My Yorkie is 19 lbs!! Help w diet??

[Serena]

Originally Posted by harleyyorkie

My Harley is a bigger Yorkie to start with. He used to weigh 16.2 lbs. I use to put a cup in his bowl and he would nibble through out the day & night. Never has he had any table food and treats are only bits of raw carrot and a Milkbone cookie at night (for his teeth, which at 8 years old, he hasn't lost any and they are in nice shape). He eats Beneful Healthy Weight dry kibble. Yes, I know it is not one of the better foods out there, but he has eaten this for at least 7 years and has never had health or teeth problems of any kind. I have tried all the others like Innova and Merrick etc, he doesn't like them. Anyway, why try to fix what isn't broken? If your dog likes Purina and he doesn't have allergys or health problems due to that food, then feed him that. Here's how I got Harley down to a healthier weight of 14.7 lbs.

I cut his food the first week by putting only 3/4 cup down. Once the food is gone,that's it until the next morning. The following week, I cut it down to 1/2 cup. He nows get that 1/2 cup daily and his few treats and that's it. At night when I go to bed, there's still some kibble left in the bowl, so I know he's getting enough. It took a few months for him to lose the weight, so be patient.

thank you so much. you are right maybe i wont change his food. and i lke your idea about cutting his food down and not giving him til the mext am. i always feel like im starving him if he eats all of it and he has no more lol. and i think i have to realize it will take some time i just dont know how much weight loss i how long is normal i will b patient thanks so much

[bjh]

Originally Posted by harleyyorkie

My Harley is a bigger Yorkie to start with. He used to weigh 16.2 lbs. I use to put a cup in his bowl and he would nibble through out the day & night. Never has he had any table food and treats are only bits of raw carrot and a Milkbone cookie at night (for his teeth, which at 8 years old, he hasn't lost any and they are in nice shape). He eats Beneful Healthy Weight dry kibble. Yes, I know it is not one of the better foods out there, but he has eaten this for at least 7 years and has never had health or teeth problems of any kind. I have tried all the others like Innova and Merrick etc, he doesn't like them. Anyway, why try to fix what isn't broken? If your dog likes Purina and he doesn't have allergys or health problems due to that food, then feed him that. Here's how I got Harley down to a healthier weight of 14.7 lbs.

I cut his food the first week by putting only 3/4 cup down. Once the food is gone,that's it until the next morning. The following week, I cut it down to 1/2 cup. He nows get that 1/2 cup daily and his few treats and that's it. At night when I go to bed, there's still some kibble left in the bowl, so I know he's getting enough. It took a few months for him to lose the weight, so be patient.

Sorry, but I just don't agree with this. You are right, Beneful is one of the worst dog food on the market. Here are the main ingredients of the food your are feeding:

INGREDIENTS
Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, soybean hulls*, whole wheat flour, rice flour, chicken, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), sugar,

Most of the ingredients are horrible. Yes, your dog may seem healthy but I would be concerned about the long term effects. As humans, we can eat a poor quality diet when we are young but long term side effects, like cancer, heart problems, diabetes and arthritis do not show up until later in life. The same can apply to dogs.

Another benefit from a quality dog food it that you will have less stool and it won't be as smelly. Foods such as you feed are mainly grain and indigestible filler. Many dogs are not as satisfied on grain based foods and they do have a tendency to over eat because they are still hungry. I do agree that most dogs love these poor quality foods because of all the animal fat that it contains.

Of course, it is everyone's right to feed what they want but I felt I need to point out the benefits of a quality dog food.

[KarlaR]

my boy is 9-10 lbs. I think that some are just bigger than others.

[CSRE]

Originally Posted by bjh

Sorry, but I just don't agree with this. You are right, Beneful is one of the worst dog food on the market. Here are the main ingredients of the food your are feeding:


Most of the ingredients are horrible. Yes, your dog may seem healthy but I would be concerned about the long term effects. As humans, we can eat a poor quality diet when we are young but long term side effects, like cancer, heart problems, diabetes and arthritis do not show up until later in life. The same can apply to dogs.

Another benefit from a quality dog food it that you will have less stool and it won't be as smelly. Foods such as you feed are mainly grain and indigestible filler. Many dogs are not as satisfied on grain based foods and they do have a tendency to over eat because they are still hungry. I do agree that most dogs love these poor quality foods because of all the animal fat that it contains.

Of course, it is everyone's right to feed what they want but I felt I need to point out the benefits of a quality dog food.

to the OP, i would change him slowly to a better food, and cut down a little the portions.

[tiger63]

My boy Harry is about 11 pounds came from a litter of 3 two boys and 1 girl.

He was the runt but he out grew the others who are minnies.

You have to remember Yorkies were rat hunters who were relentless in their jobs. Every now and then you will be blessed with a true Yorkie prior to the forced breeding to minnies. A throw back if you will, I would not have him any other way.

[KarlaR]

Has anyone tried orijins. It is expensive i hear in comparison but it has 70% protein, 30% fruits and veggies. I rescued my Jake and he was a year old and still eating puppy chow so I transitioned him to orijins and he loves it.

[QuickSilver]

One thing that you can always try is adding an extra 15 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. Take him on a jog around the park, or play fetch with him, or chase him around. Increased activity should help with his weight.

[Big Tyke]

Better food and plenty of exercise will certainly help. Take your Yorkie for a daily walks and for rainy days if you have a treadmill, then train your Yorkie to use it, but must be supervise, don't leave your Yorkie on their own. Our Yorkie is fed twice a day, not sure on leaving the food all day for it to be nibble on. Just my two cents ....

[lisa_j]

Freedom, our rescue Yorkie is still on a diet. He is currently down to 13.3 lb from 15+.He went into rescue at 18lb (goal-11lb-he was fat, not solid) He is fed 1/4 cup TOTW 2x/day and I add streamed peas, beans or carrots into his food with each meal as a filler. It is working and he is satisfied.