Maybe Merrick's not so great after all...
 

months and ago I switched from Royal Canin Yorkshire formula and started dancing around all the different brands trying to find something they both liked as much. I found PetBotanics, they loved it! Petsmart on the other hand didn't, and they discontinued the kibble here i Albuquerque. So I finally settled on Merrick Grain free formula. They liked it, plus it has a rotating menu so I can change up the flavor without disturbing their digestive systems. I thought that was going well until today. It's been awhile since I'd had the money to go to my usual groomer. Well she came today and did her grooming magic routine, and while she groomed them same as always, they don't look as beautiful as they used to. Their hair isn't nearly as full and shiny as before. It's like this thin drab almost dry and stringy look to it. They look so pitiful now. I'm tripping on this. I figure it must be the food. Only problem is , if I go back to RC , and Toby starts itching again, Ill have to start right back at square one with the kibble try outs. Cause unless I'm mistaken RC doesn't make a grain free formula for small dogs much less specifically for yorkies. Or at all that I remember. So do I go back to feeding them something less natural since they looked so good on it? Or is there another brand that I can try that is tailored to this breed? There's such a dramatic difference that I can't possibly stick to Merrick any longer. My dogs look like they've had chemo treatments.
By the way, I sedated Toby and we managed to groom everything but his beard this time without all the violence he usually subjects us to. He still wasn't exactly cooperative and the scissors were dropped about 5 times, But we got him 90% groomed successfully! And now Maddy is all silver with a black tail. she's frigging cute! But she still has her cottony puppy coat. That should start changing now , right? She's going on 7 months old now.

I believe RC has a grain free option but it is prescription dog food....it may not be for Yorkies specifically, but grain free for small/toy dogs will work well for your yorkie....your vet can write a script for it.

They actually write a script for it? who fills it? That concept is completely new to me. If Toby does in fact have an aversion to grain I'm going to have to stop free feeding them or he'll eat the girls food. He hasn't been itching at all for months now. I may have to look into that. Cause the last thing I want is him to start that again.
One thing that may help is coconut oil... We bought that "as seen on t.v" tongue brush thing for Izzy, because she just has the worst breathe ever. But she doesn't like any of the pastes that came with it. She'll only use it when I put coconut oil on it. So I was thinking of getting some grapefruit extract and adding that to the coconut oil or their water or something. But they will get down on that thing or anything else for that matter if there's coconut oil on it. That should help with their coat, right?

You can contact Chewy.com and they will contact your vet and get the script right from the vet and then you just get the food from Chewy.com. You can stop free feeding or just feed them all grain free....it certainly wont hurt them.....

Have you had any experience with their grain free enough to know whether or not it makes a difference in their coat? I just have it in my head that since the yorkshire formula is formulated for yorkies specifically, that maybe the generalized grain free won't be quite as affective. Seems like a lot of trouble to go through if it won't bring him back up to par. Maybe I should just stop nitpicking and just do it...lol (my inner voice is saying Shut up Shawna!)

To add to the other posts......
Have you tried Fromm grain free foods? They will send you samples and then if you like it Chewys will send it to you.

Just another thought!

All of mine are on RC for 30+ years....my problem was some like the yorkie blend, some just liked the mini blend...so I just put everyone on the regular mini dog blend, and my dogs are in tip top health, great coats, 12-15 year old "retirees" running around like they are half that age, so just the blend for mini dogs works super for them....There is a pic of a Jack Russell on the front, I think.....

You can also try salmon or coconut oil. I use salmon oil and it does wonders for their skin.

i just bought that as seen on tv thing for helping with the bad breath issue. It has all these rubber pokey whatsits on it, and you're supposed to spread the paste that comes with it on there so they lick it off and it scrubs their tongue... well none of them like the paste, so i just put coconut oil on it and they lick that off. hopefully that helps. I'm just going to have to get some grapefruit extract and add it to their water for some help with Izzy's halitosis.
But i might send for those samples, or just go back to RC... maybe I'll just get all three on the grain free RC. I'm aa libra and I'm so indecisive it makes ME crazy, not to mention everyone around me...lol

Grain free for allergies
 

Hi! I got advice on YorkieTalk to try Fromm Wild Bird grain free for my dog’s allergies. He loves it! It has helped a lot with his scratching but he still licks his feet. Anyhow, his vet wants me to switch to something else because of the low taurine content on grain free foods, which can lead to heart problems. She says it’s not worth the risk. Has anyone found an alternative to Grainfree that helps with allergies? I appreciate your advice.

Food allergies are rare more then likely you are dealing with environmental allergies. There would be vomiting, diarrhea and other issues for a true food allergy.

I use Wellness Limited Ingredient Salmon and Potato. I believe that brand is grain free but there are other options of limited ingredients that do have grain in them.

I seriously doubt he was allergic to grains in the food. You might want to start looking into Cytopoint for when his allergies act up. Speak with your vet about it...it is an injection and usually lasts about two months although I have seen it last longer. You only take them back for another when they start licking and/or scratching.

You also could go with an RX food like Hill's ZD Ultra but again, since he is still licking his feet, it probably wasn't food to begin with.

I have been feeding Jackson Royal Canin Whitefish and Potato PW prescription food.

I believe he is one of the rare dogs that actually has a grain allergy. He got pancreatitis in Sept 2018 and I put him on the RC GI low fat kibble and canned. He seemingly well on it MINUS the fact that he was ALWAYS acting starving... like more than usual. Very ravenous. He was just never fulfilled, ever. He had always loved food but this was like next level. But I was too scared to risk pancreatitis again so kept him on it. In December he began having chronic diarrhea. Test after test after test ruling out nearly everything.... the specialist settled on IBD induced by a food allergy. I cannot say with 100% certainty but any of the foods containing corn, wheat, rice, etc, are what he seemed to get worse on. I started home cooking for him and saw some improvement but it wasn't balanced at all. Tried him on some hydrolyzed foods and saw immediate return of worse diarrhea within hours.

Once I started the RC whitefish and potato, diarrhea improved nearly immediately. No grains, it's legit just fish and potato. I still feed the kibble as his base primary food and I mix in the low fat tuna or chicken Weruva cans (only a few formulas are fat appropriate for pancreatitis). He is doing well and I even began feeding it to my cockapoo who has skin problems - I have noticed a huge decrease in the amount of licking her paws and scratching that she would do.


It may be worth looking into? I am feeding the moderate calorie version due to the low fat but they have a regular version as well.

Brit, her vet is suggesting she go back on foods with grains due to the cardiac issues associated with grain free foods.