New Yorkie Mum - Advice on feeding needed, please?

[Jenna AK]

Hello,
Thank you for these forums. We are quite perplexed.
My family has just adopted what is believed to be a two year old Yorkie Silky Mix. She's passed her first night with us well, but for a little neediness.
We've fed her cooked steak and chicken in small amounts (1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time, about four times a day and she's not wild about the chicken) and she's only gone potty a handful of times, not defecating yet. (We don't know when she last went. Her previous owner had her using a doggie door and had other dogs, so couldn't really tell us when she in particular had eliminated.)
Can we get some advice on how to feed her properly and how much each day? Plus any tips on getting her to stay asleep during the night? She's kind of been up and down all day, but mostly down.
BTW, we live in Alaska and the snow's just going away here, so she's not crazy about going out in the cold and wind. We have a puppy pad down in the play area in case she has an accident overnight.

Just to add, she does have a wellness check scheduled with our vet next Thursday. Until then we're kind of winging it.
Also we've had dogs who got GDV before (granted they were large breeds) and as a result we are wary of commercial dog kibbles. Any advice in that area would be most helpful also.

Many thanks!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Jenna AK

Hello,
Thank you for these forums. We are quite perplexed.
My family has just adopted what is believed to be a two year old Yorkie Silky Mix. She's passed her first night with us well, but for a little neediness.
We've fed her cooked steak and chicken in small amounts (1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time, about four times a day and she's not wild about the chicken) and she's only gone potty a handful of times, not defecating yet. (We don't know when she last went. Her previous owner had her using a doggie door and had other dogs, so couldn't really tell us when she in particular had eliminated.)
Can we get some advice on how to feed her properly and how much each day? Plus any tips on getting her to stay asleep during the night? She's kind of been up and down all day, but mostly down.
BTW, we live in Alaska and the snow's just going away here, so she's not crazy about going out in the cold and wind. We have a puppy pad down in the play area in case she has an accident overnight.

Just to add, she does have a wellness check scheduled with our vet next Thursday. Until then we're kind of winging it.
Also we've had dogs who got GDV before (granted they were large breeds) and as a result we are wary of commercial dog kibbles. Any advice in that area would be most helpful also.

Many thanks!

Woohoo, a fellow Alaskan! I'll have all kinds of tips for you come next winter. My two Yorkies love the snow. Of course, we don't quite get as cold as you!

As for food, it sounds to me like you're overfeeding, and I don't think cooked meat and chicken is a good idea. Even people who feed meat will tell you that meat loses most of its nutrients when cooked. That's why there's been a lot of interest lately in raw diets.

My personal preference is a high-quality kibble. Yorkies don't eat much, so you can buy one of the higher-end foods at a specialty store (say no to grocery store kibble) without it costing an arm and a leg. There are a lot of subpar dog foods out there, including the Science Diet your vet is likely to recommend.

I'm currently feeding Orijen. It's a grain-free kibble that has gotten real good ratings. If you poke around the health and nutrition forum here, you'll see lots of other suggestions. Here's a good place to start: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ing-chart.html

As for how much, I feed my 10-pounder about 1/4 cup twice a day. He also gets some extra calories from treats, specifically Yummy Chummies that you can buy up here. I break them into tiny pieces and use them as a reward for tricks, etc.

I'm told it takes 12 hours for a dog to fully digest its food, so many people recommend two feedings a day.

Since all dogs are different, be sure to weigh yours regularly. If he's gaining, cut back on the portions. If he's losing, increase.

Good luck! And keep in touch! You're the first YorkieTalker I've met from Fairbanks.

[Jenna AK]

Thank you for the quick reply! Okay, so we're feeding her too much? We thought she was a bit of a nibbler, honestly. And if she's eating too much, how come she hasn't pooped? I would think she would've gone by now.
If you have Orijen, then you must be in Anchorage? We had searched that in the past. Do they carry that anywhere in Fairbanks? We were going to start getting that for our larger dogs last year, but couldn't find anyone here who carried it. (Sadly, they are both gone now.) We'll never go back to SD, it is falsely advertised to be a high quality food.
Also, where can we find the Yummy Chummies? We need to begin training her when she settles down. Can Yorkies be clicker trained?
Apparently the lady who we got her from claimed she cooked meat and veggies for all her dogs, but with how picky Jenna seems to be, we don't know what she prefers except for beef and the owner gave us no recipes to go by.
Also we checked out the home cooked thread too...wow, some of those recipes seem varied!
Off to scan the kibble grading chart. Thanks again for the quick reply! Looking forward to the tips for winter.

[alaskayorkie]

Yeah, it sounds to me like your portions are OK, you're just feeding too many times a day. If she turns into a picky eater, you can try a couple things. You can just insist she eat what you give her, or you can add a teaspoon full of a high-quality canned food. Merrick is rated highly. And despite what a lot of us have heard over the years, some people actually say canned is better.

