Input from those who feed their Yorkie Primal Pet Foods.
 

Hey everyone, I just had a couple of quick questions regarding my Yorkie's feeding schedule. She is 6.5 years old and weighs approx. 7.0 lbs. She is currently on Canine Chicken Formula 1 oz. nuggets. Right now her feeding schedule looks as follows:

8:30 AM - 1 full nugget and 1 baby cut carrot
1.:00 PM - 1 baby cut carrot
5:30-6:00 PM - 1 full nugget and 1 baby cut carrot
9:00 PM - 1 baby cut carrot
11:30-12:00 Midnight - 1 full nugget and 1 baby cut carrot

I don't hop into bed until around 4:30 AM-6:30 AM every day and I always make sure she has a little something in her stomach before we go to sleep, otherwise she will throw up yellow bile due to an empty stomach. I know I am on a terrible sleeping schedule, which I know may affect her, but I am trying to break this bad habit. My main concern is that she is feeling heavier and moving slower. I feel like she needs to be fed more, but I am afraid she will get heavier. I feel as if she definitely needs to lose a little weight. As for walks, they are rare. She is a house dog and gets excited when I grab the leash to go for a walk, but does not like to walk when she gets outside. I try to give her a gentle tug sometimes, but she does not budge.

So my questions are, is she on a good or bad feeding schedule? And am I feeding her too little or too much?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PENNY8686

Hi, I have 8 dogs, 6 Yorkies and 2 chihuahuas and all of them are on Primal Raw and I feed them one time a day in the morning and then I give them a lunch treat if I am home and some treats at dinner time. My dogs range in size from 3 lbs. - 13 lbs. and none of them need to eat as much as yours. Why do you need to feed her so often?? Does she have an illness? My 7 lb. yorkie eats 3 1/2 nuggets in the morning. Some people prefer to have 2 meals, breakfast and dinner but not the schedule you have, you should try and make it easier for yourself.

Izzy get 1.5 nuggets in the morning and a full 1/4 c. Of Orjien kibble in the evening for dinner... as for treats she gets a USA made chicken jerky strip, zukes mini (only 2 cals. Each) Or natural balance L.I.d treats...

Why are you feeding her 3 meals per day... I would switch down to 2 meals...going down to 1 meal per day may be too much of a change for her...then beside the carrots offer her some low cal. treats throughout the day. :)

I feed Primal too. My Wylie, who is about 7lbs, gets 2 nuggets in the morning, and 2 in the evening. His body condition (weight) is exactly where I want it.

What about trying green bean as the treat? Or some other kind of veggie? And or, something to chew on.

Here is primals feeding calculator, where you can enter in different options for your kiddo: Feeding, Transition and Safety for Raw Dog Food Diets

Sasha weighs approx. 7-8lbs. I'm pretty sure the feeding calculator said she is supposed to get a little over 3oz. of nuggets a day, but I don't feed 100% raw so she's getting 1 1/2 nuggets in the morning and 1/8 cup of kibble for dinner. She gets a bigger biscuit after both of her meals, a very small piece of treat after she potties (except when she potties after her meals since she gets the bigger biscuit) & then usually some sort of bigger treat in the evening just before bed. I love how she looks and she greatly looks forward to her meals & treat times.

If there's anything I've learned about food it's that you have to do what's best for your dog. A feeding guide could tell you one thing, but it may be too much or too little for your dog. I've noticed in most cases that feeding charts tend to tell you to feed your dog too much food. It's kind of guess and check to figure out what works best for your dog.

:rolleyes:I agree that MOST dog food companies tend to suggest more than your pup needs ('cause they want to sell dog food :rolleyes:)...However, Primal is the only food I've fed, where the recommendations are less than what any of my three pups need...I guess my 3 are a little rowdy, and burn up more calories lol...My thoughts are they (Primal) really care about the pups, and tend to suggest less, for healthier leaner pups...Of course, they do make mention that this is just a guide, and to work w/the amounts for the best formula for your pup...I like that :D