Hi there, you might get more answers if you start your own thread here: Yorkie Health & Diet - YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community

NOW! by Petcurean is a very good premium dog food.

Does anyone know if there is any harm or if it's not a good idea to feed your puppy (3 months old) Gerber baby food stage 1, specifically the Chicken with Chicken broth and Turkey with Turkey broth. My girl loves both and I started feeding it to her when she wouldn't eat after surgery just to be able to get something into her. She still eats her dry food but not as much as I'd like and she will chow down the gerber food. I guess I just don't want her to get hooked on this if it's not good for her. Thanks!

I'd personally feel more comfortable feeding them plain boiled chicken breast w/white rice than baby food. I mix it w/their kibble, they love it.
Some baby food contains small amounts of salt & onion powder, not good for dogs.

Thanks! You really know your dog food/nutrition it seems like.:) I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I'll definitely have to try the boiled chicken breast w/white rice and see how my little girl likes it. Sounds healthier too.:)

Stella and Chewy's AND Zuke's min naturals
 

I feed Innova adult small bite (the chicken not the red meat small bites) for kibble and I also see that there's not a lot of raw foods listed on this post. I Feed my dog just diagnoses with seizures a raw diet now, Stella & Chewy's Duck Dinner patty's previously I only fed them a couple times a week in addition to kibble as a raw food diet is very expensive. Also I swear by Zuke's mini naturals, they are small soft treats for small dogs great for training! All of these foods are organic and contain no by products or harmful ingredients. Greenies are really great for teeth cleaning! If your pet store doesn't stock these brands,,ASK THEM TO! Really Zuke's Mini naturals are the perfect size for small dogs and big dogs love them too, just beware the salmon gives them stinky breath, so careful with the kisses afterwords!

Hi, for all those that feed their little ones a raw diet, I was just wondering when you started them on it and when is a good time/age too? Are they too young at under 6 months of age? I'm considering maybe doing a raw diet but I'm not 100% sold on it yet. I know it's suppose to give them much more added nutrients and energy but my little one has a ton of energy - too much IMO.

Raw Food Diet
 

Hi,
I had trouble with my little 6mth old YT eating anything until I hit on the Raw diet. I did tons of research on animal nutrition and the different types of food, and controlled studies. My little Tucker LOVED!! it, for about 3 weeks, then he stuck his nose up in the air to that too. Now I have frozen Beef,venison,buffalo, and chicken, in my freezer and he won't touch it. He is only 10 mths so he may go back to it. While he was on it, his poops were regular and perfect, his coat was great, and lots of energy. Do the research though, there is a lot to learn. PS - And it's not expensive with these little guys. Good luck!

feeding issues
 

If your schedule allows for it offer food only 4 times a day for 20 minutes, after that take it away, no treats, no cheating. Elvis, I suspect was fed people food or canned dog food a lot and stuck his nose up to kibble refused to eat, but wow he sure jumped for joy when he saw a can of Campbell in the kitchen...but despite his please, Innova kibble was all he got...point being, dog's won't starve themselves unless they have a serious issue. You just have to show that this is the food you are going to eat and I won't cave because I know what is good for you...if by the 5th day of the aforementioned directives he's not eating take him the vet and offer plenty of water the whole time because he will refuse at first and he needs to stay very hydrated, watch for signs of illness but it really sounds behavioral.just don't expect him not to resist or being especially bad about beggin' or trying to not eat or get at something else during the change over eating training.

The Innova looks like a very good brand to try at least. How do you like it? Any problems? Have you tried any of your puppies not with the seizures on the pre-raw diet? I'm curious about those too.

I tried the Zuke's mini naturals too but my girl doesn't touch them! I thought they'd be perfect for her, because so far I haven't been able to find any treats she'll even nibble on! I just tried the Zuke Peanut Butter ones, and she had no interest, but I think it may be because she just doesn't like Peanut butter (won't touch the Kong with filled peanut butter) or because they Zuke's are too chewy/rubbery. I may need to try cutting them in half though, because I still think they are still a little too big for my 3 month old girl.

I was going to try the Greenies teenie/minature but I read on the packaging they are not suitable for dogs under 5lbs and my girl is only 2lbs 4 ozs now..

