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Nutrition
It is extremely important to investigate for yourself the best diet and feeding schedule for your canine companion keeping in mind that your dog is not a human and does not have the same needs or concerns as humans.
Treats & Chews
Feeding any sort of human food is not recommended for your dog. If you want to give your dog a treat, then get a treat that is meant for your dog and not for you. The best kinds of treats for your dog are freeze dried meat or fish. This is strictly meat, no additives, no coloring.
Chews are good for your dog but do not give your dog rawhide because it comes off in big chunks and can choke your dog. Other chews you should avoid are any sort of treats or chews made in China, buy local as much as possible. Go to your local butcher and ask for raw meaty bones, specifically for dogs. Bully sticks, pig ears, chicken feet, and cow hooves are all very good options.
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Nutrition
Feeding Schedule
Your puppy has had food out 24/7 available for it to eat since it was weaned. If you would like to get your puppy on a good potty schedule you need to offer your puppy food at least three times a day until it is at least 4 months old or over 3 pounds. After it is 4 months old and eating well and weighs over 3 pounds you can offer it food twice a day, in the morning and evening.
Put the food in the pen and leave it for approximately 15 to 20 minutes and then take it up again. If they don't eat they may not be hungry, but if the dog is small you need to be careful it does not have or get hypoglycemia.
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The idea that canine diets should be grain free may have come about due to some allergy concerns as well as the realization that dogs are carnivores and should be eating a diet with a substantial amount of meat. Of course, many manufacturers were quick to promote this new fad diet and eager to capitalize on sincerely concerned pet owners.
The problem is that there have been no significant studies conducted on these grain free diet feeding plans for dogs. In fact, many veterinarians and even the FDA are now realizing that grain free dog food is actually causing more harm than good. The concern is that when grains are taken out of the food, another filler must be added to take the place of these grains. These fillers are usually high in carbohydrates like peas and lentils, which have been linked to Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), diabetes, and other serious health issues in dogs.
When you are looking for dog food be sure that you do your due diligence and check ingredients, do your research. Look for a reputable brand, which is generally one you can't get at the grocery store. Your local feed store is an excellent source of high quality dog food that often comes with some great advice.
When you are introducing new dog food to your puppy or dog, mix 1/3 of it in with the old or current dog food you have been using. Keep mixing and giving more and more of the new food, little by little. In this way you can avoid tummy upsets for your dog.
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It is also good to add some raw food and bones to your dog's diet because it gives them a more varied nutritional profile and is great for their coats and teeth.
Brands I love and use:
Royal Canine small puppy or the Yorkie exclusive diet
Nutrisource (make sure its one of their grain inclusive recipes)
Purina Proplan Sport
Health Extensions Little Bites Chicken and Brown Rice
There are many other safe brands just make sure to talk with your vet if you have any questions or concerns with your puppy or dog's diet.
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For more information on the problems with grain fee diets you can look at the following articles: Grain Free Pet Food: Helpful or Harmful Diet? , FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy | FDA
Hypoglycemia is simply low blood sugar. While it seems like a simple problem it can quickly lead to death if you are not paying attention to the eating habits of your dog and watching their energy levels.
Toy breeds are most commonly affected by hypoglycemia especially when they are weaning, whelping, teething, or stressed. Yorkshire Terriers, in particular are highly susceptible to suffering from hypoglycemia because they do not have the same level of fat stores as other more bulky or larger breeds. This lack of fat stores means that they need to be kept on a regular feeding schedule and that you need to be aware of any changes in energy level or eating habits.
Preventing hypoglycemia is not particularly difficult. You will need to stay consistent with a feeding and exercise schedule which will help your pet avoid the dangers of hypoglycemia. Feed 3 small meals a day to help avoid hypoglycemia or you can leave food and water down 24/7 if you find that your puppy or dog has issues with hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia can include, but are not limited to; lethargy, slow heartbeat and breathing. Your dog or puppy may exhibit any of these symptoms or several of them at once: weakness, sleepiness, disorientation, wobbly movement, glassy eyes, and may have seizures. In some cases pets may lose consciousness and fall into a coma. Animals can die from hypoglycemia if they do not receive treatment.
If you think your pet may be suffering from hypoglycemia, if your pet is exhibiting the above mentioned symptoms give some special treats, wet food, canned food, or something easy to swallow and enticing to eat. If your pet won't eat, try giving it some Nutrical or Karo syrup. Rub the syrup on the gums and under the tongue if your pet is unable to eat or unconscious.
Keep your pet warm as hypothermia is common with low blood sugar. After giving initial first aid get your pet to your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian can diagnose hypoglycemia with a quick blood test that checks your pets blood glucose or blood sugar and help you with fast-acting treatment.
Hypoglycemia
Always consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns or if you suspect your pet may have a parasite infestation.
The information contained within this pamphlet is solely for informational purposes, and DOES NOT replace licensed professional veterinary care. The information contained within this pamphlet or on our website is subject to interpretation and an evaluation of an animal's medical condition should be performed by a trained professional before any medical decisions are implemented. We shall not be liable to any person whatsoever for any damages, or equivalencies, or by reason of any misstatement or error, negligent or otherwise obtained in any communication from Luxe Yorkshire Terriers.