Is Nature's Variety Instinct too high in protein and fat for Yorkshire Terriers - YorkieTalk.com Forums

IlmyYorkieAmara · 10-05-2011, 10:07 PM

I am tansitioning my Yorkshire Terrier puppy to Nature's Variety Instinct Duck Meal And Turkey Meal. I just would like to know if I am making a good decision or not. I love my little baby to death and I am always researching something for her. I had her on Royal Canin and she is getting really finicky more and more with each food. And I'm not sure she likes the Instinct all too well. But I can always take it back. Is it too high in protein and fat for her? I just want the best for her. I researched foods for weeks since I am worried she may have food allergies and her dad has skin conditions that may have been passed to her.. I know food has something to do with skin and coat also so I tried to find a high quality dog food for her.

I just am so confused. I just want to do everything right for her. I try to be a good mom to her.

Maximo · 10-05-2011, 11:18 PM

It's not in the really high end of the scale on protein, but 22% fat is arguably high.

Some dogs do great on it, others do not. So many factors must be assessed to determine if a food is the right one for your pup. There is no simple, one- size-fits-all answer. Keep in mind that too much switching around foods will contribute to your dog being very picky.

IlmyYorkieAmara · 10-05-2011, 11:45 PM

Thank you for the tip. I think that may be what it is. But she is taking to the food pretty well. And I keep her active too. I'm just trying to find the best for her.

Ellie May · 10-06-2011, 04:30 AM

22% fat is not something I would be risking with a Yorkie unless it was a medically necessary prescription diet.

IlmyYorkieAmara · 10-06-2011, 08:22 AM

Really? I'm worried now. She's not sick or anything. I just wanted to find an awesome dog food.

LuvTaycieGirl · 10-06-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellie May

22% fat is not something I would be risking with a Yorkie unless it was a medically necessary prescription diet.

Agreed. I never felt comfortable feeding that high of fat.

107barney · 10-06-2011, 08:52 AM

I would also not feed 22% fat to a yorkie. My dog Teddy has a 16% fat diet and he has no known digestive problems. We don't want any though, so we feed a diet with this in mind per our vets' advice.

Cherie6446 · 10-06-2011, 08:55 AM

My gina (rip) had crystals in her urine. The vet put her on California Natural and they cleared up. Not sure what the fat % was but that is easy to check out. Lower protein and lower fat is safe for the little ones that are prone to pancretitis.

LuvTaycieGirl · 10-06-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlmyYorkieAmara

Really? I'm worried now. She's not sick or anything. I just wanted to find an awesome dog food.

Really the best dog food you can find is finding something that works for your dog

Some do wonderful on diets like these, some do not. Yorkies are prone to Pancreatitis. It can be triggerd by a number of things, high fat diets being one of them. I just personally never felt comfortable feeding something with a very high fat content to a breed that has such issues with Pancreatitis. However, Taycie was never able to tolerate foods that were 15% or higher. It was just to rich for her.

Personally before feeding a higher protein/fat diet I would have a blood test done and discuss it with your vet. This will help make sure her kidneys are functing properly. High protein diets are not bad, but feeding a dog higher protein diets with unknown issues can lead to problems.

IlmyYorkieAmara · 10-06-2011, 09:35 AM

Thank you all so much for the tips. I'll be sure to put them to use.

xoxodoglover89 · 10-06-2011, 10:01 AM

I tried Nature's Variety Instinct once when Sasha was a pup. She just didn't care for it. I know some people that feed it to their dogs but their dogs are bigger and seem to be doing well on it. Like others have said, it all depends on your dog, what they can tolerate and what they like. What works for one dog doesn't always work for another.

omega · 10-06-2011, 11:52 AM

I have three bags of pre-made raw food. NV Instinct in chicken and beef are both 13% protein and so is the Primal.

I had my dog on the prey diet for over three years... all meat, and she did not do very well - lots of digestive disturbances. I switched her over to
the pre-made diets and she is doing so much better. No more problems at all
with her digestion and stools. We're both much happier!!!!

Britster · 10-06-2011, 02:34 PM

To be honest, I always thought 22% was too high, even back before Jackson was sick. I fed NV Instinct for a brief period of time and although he actually did really well on it, for the most part, he gained a bit of weight and I think it was due to the food.

I do think NV is a great brand and a lot of dogs will do perfectly fine with it. Have you checked out their LID line, or their Prairie line?

