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09-07-2016, 12:50 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 235
| Older Yorkie - Eating Changes Hi everyone! I need help with figuring out how/what to feed my 10 year old yorkie! I guess part of growing older is that our dogs become more picky about things. My yorkie has been through several types of really amazing wet food lately, and sometimes he'll eat it, sometimes he sniffs it and walks away. But I'll give him a plate of plain shredded chicken, and he'll scarf that down while his wet food sits untouched. I've watched his eating habits over the past few months and I'm at a loss. I've changed foods, I've tried feeding him in different bowls, dishes, even putting it directing on the floor (he seems to prefer that, I have no idea why Lol) I feel bad because i Know there are nights when he is going hungry, but he is just so picky with what I feed him, I don't know what to do! My question is - Should I look into just "making" him his food from here on out? He loves chicken, he'll eat rice, etc. Wondering if it just makes sense to move to home made food at this point, and if so, how would I go about doing that? I've never made a dog food before, especially not a senior dog! I'm sure he needs certain vitamins, proteins, etc in his food? Any help would be greatly appreciated! - Kristy (and Winston) Last edited by kristykins; 09-07-2016 at 12:52 PM. |
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09-07-2016, 03:08 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| The 1st thing I would do is take him to the Vet for a check up and blood work. Anytime something is off and that includes eating habits as well a Vet visit is in order, especially in a senior pet. Not wanting to eat could be due to many reasons and I would want to make sure it's nothing medical.
__________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE] |
09-07-2016, 04:20 PM | #3 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 235
| Quote:
Its certainly not that he's "not" eating. He is.. he's just being picky about it! | |
09-07-2016, 05:20 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home
Posts: 8,386
| Did that check-up include blood work done at that time?? Or I guess that is going to be done when he has his dental. Is it possible he has some teeth bothering him?? Sometimes when the teeth are bothering them they don't want to eat. I hope his blood work come out fine.
__________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE] |
09-08-2016, 06:36 PM | #5 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| I home cook for mine... If you are interested in home cooking, you need to add appropriate supplements. There are a couple of all-in-one supplements that are suitable for home cooking. One of them is Balance It and they have free recipes that use their product. I prefer to use diets from PetDiets, if the dog is healthy then the diet is $25. Good luck!
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy |
09-08-2016, 07:47 PM | #6 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,544
| Good to hear that he's having a Dental as that could be the reason he's being finicky. I would deff want to know what his Liver & Kidneys are doing these days as well as IF he's having issues in either area, it may be the reason for his eating issues. Given his age I would want more then just the little bit of info the Pre-Anaesthetic blood work can tell as well. |
09-09-2016, 02:22 AM | #7 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Sure...cook for him if that's what he needs to have an appetite. I'd recommend the kind of thing where you provide the meat, and then buy the mix to add. Like Know Better Pet Food's "U Stew" or Honest Kitchen...both good options. Add meat, stir, done.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
09-09-2016, 10:37 AM | #8 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 146
| My 14 year old Yorkie actually pushes the bowl away or knocks it over if she can. Currently I'm mixing chicken or turkey or scrambled egg with her dog food, Royal Canin gastro-intestinal. Has to be more meat than dog food. I have also mixed in cottage cheese and rice. I have to rotate these combinations to get her to eat. Sometimes she needs a little NutriCal to get her started. If her tummy is growling, I give her a little bit of honey. I know how disturbing these refussals to eat are. My Jaya only weighs 3&1/2 pounds to start with. Sounds like you are taking very good care of your baby. And thanks Wylie's mom for the food additive info, I will try it. |
02-02-2017, 11:43 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: minneapolis, mn, usa
Posts: 22
| My little 16 yr. old 6 lb. is changing her eating habits too. She has always been a good eater, but now not so much. I've given her Synovi G4 supplements for years and recently added Cosequin DS which has really helped with arthritis. We switched over to Royal Canin 12+ last summer, which she loved at first, but doesn't seem to like it anymore. Also she has been losing the hair on her nose & her coat is becoming very thin. Vet says her teeth are good & she is quite healthy for her age. Am wondering if her eating problems are from the Cosequin? I'd love to know what others are feeding their elders...Thanks Wylie's Mom for the tip on homemade. I'll check that out! |
02-04-2017, 02:48 AM | #10 | |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Quote:
When dogs (and humans) age, their taste sensations age/change too as does appetite, so sometimes getting enough food in them is tough. First I'd try sprinkling Parmesan powdered cheese on the food - it's nice and smelly and yummy to most dogs. If that doesn't even work, then I'd switch kibbles and/or start adding wet food to the mix. At her tender "vintage" age, I wouldn't even be all that concerned w/ brand of food - just give her what tastes good .
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° | |
02-07-2017, 06:27 PM | #11 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: minneapolis, mn, usa
Posts: 22
| Thank you! I'll try the parmesan with soft kibbles. She likes cottage cheese with her vitamins. It's tough when they get older. I just want to keep her comfortable in her "golden" years. My first yorkie lived to be 19 on love and Purnia Dog Chow. There are so many more options these days and I feel like a bad mom if I don't do all the research on products,etc. It is so helpful to get ideas from others here on the forum. Thank you!! |
02-20-2017, 08:23 AM | #12 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stouffville, Ontario
Posts: 41
| Grateful I am so grateful that I've hopped back on to this board. My 9 year old has changed her eating habits and has lost 6 oz in the past 6 months, which doesn't seem like a lot, but she's only 6.6 pounds. She had a full work up by the vet and other than a minor UTI, she checked out fine. We have introduced a new higher protein food to her diet. I'm hopeful she's put back on a few ounces when we weigh her in. Have a wonderful day everyone. Family Day here in Ontario and the weather is spring like! Thanks for all your wonderful insight and advice.
__________________ Hooligan's Mom |
02-21-2017, 02:59 AM | #13 | |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Quote:
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° | |
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