How Often Should a Yorkie be Fed

As one of the smaller dog breeds, Yorkies have different feeding requirements from their larger relatives. Occasionally a Yorkie puppy will have trouble regulating his blood sugar due to large gaps in time between meals and will need some medical attention to get back on track. Consult your veterinarian to choose the appropriate schedule for your dog's needs.

Weight

The amount and frequency of feeding a Yorkie depend ultimately on his body weight. Yorkies have been bred into two types, the standard and the toy. Toy Yorkies can weigh as little as half a pound when they are puppies, while the standards can be a couple of pounds. Since these guys don't weigh very much, they don't get fed very much, so the calories they take in are few and can be used up quickly.

Puppies

Baby Yorkies should be fed four to five times a day. Consult your breeder or veterinarian for the best type of food and the total caloric needs of your puppy. The standard size will require more but should still have meals broken up through out the day. The idea behind so many feedings is to try to ensure a somewhat consistent blood sugar level throughout the day.

Not only are puppies smaller but they typically are much more active. The combination of a small stomach and high activity with few fat reserves means the risk of hypoglycemia is increased. As they grow and their bodies can maintain blood sugar levels, the number of feedings per day can be reduced.

Occasionally Yorkie pups will become so hypoglycemic that they appear extremely lethargic and almost unresponsive. If this occurs they may need veterinary care to balance their blood sugar and then a feeding protocol developed by your veterinarian. Occasionally in extreme cases, vet office staff must administer intravenous fluids and glucose and check their blood sugar several times a day for 24-48 hours. This can usually be avoided by sticking to the same feeding schedule every day.

Grown Dogs

Older dogs do not typically have the same susceptibility to blood sugar highs and lows as the puppies do. Their mature bodies can adjust blood sugar as needed with fewer feedings. Still, at least two feedings a day are recommended by most veterinarians to ensure regular blood sugar levels while avoiding overloading the dog's stomach with one huge meal. Some Yorkie owners feed their dogs so many treats that the dog never wants to eat his actual dog food. This should be avoided, as treats do not always provide the balanced nutrition a Yorkie needs.