeder told me to feed my baby 3 times a day. at what age do you switch to 2 times a day or do you?

Bailey is now 7lbs! and i fear that i feed him too much. i feed him eukenuba and was told that for his age and size i should be feeding him 1.5 cubs of food a day. i just think that is so much food or is it?

he is 4 months old and 7 lbs. how much food do you guys feed your babies?

GucciMyGirl · 08-20-2005, 05:24 PM

I do to feed Gucci who is about 7lbs and is 13 mos.old, Eukenuba Lamb & Rice adult food, I feed her 2x a day and I feed her 1 1/2cups according to package. I help this helped..

Gina

sylvan · 08-21-2005, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ12

I have been doing some research on YT regarding how much to feed our babies and i am getting a mixed review.

my breeder told me to feed my baby 3 times a day. at what age do you switch to 2 times a day or do you?

Bailey is now 7lbs! and i fear that i feed him too much. i feed him eukenuba and was told that for his age and size i should be feeding him 1.5 cubs of food a day. i just think that is so much food or is it?

he is 4 months old and 7 lbs. how much food do you guys feed your babies?

We recommend good quality dry food only, 3 x day up to about 4 -6 months depending on size and then tapering off to twice a day. For really small/thin kids, stay with 3x 'til they get good and solid. I don't really give an absolute measurement/serving, whatever he eats in about 15 minutes time is usually the right amount. Watch the intake of treats, many are high in fat and can pack on unhealthy weight quickly. Carrots are a good snack and cheerios make a good training treat. ONE cheerio= reward. I do give 1/2 small milkbone once/ day for tarter control.

yorkiegold · 08-21-2005, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ12

I have been doing some research on YT regarding how much to feed our babies and i am getting a mixed review.

my breeder told me to feed my baby 3 times a day. at what age do you switch to 2 times a day or do you?

Bailey is now 7lbs! and i fear that i feed him too much. i feed him eukenuba and was told that for his age and size i should be feeding him 1.5 cubs of food a day. i just think that is so much food or is it?

he is 4 months old and 7 lbs. how much food do you guys feed your babies?

We feed three times a day until the puppies start to ignore one of the meals and then we drop it to twice a day until they're about a year old and then we feed once a day. Many Yorkie breeders/owners continue to feed 2X/day for life. A 6 pound adult gets about 1/3 - 1/2 cup of kibble (or the equivalent - we feed raw) per day. 1-1/2 cups sounds like an awful lot.

What you need to know is whether or not he is overweight. You should be able to feel, but not see his ribs. Feel his chest and run your hand over his ribs to see if there's fat there. It's not likely that a 4-month old is fat, however.

CJ

AJ12 · 08-25-2005, 08:57 AM

thank you. all of your comments help a lot. i dont think bailey is over weight at all. he gets plenty of excercise. he is just stalky.

i too thought 1.5 cups was a lot. it just looks like a lot in his dish compared to his size!

right now i am feeding him 1/4 cup of dry and a tspn of wet mixed in. he loves cherios, carrots and lettuce. he is on the south beach diet haha

since he is a whopping 7 lbs i will not worry as much as i have been about racing home every day to feed him

thanks again for your comments

chachi · 08-25-2005, 09:01 AM

I free feed the dry kibble and give Lil Caesars once a day as a snack.

Jeniferlee · 08-25-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chachi

I free feed the dry kibble and give Lil Caesars once a day as a snack.

I leave dry kibbles out all the time and feed about 1/2 container lil caesars 2x a day. I tried to cut out the wet food but she begs for it- like she is going to die without it- so I give in and give it to her.

Flakes · 08-25-2005, 09:14 AM

Wow one and half cups of food a day sure sounds like alot for a yorkie who is 4 months old. 7lbs at 4 months is one big yorkie. My little gal who is 4 and half months weighs 1.9 lbs, granted she is tiny but I've never had one weigh more than a couple of pounds at 4 months. My 12 year old female who is on prednisone daily and has been for years is only 6 lbs.

I feed my two adults twice a day, morning and at supper and then a very small snack at bedtime (usually half a biscuit).

The pup I feed three times a day, about two tablespoons each meal.

The older dogs get 1/4 cup each meal or 1/2 cup total daily intake.

Much depends on the type of food you are feeding, fat content, calorie count. But I'd say that one and half cups per day is far too much for a 4 lb yorkie.

My vet also told me to decrease the chances of yorkies developing liver disease to feed them 3 very small meals a day as it is easier on the liver, the toxins don't build up that way. I use a dry version of their food as training treats, and special organic breath enhancing small biscuits as special treats. This minimizes the chances of allergies to foods. They NEVER receive human food of any kind. I've had nothing but trouble over the years with human food and yorkies, so now we just don't do it or allow anyone else to do it.

I NEVER give them commercial doggy treats as for the most part they are nothing but garbage with some bacon, cheese or peanut butter flavour thrown in to enhance the flavour.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 08-25-2005, 12:59 PM

I still free feed the kibble and supplement with a "yummier" meal either at breakfast or dinner...maybe some canned or some cheese on top or some rice or chicken mixed in and sometimes the Natural Balance roll.

I am switching them to the Natural Balance raw diet though and then organic kibble for mixing so I won't be free feeding anymore.

