There are many factors to consider when choosing the best dog food for Yorkies. At the basic level, you'd need to know how much to feed them according to their age, size, and weight using a Dog Food Calculator and a Puppy Feeding Chart.
We've rounded up some of the best on the market and did a few dog food reviews. But honestly, each has pros and cons. Plus, a lot of it depends on your furry friend's health and (off-course) what their taste buds prefer.
What Kind of Food Can I Feed My Yorkie?
Like all other dog breeds, a Yorkshire Terrier diet needs enough protein, fat, and essential nutrients. Yorkies don't eat as much as larger dog breeds, but their metabolism is much higher. An average dog needs about 30 calories per pound of body weight, but a Yorkie only needs 10 calories per pound. This toy breed needs anywhere between 150 - 250 calories per day, while Yorkie puppies need more.
Studies show that Yorkies (and other toy breeds) develop low blood sugar because they can't store glucose like larger breeds. That's why a you'd need about 3- 4 meals a day (adult) and 5-6 (puppy) to have a steady influx of energy to prevent hypoglycemia.
What Foods Are Toxic To Yorkies?
Some foods that are typically safe for humans could be toxic for dogs. Avoid giving your dog these foods, no matter how much they beg.
- Avocados
- Cherries
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Caffeine
- Raisins/ Grapes
- Citrus fruits
- Cinnamon
- Coconut
- Nuts
- Ice-Cream
- Onions
- Garlic
- Chives
- Raw meat
- Raw eggs
- Salt
- Bread dough
- Alcohol
- Gum/ Candy
- Spoiled Food
What's the Healthiest Dog Food for Yorkies?
The healthiest dog food for Yorkshire Terriers includes the right amount of protein and fat suited for your dog size, age, and weight. Look at the guaranteed analysis (G.A.) on the dog food bag to get a list of the ingredients.
Critical things you must look at:
- Protein should be between 10%-29%
- Fat should be between 15% - 22%
- Fiber should be between 2%-10%
- Moisture should be between dry from 10% and wet from 75%
- Real meat, poultry, or fish as the #1 ingredient
- A lot of animal-based fat
- Limited digestible carbs (low-starch and whole grains)
- Essential vitamins and minerals (from fruit and veggies)
- No artificial additives like flavors, colors, or preservatives
What's the Best Food for Yorkshire Terriers?
Taking all the above information into account, we've rounded up some of the best dog food for Yorkies we could find. We've reviewed each one, weighed up the pros and cons to come up with a shortlist.
Here are our top picks for the best food for Yorkshire Terriers.
1. Royal Canin Adult Yorkshire Terrier
Our first entry is a dry food that's made specifically for the Yorkie pup in your life. Perfect for the little bundle of fur between 8 weeks and 10 months old, this nutritional kibble should provide all your puppy needs.
Review
The food engineers that crafted this formula concentrated on bringing together ingredients designed to optimize your Yorkie's growth. These ingredients include:
- Designed with Yorkie needs in mind
- Kibble designed for a small muzzle and bite
- Designed to help build the immune system
- Enhances fur health
- Created to help with digestive health
This dry food has a lot of great things piled into its formula. It adds in fatty acids that help with fur health and is a gentle great-tasting formula that is perfect for even the pickiest pups.
The food engineers also ensured that the kibble is the perfect size for the bite and the muzzle. Plus, it is easy to chew.
There are a few issues raised in reviews of this food. The first big problem is that it does contain some fillers. This could cause some concerns with individual pet owners. Lastly, there have been some issues digesting the formula.
Those issues are not universal, and with all the care put into the formula's construction when you boil it down, this is easily one of the best options for your young Yorkie.
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2. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
Hill's Science's chicken, barley, rice formula will help your Yorkshire Terrier's growth and health.
Review
This company has concentrated on crafting a formula that uses food science to include an ingredient that optimizes its purpose. The dog food is made from:
- Products that help with brain & eye development
- It helps build lean muscle
- Built with minerals that help with healthy teeth and bones'
- Designed with antioxidants for the better immune system
- Veterinarian recommended
This dry diet food is chock full of great ingredients to optimize the nutritional value. There are no artificial ingredients included, a good protein count, with vitamins and minerals from veggies.
There is not much to complain about when you look at this dog food. It isn't a good or bad thing unless your Yorkie has problems with grains.
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3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Blue Buffalo is one of the biggest and best brands on the market when you're looking for a healthy option for your dog. This mixture uses rice and chicken to help adult dogs stay healthy and energetic.
