Best Food for Yorkies with Sensitive Stomachs – Top 3!

Just like any dog, Yorkies can develop a sensitive stomach. When this happens, they will find it hard to digest food. Symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting may ensue, which will turn your feisty doggo into a lethargic pet.

If not addressed right away, your doggo will suffer from other health problems, which will compromise its quality of life. To help you out, I’ve reviewed the 3 best food for Yorkies with sensitive stomachs that are easy to digest and process.

Yorkie Foods to avoid

Dogs can be mischievous in getting into trouble eating things or foods you normally wouldn’t give them to eat. But there is certain food that you might not be aware of that shouldn’t be given to Yorkshire Terriers. I’ll list some common food you may have in the home.

• Chocolate- contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs. Yorkies can’t break down, or metabolize, theobromine.
• Raisins and grapes- are toxic to Yorkies. It’s unknown why and at what quantities.
• Macadamia Nuts- have an unknown toxin to dogs even in small quantities.
• Coffee- contains caffeine that can raise blood pressure and heart rate.
• Alcohol- has the same effect on dogs as humans, Yorkies are very small therefore are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol ingestion
• Xylitol- an artificial sweetener is very toxic to dogs and can cause hypoglycemia in your Yorkie.
• Onions and Garlic- contain N-propyl disulfide which can breakdown red blood cells leading to anemia.
• Dairy- similar to humans some dogs can be allergic to dairy products and suffer abdominal pain, gas, loose stools, bloating, and diarrhea.
• Broccoli- large amounts can cause GI irritation.
• Small Bones- can be a choking hazard for Yorkshire Terriers.

Causes of a sensitive stomach in dogs

Each dog is unique from the other, which rings true to their digestive tracts. Yorkies aren’t necessarily prone to digestive problems, but some doggos can still develop a nasty stomach due to some reasons.

Why is my dog’s stomach so sensitive?

If your pet is suddenly experiencing signs of a sensitive stomach, the following could be the culprit:

Genetics. Some pups can be born with a sensitive stomach. As a pet owner, there’s nothing you can do about it but to give the right food. Take note that a Yorkie can be born with a sensitive stomach and not exhibit symptoms until it’s older.

Bacterial infection. If your Yorkie is completely healthy, it’s possible that a bacterial infection occurred in the digestive tract. Blood tests and other examinations in the vet’s clinic will help determine this condition. Usually, your pooch will be put under antibiotics to cure the problem.

Worms. Worms that thrive in the stomach of your Yorkie will trigger diarrhea, vomiting, and poor appetite. This is a big problem and must be addressed right away with the help of a veterinarian. Your pooch will be dewormed to flush out the parasites and restore its appetite.

Motion sickness. Is your Yorkie suddenly vomiting after a car ride? Its stomach may be still unsettled due to motion sickness. Let the pooch rest before giving it solid food.

Hard-to-digest food. If the veterinarian ruled out health problems, your Yorkie’s current food might be difficult to digest. It might be time to switch to the best dog foods for Yorkies with sensitive stomachs to solve the issue.

Signs that your Yorkie has a Sensitive stomach

It’s easy to spot a sensitive stomach among dogs. The following are the classic signs of stomach sensitivity across breeds:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Loose stool
• Excessive gas
• Blood in stool
• Hypersalivation
• Poor appetite
• Lethargy and weakness
• Itchy skin

Take note that some of these symptoms are similar to IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, and colitis. If your Yorkie has blood on its stool, consider it an urgent matter. Call the veterinarian and book an appointment.

As for the itchy skin, always check for parasites before jumping into the conclusion that your doggo has a sensitive stomach. If the itchiness is unexplained, your Yorkie may have food allergies to one of the ingredients of its current dog food.

What to do when your Yorkie has a sensitive stomach

So your Yorkie has a sensitive stomach, what now? Well, the first thing you should do is to consult a veterinarian. This will be your starting point in diagnosing what’s going wrong in your dog’s tummy. By pinpointing the cause of the problem, you can work with the vet for a fitting solution.

Most of the time, the solution would be switching your dog to a Limited Ingredient Diet or a more digestible dog food choice. A pet nutritionist can also help here, especially if your dog has other underlying conditions.

When switching your Yorkie to a new dog food, do so gradually per day. Sudden changes to their diet may only cause further sensitivity.

Start by mixing the new food to the old in small amounts. The entire shift should be done over seven days or more.

Observe your dog during the transition. Take note of any adverse reaction, and don’t hesitate to phone the vet if any complications occur.

How to find the best dog foods for sensitive stomach

If you are shopping for the best dog foods for Yorkies with sensitive stomachs, it pays to look for the following:

Consider a L.I.D. dog food

A L.I.D. or Limited Ingredient Diet is a type of dog food with minimal ingredients. By limiting the ingredients, it would be easier to digest. And in case your dog still experiences sensitivity, it would be easier to identify the culprit.

Still, even if limited ingredient diets, dog food has fewer ingredients, it should always be high in quality and highly digestible.

Most of the time, vets will put a dog with a sensitive stomach on a limited ingredient diet. It should help with stomach problems increase body weight if he hasn’t been eating well and make the dog feel good. This will help the pooch recover while getting ample nutrition.

