New to Forum, Fostering a Yorkie

[jacksan]

Hi I am new to your Forum the reason being I have never had a Yorkie before. I live in Spain and Foster for a charity out here. Tomorrow I am getting a Yorkie found today starving and in a right state. Cindy (They named her) is not chipped been checked by the vet and all blood tests clear. Her problem is she has starved on the streets and only weighs 1.5 kg, I have been told that you can feel all her bones and the vet reckons she should weigh about 3-4 kg.Bless her she is 5 years old approx. I will feed her little and often , I would just like any tips from Yorkie experts as to what to feed her. Here are before and after photo,s , when she was found and after her wash and grooming. Any help would really be appreciated. I have 7 cats and a maltese and a x mix of my own.

[caricloud]

I am not sure of any advice, but you are doing a great thing taking in this little one Looks like a lot of love is def. needed

[furbutt]

Aw this is lovely that you are going to look after this little one. I just got back from Spain on saturday we had been in Salou and it seemed like all the dogs over there are yorkies, i think they must really love them over in Spain too Hope this little one is ok xxxx

[jacksan]

Thankyou I was wondering about chicken and scrambled eggs or just keep her on dry food and how often a day to feed her, I am so excited about getting her and giving her lots of love and cuddles.

[Beamers Mom]

Bless you for fostering. It is a very rewarding experience.
if you check my profile I have an album on there of Reno the Yorkie I am fostering. He was a puppy mill seizure.

As to what to feed her. What are you feeding your other dogs?
A good diet will soon fill her out. I can't advise on what food as I have no idea what dog food is available in Spain.

Thank you for fostering

[Rhetts_mama]

First of all, thanks for taking this little girl in!

I'm not sure what types of dog food you have available in Spain, so making recommendations may be difficult. Quite a few of the members here either home cook or feed a raw diet to their pets. There is a diet and health forum with lots of good links.

The things off the top of my head that you should be aware of is these little ones are prone to pancreatitis, so fatty foods are off limits. Same thing for ham, bacon, deli meats. You'll know better once you get her in your home what her appetite is like, but while you are trying to get her to a more healthy weight, just make sure that every bite of food she has is high in nutritional value. You want to help her rebuild muscle and not put on too much fat.

Cat food is highly attractive to yorkies, but it's also dangerous for them. You may have to make sure your cats are fed in an area not accessible to your new girl.

Good luck!

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by jacksan

Thankyou I was wondering about chicken and scrambled eggs or just keep her on dry food and how often a day to feed her, I am so excited about getting her and giving her lots of love and cuddles.

Most yorkies love chicken. Mine also love scrambled eggs, carrots and greenbeans and plain yogurt . I feed twice a day, but a lot of the members here leave food out all day long.

[jacksan]

Thanks for the replies, mine are on a dry food for small dogs , the most expensive in the supermarket, they thrive on it, they do have scrambled egg and tuna once or twice a week, I dont feed them wet /tinned food. The cats are fed high up away from the dogs, as Bill would eat it lol. The dogs food is down all day, I was just worried as she has starved she might go too mad at first so I think I will pick it up ( that will please my two). I also feed mine chicken breast and potato mix as rice sems to give Bill the runs (Odd dog). I make my own dog treats and freeze them with liver and also tuna , sometimes baby food without onion in it. I will try her with plain yoghurt, see if she likes it, what about oats does anyone know if that is any good , as I used to give it to my bottle fed pups out here , made with evaporated mild watered down. Any tips for her fur as seemingly it falling out in places and very brittle, the vet thinks this is down to her malnutrition. Just want to get it right feed her up make her look stunning and find her a happy ever after home .

