Advice please - feed amounts for weight loss - YorkieTalk.com Forums

steveclv · 03-28-2012, 08:02 AM

We have an awesome 4 year old neutered Yorkie male that has over time become overweight - 9.5lbs although he does have a stocky frame but should be around the 7lb weight.

We used to feed once a day and switched to twice a day to try and improve matters and also switched to a much more expensive food - Blue Wilderness.

We are trying to decide how much food to give so that he can establish a healthy weight loss.

Going on the numbers on the packaging seems to create weight gain so has anyone got any experience of dieting a Yorkie and how much food we should be feeding per meal?

We don't feed treats or household scraps and he gets 3 -4 good walks a day and chases his ball.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

107barney · 03-28-2012, 08:53 AM

I would start by reducing his intake by food by 10% and weigh him weekly. Check with your vet to make sure this is ok for your dog.

megansmomma · 03-28-2012, 09:16 AM

If you are feeding the suggested amount on the food bag it is probably way too much food. You could ask your vet to calculate the amount of calories that he needs according to the ideal weight. When I had Bogey on a diet I counted pieces of kibble to give him and he lost the weight.

AbbyMax · 04-22-2012, 07:41 AM

Wow! Sounds like you are doing everything right. Did your vet suggest your guy loose weight? One of my yorkies was 16 pounds and the vet said she was in good health.

I have found that the amount recommended on the bag of food is a little too much for my guys. They never eat that much. I do give my Yorkies a couple of treats every day, so reduce the amount of dry food a little bit since they are getting the treats.

Did you get your boy neutered when he was young or after he was a year or older? One of my friends got her boy neutered when he was two and seemed to put on weight. She was able to free feed him prior to getting fixed, but after he just gobbled down everything.

Britster · 04-22-2012, 08:41 AM

Definitely DON'T follow the guidelines on the bag. I follow way under for my healthy weight 16lb dog, so for a dog trying to lose, it's going to be significantly less.

For reference, Jackson is at a good weight at around 15-16lbs. He's VERY active and eats on average 2/3 cup per day of a 430 kcal/cup food, I will up it to 3/4 cup per day if he seems hungry or was more active (i.e. he swims all summer, so he usually gets more). But most bags suggest 1 cup - 1 1/4 cup per day for him, and he would be so fat if he were eating that much.

What food are you feeding and how much are you feeding? You want to feed an amount for your dogs supposed-to-be weight, not the current weight they are. So feed for a 7lb dog (but not going by the bag guidelines).

You say you're feeding Blue Buffalo Wilderness... do you mean the Healthy Weight formula? If so, I would not feed more than 1/2 cup per day if it were me. Also, you can use green beans as a filler-upper. Zero calories by the time they're not chewing them

tjdmom · 04-22-2012, 11:10 AM

I feed my dogs based on how they look. If I think they need to gain weight, I feed a little more and if I think they need to lose, I feed a little less. I pay very close attention to their "waist lines" and it seems to work for us. Of course, that doesn't help you with how much to feed but I would suggest getting a scale that measure in ounces and weight him at least once a week and see how it goes. Of course, lots of exercise will help too...

03-28-2012, 08:02 AM	#1
steveclv YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 2	Advice please - feed amounts for weight loss We have an awesome 4 year old neutered Yorkie male that has over time become overweight - 9.5lbs although he does have a stocky frame but should be around the 7lb weight. We used to feed once a day and switched to twice a day to try and improve matters and also switched to a much more expensive food - Blue Wilderness. We are trying to decide how much food to give so that he can establish a healthy weight loss. Going on the numbers on the packaging seems to create weight gain so has anyone got any experience of dieting a Yorkie and how much food we should be feeding per meal? We don't feed treats or household scraps and he gets 3 -4 good walks a day and chases his ball. Any suggestions would be welcome.

03-28-2012, 08:53 AM	#2
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I would start by reducing his intake by food by 10% and weigh him weekly. Check with your vet to make sure this is ok for your dog. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

03-28-2012, 09:16 AM	#3
megansmomma Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL Posts: 12,235	If you are feeding the suggested amount on the food bag it is probably way too much food. You could ask your vet to calculate the amount of calories that he needs according to the ideal weight. When I had Bogey on a diet I counted pieces of kibble to give him and he lost the weight. __________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

04-22-2012, 08:41 AM	#5
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	Definitely DON'T follow the guidelines on the bag. I follow way under for my healthy weight 16lb dog, so for a dog trying to lose, it's going to be significantly less. For reference, Jackson is at a good weight at around 15-16lbs. He's VERY active and eats on average 2/3 cup per day of a 430 kcal/cup food, I will up it to 3/4 cup per day if he seems hungry or was more active (i.e. he swims all summer, so he usually gets more). But most bags suggest 1 cup - 1 1/4 cup per day for him, and he would be so fat if he were eating that much. What food are you feeding and how much are you feeding? You want to feed an amount for your dogs supposed-to-be weight, not the current weight they are. So feed for a 7lb dog (but not going by the bag guidelines). You say you're feeding Blue Buffalo Wilderness... do you mean the Healthy Weight formula? If so, I would not feed more than 1/2 cup per day if it were me. Also, you can use green beans as a filler-upper. Zero calories by the time they're not chewing them __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 04-22-2012 at 08:44 AM.

04-22-2012, 07:41 AM	#4
AbbyMax Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 481	Wow! Sounds like you are doing everything right. Did your vet suggest your guy loose weight? One of my yorkies was 16 pounds and the vet said she was in good health. I have found that the amount recommended on the bag of food is a little too much for my guys. They never eat that much. I do give my Yorkies a couple of treats every day, so reduce the amount of dry food a little bit since they are getting the treats. Did you get your boy neutered when he was young or after he was a year or older? One of my friends got her boy neutered when he was two and seemed to put on weight. She was able to free feed him prior to getting fixed, but after he just gobbled down everything.

04-22-2012, 11:10 AM	#6
tjdmom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 5,847	I feed my dogs based on how they look. If I think they need to gain weight, I feed a little more and if I think they need to lose, I feed a little less. I pay very close attention to their "waist lines" and it seems to work for us. Of course, that doesn't help you with how much to feed but I would suggest getting a scale that measure in ounces and weight him at least once a week and see how it goes. Of course, lots of exercise will help too...