Ponyup · 08-25-2005, 01:28 PM

I have a big yorkie also. He was five lbs when we took him to the vet at 10 weeks he's probably between 6-6.5 now at 14 weeks. I feed him 3 times a day just under 1/3 cup each time. We just shaved him so i can definitely say he's in no way fat. I, like you, was looking for information on how much to feed so i went to the Pro Plan website and they said for a 3 months old dog who mature weight will be 8-12 lbs (which i figure mine will be) to feed 3/4-1 cup per day. Hope this help. Don't let anyone tell you your dog is too big. I love my big boy.

Ponyup · 08-25-2005, 01:31 PM

Just leaving food out or seeing what he'll eat in 15min won't work for me. The food i give him is gone is less than a minute.

LIL MIS' MAGIC · 08-25-2005, 01:37 PM

Our girls get about 3/4 a cup a day...sometimes less sometimes a little more...plus they get a teaspoon of wet three times a day...Magic is 4lbs and 11 months and Sailor is 6lbs at 9 months...neither of them is fat or skinny...they eat Nutro Lamb and Rice!!

08-20-2005, 05:06 PM	#1
AJ12 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 70	Food for Thought I have been doing some research on YT regarding how much to feed our babies and i am getting a mixed review. my breeder told me to feed my baby 3 times a day. at what age do you switch to 2 times a day or do you? Bailey is now 7lbs! and i fear that i feed him too much. i feed him eukenuba and was told that for his age and size i should be feeding him 1.5 cubs of food a day. i just think that is so much food or is it? he is 4 months old and 7 lbs. how much food do you guys feed your babies?

08-25-2005, 09:01 AM	#6
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I free feed the dry kibble and give Lil Caesars once a day as a snack. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

08-25-2005, 01:28 PM	#10
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	I have a big yorkie also. He was five lbs when we took him to the vet at 10 weeks he's probably between 6-6.5 now at 14 weeks. I feed him 3 times a day just under 1/3 cup each time. We just shaved him so i can definitely say he's in no way fat. I, like you, was looking for information on how much to feed so i went to the Pro Plan website and they said for a 3 months old dog who mature weight will be 8-12 lbs (which i figure mine will be) to feed 3/4-1 cup per day. Hope this help. Don't let anyone tell you your dog is too big. I love my big boy. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

08-25-2005, 01:31 PM	#11
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	Just leaving food out or seeing what he'll eat in 15min won't work for me. The food i give him is gone is less than a minute. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

08-25-2005, 01:37 PM	#12
LIL MIS' MAGIC Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlothian, Texas Posts: 4,377 Blog Entries: 3	Our girls get about 3/4 a cup a day...sometimes less sometimes a little more...plus they get a teaspoon of wet three times a day...Magic is 4lbs and 11 months and Sailor is 6lbs at 9 months...neither of them is fat or skinny...they eat Nutro Lamb and Rice!! __________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain

08-20-2005, 05:24 PM	#2
GucciMyGirl YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 550	I do to feed Gucci who is about 7lbs and is 13 mos.old, Eukenuba Lamb & Rice adult food, I feed her 2x a day and I feed her 1 1/2cups according to package. I help this helped.. Gina

08-25-2005, 08:57 AM	#5
AJ12 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 70	thank you. all of your comments help a lot. i dont think bailey is over weight at all. he gets plenty of excercise. he is just stalky. i too thought 1.5 cups was a lot. it just looks like a lot in his dish compared to his size! right now i am feeding him 1/4 cup of dry and a tspn of wet mixed in. he loves cherios, carrots and lettuce. he is on the south beach diet haha since he is a whopping 7 lbs i will not worry as much as i have been about racing home every day to feed him thanks again for your comments

08-25-2005, 09:14 AM	#8
Flakes Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Victoria Posts: 218	Wow one and half cups of food a day sure sounds like alot for a yorkie who is 4 months old. 7lbs at 4 months is one big yorkie. My little gal who is 4 and half months weighs 1.9 lbs, granted she is tiny but I've never had one weigh more than a couple of pounds at 4 months. My 12 year old female who is on prednisone daily and has been for years is only 6 lbs. I feed my two adults twice a day, morning and at supper and then a very small snack at bedtime (usually half a biscuit). The pup I feed three times a day, about two tablespoons each meal. The older dogs get 1/4 cup each meal or 1/2 cup total daily intake. Much depends on the type of food you are feeding, fat content, calorie count. But I'd say that one and half cups per day is far too much for a 4 lb yorkie. My vet also told me to decrease the chances of yorkies developing liver disease to feed them 3 very small meals a day as it is easier on the liver, the toxins don't build up that way. I use a dry version of their food as training treats, and special organic breath enhancing small biscuits as special treats. This minimizes the chances of allergies to foods. They NEVER receive human food of any kind. I've had nothing but trouble over the years with human food and yorkies, so now we just don't do it or allow anyone else to do it. I NEVER give them commercial doggy treats as for the most part they are nothing but garbage with some bacon, cheese or peanut butter flavour thrown in to enhance the flavour.

08-25-2005, 12:59 PM	#9
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	I still free feed the kibble and supplement with a "yummier" meal either at breakfast or dinner...maybe some canned or some cheese on top or some rice or chicken mixed in and sometimes the Natural Balance roll. I am switching them to the Natural Balance raw diet though and then organic kibble for mixing so I won't be free feeding anymore.