I find that picky dogs change their minds real quickly when they have no other options, but I do want them to enjoy what I give them.

I supplement with home-cooked, too, a Dr. Pitcairn recipe. But it's pretty involved with supplements, etc., so I didn't want to bog you down with that. If you ever want to try it, I'll send you what I know.

Ugh, I just searched, and you're right. Alaska Mill and Feed in Anchorage is the only place to get Orijen in the state.

Yummy Chummies should be everywhere because they're made in Anchorage. I've found them in Vegas! I buy them for $9.50 for a 2-pound bag at Costco, but, uh oh, I don't think you have a Costco either! Any pet store should carry them. I like them because they're soft, can be broken up easily and the dogs can eat them quickly.

I forgot to answer your question about restlessness at night. She may just be a bit confused right now and be a little needy. Where did she sleep at her former owner's place?

[Jenna AK]

She had been a house dog (no idea where) but when we got there the sweet baby was sitting in the cab of the truck in the front yard because she was fighting with another dog in the house who was old and infirm. Part of what cemented the decision to bring her home. No idea how many days or nights she'd spent there.
We have her on a nice plush doggie mat in a children's playpen for now in the kitchen, which is the central room in our house with the bedrooms leading off of it. She's fine if she's sleeping or someone is nearby, but if she wakes mid-nite, she realizes she's alone and that bothers her.
We also have a completely enclosed and heated arctic entry for her to tool around in with us if the weather is inclement enough that she won't move outside. (She sat down during walks and refused to budge today because the wind was blowing.)

For now, we've been going out to her when she gets whiny or tries to climb the barrier, because we were told she's an escape artist and we don't want her wandering the house at night just yet. We're a little cluttered right now (spring cleaning) and don't want her getting into things.

A few other questions: she has rather weepy eyes and has been scratching at her ears off and on since coming home (we did bathe her yesterday, but tried to avoid getting her ears wet). Any suggestions on how to control the eye weeping and what signs to look for in case of ear mites? (We have cats and bunnies in the house too, so don't want them coming down with anything.)

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Jenna AK

She had been a house dog (no idea where) but when we got there the sweet baby was sitting in the cab of the truck in the front yard because she was fighting with another dog in the house who was old and infirm. Part of what cemented the decision to bring her home. No idea how many days or nights she'd spent there.
We have her on a nice plush doggie mat in a children's playpen for now in the kitchen, which is the central room in our house with the bedrooms leading off of it. She's fine if she's sleeping or someone is nearby, but if she wakes mid-nite, she realizes she's alone and that bothers her.
We also have a completely enclosed and heated arctic entry for her to tool around in with us if the weather is inclement enough that she won't move outside. (She sat down during walks and refused to budge today because the wind was blowing.)

For now, we've been going out to her when she gets whiny or tries to climb the barrier, because we were told she's an escape artist and we don't want her wandering the house at night just yet. We're a little cluttered right now (spring cleaning) and don't want her getting into things.

A few other questions: she has rather weepy eyes and has been scratching at her ears off and on since coming home (we did bathe her yesterday, but tried to avoid getting her ears wet). Any suggestions on how to control the eye weeping and what signs to look for in case of ear mites? (We have cats and bunnies in the house too, so don't want them coming down with anything.)

That was nice of you to rescue her. A truck is no place for a Yorkie this time of year in Fairbanks. I think a vet is the best place to start with the weepy eyes and ear-scratching. Tearing is common in Yorkies, but it shouldn't be extreme. I've heard people say they can get clogged tear ducts. Others say simply clipping the hair around their eyes can improve it. I don't have any experience with ear mites. Is there an odor? Is she sensitive? Could be an allergy or some kind of infection. Again, vet will know.

I like the living arrangement. Keeping her in the pen is a good idea and will keep her out of trouble. If she starts peeing and pooping in there, make sure you have a pee pad on the far side away from her bed. If you have a small crate, you might think of putting it in there and seeing if she'll use it. Sometimes they feel more secure in an enclosed place. You could even keep the door open.

I wonder if having a radio near her would help, just playing soft music. There's two schools of thought on what to do when they start whining at night. One is to ignore them so you don't reward them for being whiny. But the other is to check and see if they need to be taken outside. My feeling is if there's a chance they have a real need, check, maybe let them outside. If not, let them whine. They'll get over it when they're not rewarded for it.

Good luck. You're doing a good thing. It will take a while for both you and her to adjust, but it will be worth it!