By stripping the dog food with by-products, artificial add-ons, and other non-nutritional ingredients, your Yorkie will have an easier time digesting a limited ingredient diet formula.

Check the protein source

One of the most common causes of stomach sensitivity among dogs is the protein source of their food. Always look for easy-to-digest protein ingredient like the following:

Eggs. According to the USDA, eggs is the most digestible protein source. Aside from that, it’s packed with high protein levels, with one boiled egg containing about 13 grams.

Fish. Next to eggs, fish is another good source of protein. It’s also rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, iodine, and minerals. The bonus part is that dogs find fish irresistible.

Chicken. White meat is easier to digest than beef and other red meat. However, make sure that your Yorkie doesn’t have allergies to chicken.

Invest in quality food

The common problem of cheap dog food is that it’s made of substandard ingredients. It uses fillers, binders, and by-products. Although it tastes good, this dog food lacks nutritional value. Worse, it will cause digestive problems for your dog.

Dogs need complete health dog food, feed your Yorkie the best dog food you can. They also need a good immune system. A good adult dry dog food will contain good ingredients like real chicken, fat, omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. Worse, it will cause digestive problems for your dog.

In the end, you will spend more on vet care than the money you saved on the price of cheap food.

Look for the ‘complete and balanced’ label like

A dog food with a ‘Complete and Balanced’ label means that it has been reviewed by AAFCO and other governing bodies. It means that the dog food has the right levels of nutrients for the specific breed type and size.

Get a small breed formula

Yorkies are small dogs, so it’s just right that you get dog food that’s made for small breeds. If you have other toy breeds You can also choose an all-breed formula if you have multiple dogs at home.

Dog foods suitable for small toy breed has the right protein levels. This will prevent kidney problems among small adult dogs.

Avoid artificial ingredients

Artificial ingredients are often used as binders to the dog food. This doesn’t have any nutritional value, and it makes the dog food more difficult to digest. Excellent dog food should have a natural color and flavor.

Best Food for Yorkies with Sensitive Stomachs – Top 3 Picks!

OUR #1 CHOICE

RUNNERS-UP

Castor & Pollux Ultramix Dry Dog Food

For Yorkies that find it hard to digest grains, the Castor & Pollux Ultramix Dog Food brand is a good choice. It has duck as the first ingredient, which offers high-quality animal protein. This food also has excellent flavor, which will entice even the picky eaters.

Aside from that, it has real bits of fruits and veggies, which is a big plus. This kibble is rich in natural fiber that will help in digestion and stool movement in your dog’s tummy. And with the addition of antioxidants, this dog food also gives an added kick of immunity for your pooch.

What I love the most about this dog food is its grain-free formula. It doesn’t have wheat, corn, or soy to prevent potential allergic reactions.

This is an adult formula that’s also available in chicken flavor. The main ingredients of the duck flavor include turkey meal, chicken, lamb meal, salmon meal, and sweet potatoes. It’s an all-natural dog food that nourishes your pooch from within.

Also, I like that the kibble size is small, which is just perfect for adult Yorkies. It’s also crunchy, which promotes better dental health for doggos like Yorkies with small teeth.

Purina Pro Plan Hydrolyzed Dry Dog Food

For Yorkies with strong allergies to protein sources, the Purina Pro Plan Hydrolyzed Dry Dog Food is what I recommend. It has real chicken liver and hydrolyzed chicken that has animal protein that’s easier to break down.

Since the protein source is hydrolyzed, it reduces the potential allergic reaction. Also, it has a single source of carbohydrate, which is low-allergen corn starch. Overall, this formula is highly digestible and perfect for Yorkies with sensitive tummies.

Aside from that, this dog food contains Vitamin A and zinc to promote a healthier coat for your Yorkie. It also has a dose of Omega-6 fatty acids, folic acid, B-vitamins, and biotin.

Upon switching to this dog food, my Yorkie’s eyes are no longer red, and the scratching also stopped. As for the sensitive stomach, diarrhea and vomiting ceased.

You have the option to get the original unflavored dog food, but it would be difficult on a Yorkie, especially picky ones. Nevertheless, this dog food helps a lot in dogs with IBS and gastrointestinal problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does rice settle the stomach of a Yorkie?

A: Due to the blandness of rice, this food item is suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs. You can pair white rice with boiled chicken to appease diarrhea or vomiting of your pooch while you get new food.

Q: Does ginger help settle a sensitive dog’s stomach?

A: A bit of ginger will help in soothing the stomach of a dog. You can add ginger to canned pumpkin to appease the sensitive stomach of your dog within 48 hours.

Q: Can I give Pepto Bismol to my Yorkie with an upset stomach?

A: Pepto Bismol is an antacid for humans. However, some pet owners administer this to their dogs. While I don’t vouch or swear by this medication, some dog owners saw positive results. However, you should consult a vet first to prevent any health complications on your Yorkie.

Q: What can I give my Yorkie to stop its vomiting?

A: Well-cooked rice and skinless chicken will help in easing the vomiting of your dog. You can also give the pooch canned pumpkin.

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