Britster · 10-06-2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omega

I have three bags of pre-made raw food. NV Instinct in chicken and beef are both 13% protein and so is the Primal.

I had my dog on the prey diet for over three years... all meat, and she did not do very well - lots of digestive disturbances. I switched her over to
the pre-made diets and she is doing so much better. No more problems at all
with her digestion and stools. We're both much happier!!!!

13% protein on raw needs to be converted to dry matter basis for an actual percentage. It's not actually only 13% fat.

IlmyYorkieAmara · 10-06-2011, 03:09 PM

Thank you all for the information

10-05-2011, 10:07 PM	#1
IlmyYorkieAmara Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greenville, South Carolina, USA Posts: 232 Blog Entries: 16	Is Nature's Variety Instinct too high in protein and fat for Yorkshire Terriers I am tansitioning my Yorkshire Terrier puppy to Nature's Variety Instinct Duck Meal And Turkey Meal. I just would like to know if I am making a good decision or not. I love my little baby to death and I am always researching something for her. I had her on Royal Canin and she is getting really finicky more and more with each food. And I'm not sure she likes the Instinct all too well. But I can always take it back. Is it too high in protein and fat for her? I just want the best for her. I researched foods for weeks since I am worried she may have food allergies and her dad has skin conditions that may have been passed to her.. I know food has something to do with skin and coat also so I tried to find a high quality dog food for her. I just am so confused. I just want to do everything right for her. I try to be a good mom to her.

10-05-2011, 11:18 PM	#2
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,044	It's not in the really high end of the scale on protein, but 22% fat is arguably high. Some dogs do great on it, others do not. So many factors must be assessed to determine if a food is the right one for your pup. There is no simple, one- size-fits-all answer. Keep in mind that too much switching around foods will contribute to your dog being very picky. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

10-06-2011, 04:30 AM	#4
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	22% fat is not something I would be risking with a Yorkie unless it was a medically necessary prescription diet. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

10-06-2011, 08:52 AM	#7
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I would also not feed 22% fat to a yorkie. My dog Teddy has a 16% fat diet and he has no known digestive problems. We don't want any though, so we feed a diet with this in mind per our vets' advice. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

10-06-2011, 08:55 AM	#8
Cherie6446 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCA Posts: 1,895	My gina (rip) had crystals in her urine. The vet put her on California Natural and they cleared up. Not sure what the fat % was but that is easy to check out. Lower protein and lower fat is safe for the little ones that are prone to pancretitis. __________________ RIP my darling little Gina

10-05-2011, 11:45 PM	#3
IlmyYorkieAmara Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greenville, South Carolina, USA Posts: 232 Blog Entries: 16	Thank you for the tip. I think that may be what it is. But she is taking to the food pretty well. And I keep her active too. I'm just trying to find the best for her.

10-06-2011, 08:22 AM	#5
IlmyYorkieAmara Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greenville, South Carolina, USA Posts: 232 Blog Entries: 16	Really? I'm worried now. She's not sick or anything. I just wanted to find an awesome dog food.

10-06-2011, 09:35 AM	#10
IlmyYorkieAmara Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greenville, South Carolina, USA Posts: 232 Blog Entries: 16	Thank you all so much for the tips. I'll be sure to put them to use.

10-06-2011, 10:01 AM	#11
xoxodoglover89 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 747	I tried Nature's Variety Instinct once when Sasha was a pup. She just didn't care for it. I know some people that feed it to their dogs but their dogs are bigger and seem to be doing well on it. Like others have said, it all depends on your dog, what they can tolerate and what they like. What works for one dog doesn't always work for another.

10-06-2011, 11:52 AM	#12
omega Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MN Posts: 7,575	I have three bags of pre-made raw food. NV Instinct in chicken and beef are both 13% protein and so is the Primal. I had my dog on the prey diet for over three years... all meat, and she did not do very well - lots of digestive disturbances. I switched her over to the pre-made diets and she is doing so much better. No more problems at all with her digestion and stools. We're both much happier!!!!

10-06-2011, 02:34 PM	#13
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	To be honest, I always thought 22% was too high, even back before Jackson was sick. I fed NV Instinct for a brief period of time and although he actually did really well on it, for the most part, he gained a bit of weight and I think it was due to the food. I do think NV is a great brand and a lot of dogs will do perfectly fine with it. Have you checked out their LID line, or their Prairie line? __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

10-06-2011, 03:09 PM	#15
IlmyYorkieAmara Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greenville, South Carolina, USA Posts: 232 Blog Entries: 16	Thank you all for the information