[Jenna AK]

Thanks again, very much! Okay, well we're finally getting ready to bed down for the night. Hope we make it through without too much difficulty. ^_^
She seems comfortable...I don't notice any real smell other than doggie smell and the eye gunk isn't excessive, but it is enough to ask the doc of course. She has rather large-ish ears, which make me suspect she is not pure Yorkie, perhaps some Chihuahua in there? 0_o I'll try to post of pic of her tomorrow.
Either way she is adorable and we believe our past dogs sent her to us. She has markings that are suspiciously like a German Shepherd we once had, believe it or not. She will have a loving, caring home here.
Bless you and goodnight.

[alaskayorkie]

Night! Good luck, and definitely POST PICTURES!

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Woohoo, a fellow Alaskan! I'll have all kinds of tips for you come next winter. My two Yorkies love the snow. Of course, we don't quite get as cold as you!

As for food, it sounds to me like you're overfeeding, and I don't think cooked meat and chicken is a good idea. Even people who feed meat will tell you that meat loses most of its nutrients when cooked. That's why there's been a lot of interest lately in raw diets.

My personal preference is a high-quality kibble. Yorkies don't eat much, so you can buy one of the higher-end foods at a specialty store (say no to grocery store kibble) without it costing an arm and a leg. There are a lot of subpar dog foods out there, including the Science Diet your vet is likely to recommend.

I'm currently feeding Orijen. It's a grain-free kibble that has gotten real good ratings. If you poke around the health and nutrition forum here, you'll see lots of other suggestions. Here's a good place to start: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ing-chart.html

As for how much, I feed my 10-pounder about 1/4 cup twice a day. He also gets some extra calories from treats, specifically Yummy Chummies that you can buy up here. I break them into tiny pieces and use them as a reward for tricks, etc.

I'm told it takes 12 hours for a dog to fully digest its food, so many people recommend two feedings a day.

Since all dogs are different, be sure to weigh yours regularly. If he's gaining, cut back on the portions. If he's losing, increase.

Good luck! And keep in touch! You're the first YorkieTalker I've met from Fairbanks.

First, welcome to the OP! Congrats on your adoption!

Mike, we are in the process of switching foods. We are trying Fromm & Orijen. Do you feed Orijen to Jillie too? How much do you feed her?
Thanks!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Reese1

First, welcome to the OP! Congrats on your adoption!

Mike, we are in the process of switching foods. We are trying Fromm & Orijen. Do you feed Orijen to Jillie too? How much do you feed her?
Thanks!

Yes, Jillie's on Orijen. I started with their puppy formula and am transitioning her to their regular formula. I give her about a tablespoon of orijen and a tablespoon of home-cooked twice a day. She also gets a lot of treats.

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Yes, Jillie's on Orijen. I started with their puppy formula and am transitioning her to their regular formula. I give her about a tablespoon of orijen and a tablespoon of home-cooked twice a day. She also gets a lot of treats.

Thanks!

Wrigley & Camden about 6lbs & Crosley is 17lbs. We are trying to figure out if Orijen with higher protein or something like Fromm will be a better fit!
I know they are both really good foods!
Appreciate the info!

[lil fu fu girl]

Hi and Welcome!

It sounds like you have received a lot of great advice.

As for me, personally, I free-feed mine Innova Evo Red Meat Small bites.
It contains a larger amount of meat proteins than most, as I feel that is an essential diet requirement. I also feed them a home-made raw diet, consisting of lamb, fillet of beef, and various fish, with additions of quinoa and vegetables. I am a firm believer in fresh complete proteins in their diet.

Well, congratulations again, and I am sure you will find plenty of experience here to help you out.

[4doggiemama]

Just was wondering about feeding Orejin since it is a high quality of food. Anyone find that it has too high of protein level for Yorkies? I was feeding Orejin to Chipper. I was shocked to find out that the formula I was feeding was 40% crude protein. Hadn't checked when I bought it like I should have. I know that Yorkies are not supposed to have over 22% (information on YT). He was throwing up so I took him to the doc. Chipper had an ALT of over 1,800 and a BUN above normal. Another ALT was done 3 days later after he was no longer on Orejin and it dropped to 600. Need to point out, though, that he did have an anal gland that was infected. We are also checking his BAT numbers. Will know on Monday.

As for tear stains....I have a white Pommie that would get horrible tear stains from certain brands of food. When I finally figured out what brand he could eat because of his allergies....Natural Balance Duck and Potato.....his tear stains virtually disappeared. I have heard other people mention that certain food tend to cause more stains and gunk. Just a thought. ~Joanne~

[maryeverett1]

Hey! Just wanted to say welcome to the YT family! It looks like you are getting great advice already so I'm just writing to say we are glad you are here! If there is ever anything you need please don't hesitate to give me a shout! We look forward to getting to know you better in the days to come! Have a great day and hope to see you around YT!

[BaxtersMommy]

WELCOME TO YT!!

Alaska is my favorite place on Earth! Enjoy your new baby!