New Yorkie owner - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ssparks81 · 11-06-2008, 12:06 PM

Hello! We are going to get our little girl today. But I have a question. She is 8 weeks old and about 2 pounds. I was told that she is currently eating Purina Puppy chow dry food. Is this a good dog food for her? Also, I've heard about something called nutracal. Is this something I should give her? I would appreciate your comments regarding her diet. Thanks!

Ksheffield78 · 11-06-2008, 12:22 PM

I have had my puppy for about a month now. When we got him he was about 10 weeks and weighed about 1.5 pounds. He was on Purina puppy pro plan selects dry food. The vet (who is a family friend) said that was wonderful, just to make sure that he was eating enough. We have never had any problems getting him to eat....he eats like a hog! However, just to make sure he was eating enough at first, we would mix one spoonful of wet (the purina puppy pro plan selects wet food) in the morning and would leave the dry food out all day for him to nibble on. He is gaining weight great and seems to love his food! Hope this helps!

jeanietoo · 11-06-2008, 12:23 PM

Purina puppy isn't a high quality food bur if you switch at such a youg age please do so very gradually over a few days. Nutrical is touted as being reall great on here and when you have such a youg dog you do need to watch out for low blood sugar. I brd yorkies for over 20 years and never used any nutrical. If you do use it give sparingly as it can cause diahrrea if too much is given. Your puppy is very youg to leave it's mother. Most breeders keep them til 12 weeks

Ellie May · 11-06-2008, 12:36 PM

Purina is really not a good food at all but I would keep her on it for a couple weeks until she adjusts to her new home.

ssparks81 · 11-06-2008, 01:00 PM

So, if I do decide to switch dog food, does anyone have any suggestions? Something I can find easily and that is not too costly. Thanks!

ssparks81 · 11-07-2008, 05:24 AM

I misquoted the type of food she is on. It is actually Pedigree puppy chow. She looks very healthy though. So, maybe it is working well with her.

my2boyz · 11-07-2008, 05:37 AM

Pedigree is definitely not a good food. Here is a website that compares and rates dog food for you so you can make an informed choice regarding your pet's food:
Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost

Also, about the Nutrical. If your puppy isn't having any low blood sugar/hypoglycemia issues I wouldn't use it. You might want to keep some on hand just in case you would need it but don't just give it to your puppy because someone said you should. Nutrical is used to raise their blood sugar so you have to remember that it will also drop afterwards and all of those ups and downs aren't good...it's like filling a child up with sweets. Feeding your puppy a good, quality food and making sure they are getting enough to eat is the best thing you can do for your puppy.

my2boyz · 11-07-2008, 05:53 AM

Here is another website that may be easier to use:

Cat and dog food reviews, ratings and information in a straight forward manner!

minngirl79 · 11-07-2008, 06:13 AM

Welcome to YT!
How exciting to be getting a new baby!!

I don't know much about which foods to feed so I am learning too!

BamaFan121s · 11-07-2008, 06:14 AM

8 weeks is VERY young to be bringing home a new puppy. You will find that in most cases, reputable breeders will keep Yorkie pups until they are 12 weeks.

I would search this site and look over some of the problems others have had with bringing home pups this young to better prepare yourself.
For the time being, I would DEFINATELY keep her on the the food she is accustomed to while she is adjusting to her new home. Then, when you are ready to switch her food, do it VERY gradually, feeding less of her current food and more of the newer one.
There are many foods and options out there that are a better quality than the one she is currently on. The trick is, determining which one is best for HER. To do that you will need to research and get a good understanding of what she will need and do trial an error runs to see what works best. There is a sticky at the top of this section with some of the more recommended (YT recommended in any case) brands that you may want to start out with. Some of the companies will send you free samples or coupons if you contact them.
dogfoodanalysis.com is a good site to get information regarding the ingredients in foods, but the "ratings" assigned and information on the site is based solely off the opinions of the site editors, not long term professional research. Don't let your search for info on food start and end with that site--look for info from numerous sources and determine what needs your little one will have rather than just picking something off one person's 'ratings list.'

A few other sites you may want to read up on are:
The Dog Food Project - How does your Dog Food Brand compare?
Dog Food Review Ratings

Congrats and good luck with your little one. Be sure to share pictures with us when you can. Welcome to YT!