Review
The dietitians at Blue Buffalo have crafted a high-quality food that uses Science to make a formula that promotes a better quality of life for your dog. This formula has the following ingredients and benefits:
- Made with high-quality real meat
- Designed with increased levels of protein and carbs
- An improved immune system from the unique antioxidant formula
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
Why do we consider this one of the best food for Yorkies?
This dry food uses all-natural ingredients to a superior level. The meat and other ingredients help support dogs with cancer and help joint health.
But, the food contains grains which could lead to stomach problems like diarrhea and vomiting. Plus, if you're dealing with a chubby Yorkie, this may not be the right choice.
Guaranteed Analysis
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4. Natural Balance L.I.D. Dog Food
Review
The food engineers carefully crafted a simple yet effective formula to address canine health. The dog food is formulated with:
- No grains
- Limited amount of ingredients
- Small bites and muzzles in mind
- No artificial ingredients
This dog food may not have a lot in it, but it tastes fantastic. The Yorkie owners that have decided to use this dog food say that their little fur buddy loves the taste. It's one of the most versatile go-to dog food for Yorkie owners because it has no grains.
There have been some reports of dogs dealing with upset stomachs after eating it. The other issue previously mentioned is the occasional staleness of the food after opening the bag.
Neither of these issues is universal, and when you look at all the pros that come with this food, you can see that it's an excellent option for almost every Yorkie.
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5. Nutro Wholesome Essential Dog Food
Review
The dieticians and food engineers focused on natural ingredients. The carefully developed formula includes:
- Fatty acids promote growth and development
- Designed for small breeds
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Enhanced levels of calcium for bone and joint health
This dry food is made from real chicken, fruit, and veggies. The nutrient-rich ingredients offer a high-performance formula that promotes healthy growth and development.
The only drawback is rice. If your pup is gluten intolerant, then this formula could cause bowel and stomach issues.
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8. Purina Bella Natural Bites
Review
These crunchy bites are made from a combo of real chicken and meat. The delicious food is made only from natural ingredients with no artificial additives. It's not just nutritious, but the bite sizes are perfect for tiny mouths to enjoy.
- Antioxidants to support your Yorkie's immune system
- Protein-rich to support muscles
- Small size for little mouths
Guaranteed Analysis
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9. Castor & Pollux Organix Dry Food
This grain-free organic dry food is perfect for your Yorkie. Chicken is the #1 ingredient and mixed blended with a range of superfoods like blueberries and sweet potatoes. The prebiotic fiber supports healthy digestion while fused with essential vitamins and minerals for a better quality of life.
- USDA organic certified chicken
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Grain-free and high in prebiotic fiber for healthy digestion
The downside is, studies show that sometimes grain-free or legume-rich diets (or a combo of both) lead to canine heart disease.
Guaranteed Analysis
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The Best Wet Food For Yorkies
There's not much wet food that can be considered the best dog food for Yorkies. They don't have as much nutritional value and loaded with high moisture content. Not that it's a bad thing, but wet food as a standalone meal all-the-time is not nearly enough nutrition.
6.Merrick Lil’ Plates Pint-Sized Puppy Plate
Review
Many Yorkies are fussy eaters, but this one seems to be a winner. The savory protein-rich wet food has real deboned chicken as the main ingredient. The unique formula aims to promote the nutritional needs of your Yorkie. Other ingredients include:
- Grain-free Turkey with gluten-free vegetables for easy digestion.
- Probiotics and prebiotic fiber help digestion too.
- Healthy levels of glucosamine and chondroitin help keep joints healthy.
This wet food is made with higher quality ingredients, including chicken, starchy vegetables, and turkey. This wet food is low on protein, fiber, and fat. So, it's not nutritious as a standalone meal.
Another downside is that it's canned food and can contribute to periodontal disease. This is an inflammatory disease of the teeth structures, which leads to dental disease.
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7. Cesar Home Delights
Review
The dog food consists of grilled New York strip flavors and packed full of nutritious vegetables. The tender, flavorful steak cuts mixed in gravy lures most fussy eaters each time.
Cesar wet dog food provides a delicious meal with fortified vitamins and minerals. It makes a great standalone meal, but we'd mix it with dry food to get more nutrients.
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Conclusion
The best dog food for Yorkies has the right amount of protein, fiber, fat, and moisture. If dog food doesn't have nutritional value, like some of the best wet food for Yorkshire Terriers, add it to dry food.
Calculate what your pup needs according to their weight, age, and size to get an accurate indication of what would suit their nutritional needs.
Do you have any favorite dog food that you think belongs on this list? Leave a comment below.