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by jacksan

Thanks for the replies, mine are on a dry food for small dogs , the most expensive in the supermarket, they thrive on it, they do have scrambled egg and tuna once or twice a week, I dont feed them wet /tinned food. The cats are fed high up away from the dogs, as Bill would eat it lol. The dogs food is down all day, I was just worried as she has starved she might go too mad at first so I think I will pick it up ( that will please my two). I also feed mine chicken breast and potato mix as rice sems to give Bill the runs (Odd dog). I make my own dog treats and freeze them with liver and also tuna , sometimes baby food without onion in it. I will try her with plain yoghurt, see if she likes it, what about oats does anyone know if that is any good , as I used to give it to my bottle fed pups out here , made with evaporated mild watered down. Any tips for her fur as seemingly it falling out in places and very brittle, the vet thinks this is down to her malnutrition. Just want to get it right feed her up make her look stunning and find her a happy ever after home .

The chicken breast and potato mix sounds fine. I give mine baked chicken breast along with her dry. All of your suggestions sound great, but be very careful because yorkies quite often can have sensitive tummies and sudden changes in diets frequently cause them to throw up! I wish you luck and would love to follow her progress if you have the time to post.

[Beamers Mom]

For her hair falling out in places and brittle, I am sure with good nutrition and conditioning it will grow fine.
I spray Reno every day with a leave in conditioner (MiracleCoat) and brush him with a soft bristle brush. He had really dry skin and you could see the white flakes on his coat. After just over a week it is getting a lot better.
The MiracleCoat contains melaleuca oil (the "tea tree oil") which is very beneficial.

[Bentleys Momma]

Oh bless her little heart. I do not know how to convert the weights but Maddie was so malnorished when we received her as well. Takes time and now here we are looking at her little tummy just so happy and full. We will be thinking of Cindy often. Let us know how she is doing.

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie

[Beamers Mom]

Originally Posted by Bentleys Momma

Oh bless her little heart. I do not know how to convert the weights but Maddie was so malnorished when we received her as well. Takes time and now here we are looking at her little tummy just so happy and full. We will be thinking of Cindy often. Let us know how she is doing.

Peggy, Monkey & Maddie

A kg is 2.2 lbs.

[Kdgd14]

It's so sweet that you are getting fostering her. I would feed her whatever the dog you have is on and see how she does on that. Many dogs love yogurt, boiled chicken, scrambled eggs, carrots, and baby food, just to name a few. She might not eat right away because she will be adjusting to her new home, but she will not starve herself, don't worry. You obviously want her to eat because she is malnourished so you can add anything I listed above that will draw her to her food. I don't know if you have something similar to Nutri-cal or Nutri-stat but both are an appetite stimulant in a form of a paste. It prevents hypoglycemia, which is when there blood sugar level is too low. Even though she is 5 years old and usually Nutri-cal is given when they are puppies I would get some just because of how small she is. I would give it to her about once every 2 days. Just squeeze a little blob out onto your finger and let her lick it off. Nutri-Cal does have some vitamins in it, but it has quite a bit of sugar, so given it too much can cause problems.
Sorry that that was so long! Welcome to Yorkie Talk too!

[jacksan]

I have a tube of that for the puppies and kittens I foster as I am a bottle feeder really. Will give her some for the vitamins good idea. Got her home poor little scrap they have found 2 tumours on her as well, drew off the liquid inside and said it is nothing to worry about for now, they will operate when she is healthier. Also she is very humped backed, seem,s to be arched, the vet seem,s to think this is because of the malnutrition and it should right it self, has anyone else seen that???. Cindy has eaten scrambled egg and tuna, and going to have chicken later. The vet gave me puppy food tinned the science top of the range one, she has refused that,will have to mix it with the chicken , she said puppy food is better for building her up. I have soaked the puppy biscuit and added it to her chicken ,see if she eats that later. The worry I have is that I have not seen her drink , she is not dehydrated though, so I am adding extra gravy to the chicken hope she gets some fluid down her that way. Thanks for all the advise will post more photos later as she improves, hope to god we can find her a nice loving home.

[yorkieusa]

Poor lil girl. Make sure the water bowl is small enough that it doesn't scare her. You can take a finger and dip it in the water and bring it to her mouth several times to introduce her to the water. Keeping it fresh or with a bit of crushed ice entices them to drink.