Zukes innove greenies
 

Yes, Greenies have to be reduced down for some dogs, they are a cleaning agent for teeth, considered a medicine not a treat so practice caution as will all medicines, even though they are sold without prescription. My dogs didn't like the peanut butter either, dogs go crazy for the salmon, but the salmon, WOW! the smell, try the chicken. I actually used Innova because it advertised "less piles" on the radio, I thought hmmmm that sounds nice then began to research the ingredients, one of my dogs is allergic to corn, well most dogs are but the adverse reaction is itching and warming, hard to notice for some people. I've had no problem with Innova, other than I used to give the red meat small bites and then found out red meat caused beef stains in my True (mix of platinum mom and chocolate dad) White Miniature Schnauzer. Also apparently dogs with seizures shouldn't be eating red meat, not sure why...was told that an errored on the side of caution. But now I have my dogs on the other Innova Small bite, the chicken and other non red meat bites...wonderful can't say enough for Innova, a great deal on price considering the ingredients.Personally I like Stella and Chewy's Duck Duck Goose Dinner patties as a raw diet option, you can give your dog kibble at feeding time (kibble first or they won't eat kibble in my experience) and then introduce the recommended amount (based on weight and age of dog) of the patty as a switch over to a raw diet, you have to watch the water intake though as dogs can become dehydrated and need more water on a raw diet I guess. Stella and Chewy dinner pattys are dehydrated raw pattys so again give plenty of water. I've heard of a lot of people using refrigerated raw prepackaged products, just a warning (most I've been told about are great but just a few this may be an issue with) some of the "raw" prepackaged refrigerated items, well to start they are super expensive! and some actually say cooked ingredients on the package...a raw diet will be pricey unless you do it yourself, so find a good option within your price range, and again my dogs still get kibble, I do about a half and half, you have to be realistic unfortunately with finances. Mind you if you used the Stella and Chewy's and you need to also consider the amount of water "up-age" and might want to use distilled water, with other raw prepackaged foods, watch the level of ingredients of vegs, fruits & proteins, a lot of raw products are on the market right now because of the boom n raw feeding, as with every other marketable product, not all of them have the proper balance of nutrition in mind when being formulated.

Hi all, this is my first time, be gentle, ha ha. I was looking at the list, I did not see anything for small puppies. What do you suggest??? We should be getting our puppy any week now!!!

puppy kibble & raw diet
 

The Healthiest Pet Foods in the World – Natural & Organic Pet Food – Natura Pet Products
any of the foods listed here is great personally I like Innova puppy food for the benefits of both quality and price
Pet Products - Healthy Dog Food, Natural Cat Food, Gourmet Dog Biscuits ? Innova Holistic Pet Food
Having said that if you are opting for a raw diet instead of a kibble, My dogs love Stella & Chewy's Duck Duck Gooses Dinner and its easier on the wallet than most with an added benefit of being what I think is the best, just remember dogs on a raw diet need twice the water intake than dogs on kibble especially with dehydrated raw patties
Stella & Chewy's - Home
check out their small dog section, and as I said before if nothing else I wonder why more Yorkie people aren't giving their dogs the Zuke's Mini Naturals for training treats and treats in general, they're great and made for our small dogs, especially ones prone to obesity issues..
Zukes Mini Naturals – Dog Training Treats, The Perfect Training Treat for Dogs
my dogs love the salmon but their breath stinks so bad afterward so I give em the chicken ones, so far I've yet to meet a Yorkie that will eat the peanut butter ones, good luck and beware of any foods containing CORN! corn is a warming food and many dogs are allergic to corn, it causes warming and "rashing" and is overall hard to digest, a lot of dogs will scratch and scratch from the corn in their food in the least of a reaction! Also realize dogs aren't like people, anything you feed your dog will directly result in the health of your dog so much more than a person, also be sure to research people foods that can cause adverse and toxic reaction in dogs, chocolate, raisins etc can cause illness and death, get educated! I know the prices on some of these products seem a bit pricey but once you realize the small amount a Yorkie eats daily and how long these last, the prices are more than in tune...GOOD LUCK and congratulation on your pup! Post a pic so we can all see! -Shan

Re: The Dog Food (Kibble) Grading Chart:

I am not sure and need to find out what these are unless you know.
Iron amino acid chelate, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, zinc amino acid chelate and copper amino acid chelate.

Parts of these words sound good and are found in a lot of foods, like potassium chloride. But isn't it a form of salt?

I like life abundance dog food. You have to order it on line, but it's proven to be very healthy. My dogs were doing great on it for years, then my yorkie started itching really bad, so the vet suggested I change her food....which I did, and it cost me 600.00 in vet bills and a very sick dog for a long time. I hope after she completely heals, I can put her back on the life's Abundance. It has never had a recall, and it's holistic.

the short answer
 

The short answer, these are all mineral compounds that are necessicary for a balanced and health diet, most of thesse minerals are necessary for brain function, in fact the brain needs salt to function, in both people and dogs.