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04-08-2007, 06:36 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach
Posts: 60
| How much food to feed?? When I first purchased my yorkie, the breeder along with my vet told me half a cup of food twice a day was fine. But my Aunt, who also owns a yorkie, told me I was over feeding my puppy. She told me a handful of food is enough (very littlepreety much). But it seems like I'm starving him! If I pick him up or pet him, I can feel bones and when I feed him, he gobbles it up like he's starving. (He's five months, a little over 2lbs. BTW). How much do you feed your babies??? |
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04-08-2007, 06:50 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my house :)
Posts: 5,219
| From what you describe it doesn't sound like you're giving your pup enough to eat...a 'handfull' of food isn't enough for the day. If you're feeding dry kibble just fill a bowl and put it down for the day...they'll eat when they want or need to. Without seeing your puppy I couldn't say if it's underweight or not but you shouldn't be feeling bones...ask your vet and take their advice...not that of your Aunt. |
04-08-2007, 07:47 PM | #3 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach
Posts: 60
| Well when I take Kobe to the Vet, he never says anything, so I didnt think it was a problem. But the reason my Aunt interjected was because she pick him up and said him tummy was tight...like he was too full about to burst. And she said that her breeder said to much food is not good and it causes problems. He instructed her to take half a cup of food in a bowl, put water on it, and to watch how the food "swells". So I guess thats why he said a yorkies tummy is too small and cant fit all of the food. Thats why I'm so confused. |
04-08-2007, 07:48 PM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach
Posts: 60
| Oh, and yes I am feeding Dry food |
04-08-2007, 07:53 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newport Beach, CA
Posts: 1,088
| I leave mine down for the day
__________________ Laura Punkin and Piper |
04-08-2007, 08:04 PM | #6 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach
Posts: 60
| Really?? Your baby just doesnt gooble it all up?? Maybe I should try that... |
04-08-2007, 08:20 PM | #7 |
2 Pups=Double Trouble! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Iowa
Posts: 6,581
| If you leave food down all of the time, they get used to it being there, and yes, they will learn to eat what they want. Free feeding is also good if you have a tiny that needs food available at all times. However, I feed twice daily at the same times. I measure out the food in a measuring cup, and feed it to my puppies. The bowl stays down for 10 minutes-they eat what they want in 10 minutes, and then the bowl gets picked up until the next feeding time. It took Emma one day to understand this (one day of going hungry ) They eat it all up right away, but this is good for several reasons: You know exactly how much they're eating, and can monitor their food intake, they poop at the same times each day, they understand "dominance" better-that WE provide THEIR food and care for THEM, and we have the policy that "nothing is free", so they are required to "work" for their food by doing a trick or two before eating. This was recommended by our vet and by the behaviorist we were working with. This works well for us, and we can keep track of who is eating what and when. Sometimes Milli doesn't finish her food, and that's ok-we just feed it to her later on in the day.
__________________ Suzy Emma & Milli What's better than loving a yorkie? Loving two yorkies! Milli 's Remi! |
04-08-2007, 08:30 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 7,178
| Free feeding is a good idea...They usually eat the right amount. There should be feeding directions on the bag. You can measure out how much the bag says to feed for your babies depending on age and weight and leave it out all day.
__________________ Miko 's his Mommy |
04-08-2007, 08:43 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach
Posts: 60
| Wow...great advice, I swear I loveeee this forum! I just don't want to risk over feeding my baby, but at the same time, I don't want to feel bones when I pet him either! So hearing all the different perspectives makes me feel a little better. I guess I will start feeding him more then! |
04-08-2007, 08:59 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 7,178
| We have been free feeding dry food to Miko for almost 2 1/2 yrs, and no weight problems here And Emma is free fed too, but she also gets Merrick Grammy's Pot Pie canned twice a day.
__________________ Miko 's his Mommy |
04-09-2007, 12:26 PM | #11 | |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 2,161
| Quote:
A 5 month old at 2 lbs should DEFINITELY be fed more than once a day; it is crucial for its healthy development. | |
04-09-2007, 07:12 PM | #12 |
I Love My Stinkers Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 791
| Mine have hard kibble available to them 24 hours a day. Once or twice a day they will actually stop and eat a good amount. The rest of the day they pick at their food, a little here and there. Neither have weight problems. |
04-09-2007, 07:49 PM | #13 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach
Posts: 60
| Hi everyone, thanks for all your responses! Just to clear a few things up, I fed Kobe twice a day, not once...and the only reason why his size didnt bother me THAT MUCH was because the breeder says he's a "teacup" and that he wont weigh more than 3lbs...plus my vet never said anything. Well...this morning I filled his bowl up and so far so good! He didnt gooble it all up he's just eating when he feels like it, which is great. So I will def. Keep this up and tell my Aunt about this site (for her yorkie baby), since she was the one who gave me the "small food amount" advice in the first place! |
04-09-2007, 07:56 PM | #14 |
Little Bit & Buttons Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: US
Posts: 2,160
| I've never had a problem with too much weight gain with the dry food. I do have to say that if I put down baby food meat or Merrick's wet food, my Yorkie will try to eat it all before my Maltese puppy gets any so I limit the amount of wet food I give and separate them for feeding the wet food. I'm not sure if the greediness for wet food would happen if I only had the one. |
04-10-2007, 06:11 AM | #15 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my house :)
Posts: 5,219
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