11-06-2008, 12:06 PM	#1
ssparks81 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Flatwoods, KY, USA Posts: 10	New Yorkie owner Hello! We are going to get our little girl today. But I have a question. She is 8 weeks old and about 2 pounds. I was told that she is currently eating Purina Puppy chow dry food. Is this a good dog food for her? Also, I've heard about something called nutracal. Is this something I should give her? I would appreciate your comments regarding her diet. Thanks!

11-06-2008, 12:36 PM	#4
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Purina is really not a good food at all but I would keep her on it for a couple weeks until she adjusts to her new home. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

11-06-2008, 01:00 PM	#5
ssparks81 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Flatwoods, KY, USA Posts: 10	Any suggestions? So, if I do decide to switch dog food, does anyone have any suggestions? Something I can find easily and that is not too costly. Thanks!

11-07-2008, 06:13 AM	#9
minngirl79 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NE South Dakota Posts: 99	Welcome to YT! How exciting to be getting a new baby!! I don't know much about which foods to feed so I am learning too! __________________ Marcy & Daisy

11-06-2008, 12:22 PM	#2
Ksheffield78 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: macon, Georgia Posts: 25	I have had my puppy for about a month now. When we got him he was about 10 weeks and weighed about 1.5 pounds. He was on Purina puppy pro plan selects dry food. The vet (who is a family friend) said that was wonderful, just to make sure that he was eating enough. We have never had any problems getting him to eat....he eats like a hog! However, just to make sure he was eating enough at first, we would mix one spoonful of wet (the purina puppy pro plan selects wet food) in the morning and would leave the dry food out all day for him to nibble on. He is gaining weight great and seems to love his food! Hope this helps!

11-06-2008, 12:23 PM	#3
jeanietoo YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 783	Purina puppy isn't a high quality food bur if you switch at such a youg age please do so very gradually over a few days. Nutrical is touted as being reall great on here and when you have such a youg dog you do need to watch out for low blood sugar. I brd yorkies for over 20 years and never used any nutrical. If you do use it give sparingly as it can cause diahrrea if too much is given. Your puppy is very youg to leave it's mother. Most breeders keep them til 12 weeks

11-07-2008, 05:24 AM	#6
ssparks81 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Flatwoods, KY, USA Posts: 10	I misquoted the type of food she is on. It is actually Pedigree puppy chow. She looks very healthy though. So, maybe it is working well with her.

11-07-2008, 05:37 AM	#7
my2boyz Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my house :) Posts: 5,219	Pedigree is definitely not a good food. Here is a website that compares and rates dog food for you so you can make an informed choice regarding your pet's food: Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost Also, about the Nutrical. If your puppy isn't having any low blood sugar/hypoglycemia issues I wouldn't use it. You might want to keep some on hand just in case you would need it but don't just give it to your puppy because someone said you should. Nutrical is used to raise their blood sugar so you have to remember that it will also drop afterwards and all of those ups and downs aren't good...it's like filling a child up with sweets. Feeding your puppy a good, quality food and making sure they are getting enough to eat is the best thing you can do for your puppy.

11-07-2008, 05:53 AM	#8
my2boyz Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my house :) Posts: 5,219	Here is another website that may be easier to use: Cat and dog food reviews, ratings and information in a straight forward manner!

11-07-2008, 06:14 AM	#10
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	8 weeks is VERY young to be bringing home a new puppy. You will find that in most cases, reputable breeders will keep Yorkie pups until they are 12 weeks. I would search this site and look over some of the problems others have had with bringing home pups this young to better prepare yourself. For the time being, I would DEFINATELY keep her on the the food she is accustomed to while she is adjusting to her new home. Then, when you are ready to switch her food, do it VERY gradually, feeding less of her current food and more of the newer one. There are many foods and options out there that are a better quality than the one she is currently on. The trick is, determining which one is best for HER. To do that you will need to research and get a good understanding of what she will need and do trial an error runs to see what works best. There is a sticky at the top of this section with some of the more recommended (YT recommended in any case) brands that you may want to start out with. Some of the companies will send you free samples or coupons if you contact them. dogfoodanalysis.com is a good site to get information regarding the ingredients in foods, but the "ratings" assigned and information on the site is based solely off the opinions of the site editors, not long term professional research. Don't let your search for info on food start and end with that site--look for info from numerous sources and determine what needs your little one will have rather than just picking something off one person's 'ratings list.' A few other sites you may want to read up on are: The Dog Food Project - How does your Dog Food Brand compare? Dog Food Review Ratings Congrats and good luck with your little one. Be sure to share pictures with us when you can. Welcome to YT!