We evaluated 11 dog foods and found Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy to be the best food for a Yorkie puppy.
Your Yorkshire Terrier puppy may be small in size, but he needs balanced nutrition for lifelong health. Royal Canin provides the nutrition for a long, silky coat, and keeps this spunky little dog stay lively and inquisitive.
Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy food is best for maintaining a healthy weight, which is 4 to 7 pounds for Yorkies. Also, Yorkshire Terriers are prone to pancreatitis. For this reason, Royal Canin has the right amount of fat and calories to help prevent pancreatitis.
Keep reading to learn more about the best foods for Yorkie puppies. All of these recommendations are approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
1. Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy – Best Overall
Royal Canin tailor-made this puppy food for Yorkshire Terrier puppies from 8 weeks to 10 months old. Yorkies have no trouble chewing the small kibble bits, which also help prevent tartar buildup on teeth. Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy food has specially designed kibble that is ideal for your Yorkie’s small mouth, teeth, and muzzle.
However, this U.S. and Canadian-based company, Royal Canin didn’t stop there. They also include wholesome ingredients that help boost your puppy’s immune system with a blend of antioxidants such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Plus, vitamin E and biotin promote healthy hair growth.
The ingredients in Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy have prebiotics, protein, and fiber to promote healthy stools and digestion. The ingredients in this puppy food were scientifically chosen by expert nutritionists. The first 10 ingredients include:
- Chicken meal
- Rice
- Chicken fat
- Corn gluten meal
- Rice flour
- Dried beet pulp
- Natural chicken flavor
- Brown rice
- Wheat gluten meal
- Anchovy oil
Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy food is breed-specific, so you know it meets the nutritional needs of your Yorkie puppy. Many vets and breeders recommend this food. It provides 27 percent protein, 18 percent fat, and 3.5 percent fiber to keep your Yorkie puppy healthy.
2. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy – Best for Healthy Development
Many pet owners today are concerned about dog food that contains corn, soy, and wheat. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy doesn’t have any of these ingredients. It’s a puppy food that supports the overall development of your puppy’s immune system and muscle growth.
Balanced proteins promote lean muscle growth as puppies grow quickly. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy included fish oil for your puppy’s eye and brain development, as well as balanced vitamins and minerals for strong bones and teeth. Veterinarians often recommend Hill’s Science Diet Puppy because of its high-quality, science-developed ingredients made in the USA.
The ingredients in this Hill’s dry puppy food are made up of 29 percent protein, 16 percent fat, and about 47 percent carbohydrates. Here are the first few ingredients:
- Chicken
- Brown rice
- Whole grain oats
- Cracked pearl barley
- Chicken meal
- Pea protein
- Chicken fat
- Flaxseed
- Egg product
- Chicken liver flavor
Also included is a research-based blend of vitamins and minerals. This food is a great source of protein and necessary nutrients for your Yorkie puppy.
3. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed – Best for Small Breeds
Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Chicken and Rice formula meets all the nutritional requirements of small, active dogs. This makes it an ideal food for spunky and energetic Yorkie puppies.
This food is high in protein and fortified with probiotics for your puppy’s developing digestive system and strong immunity. Purina formulated this puppy food with small breeds in mind. It targets their unique needs with chicken as the first ingredient.
The kibble is bite-sized for small puppies, making it easy to chew and digest. It’s enhanced with DHA omega-3 fatty acid for your puppy’s brain and eye development. Purina Pro Plan Puppy is also packed with antioxidants, linoleic acid, and essential vitamins and minerals. All of these supplements promote a strong immune system, digestive health, shiny coat, strong bones, and healthy weight.
The main ingredients include:
- Chicken
- Corn gluten meal
- Brewers rice
- Whole grain wheat
- Animal fat
- Poultry by-product meal
- Corn germ meal
- Dried egg product
- Fish meal
These ingredients are easily digested, contain no artificial flavors, and each serves a nutritional value. With 33 percent high-quality protein, Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed is a quality food for Yorkie puppies.
4. Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy – Best for Everyday Health
Made with all-natural ingredients, Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy gives your puppy complete nutritional support for his whole body.
The nutrients in this dry puppy food contain omega fatty acids, glucosamine for joint health, probiotics and taurine for a healthy heart, and antioxidants.
A group of scientists and veterinarians developed Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy so you can trust this food will give your Yorkie the balanced nutrition he needs for his first year of life. This puppy food offers joint and bone support, healthy digestion, clean teeth, strong immunity, and healthy skin and coat.
This high-protein food is made in the USA and includes the following ingredients:
- Deboned turkey
- Chicken meal
- Oatmeal
- Salmon meal
- Barley
- Brown rice
- Oats
- Chicken fat
- Menhaden fish meal
- Tomatoes
It also contains carrots, spinach, salmon oil, sweet potatoes, blueberries, apples, and balanced vitamins and minerals for optimum health.
5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy – Best for Puppies 2 to 12 Months Old
Blue Buffalo offers real meat as the first ingredient in their puppy food. High-quality protein helps your Yorkie puppy build strong muscles. Life Protection Formula Puppy was developed for the fast growth that puppies have in their first year.
Blue Life Protection for puppies has the same fatty acids that puppies get from their mother’s milk. These build brain function and eye health.
A unique feature of this puppy food is the addition of life-source bits. These are a mixture of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Many Yorkie owners prefer this puppy formula because it doesn’t contain by-products; corn, wheat, or soy.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy supplies your puppy with 27 percent protein, 16 percent fat, and 5 percent fiber. The following lists the first few ingredients in this puppy food:
- Deboned chicken
- Chicken meal
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Barley
- Fish meal
- Peas
- Chicken fat
The ingredient list also includes a balanced blend of vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals. This product is made in the USA.
6. Purina One Smartblend Healthy Puppy – Best for Balanced Nutrition
Purina One Smartblend Healthy Puppy is a unique formulation that supports heart health and muscle growth. The dry puppy food blends healthy grains such as rice and oatmeal along with real chicken for 29 percent of protein.
This puppy-tailored diet is suitable for Yorkie puppies, supplying them with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and balanced nutrition.
The protein source and whole grains in this puppy food include:
- Chicken
- Rice flour
- Corn gluten meal
- Chicken by-product meal
- Whole grain corn
- Soybean meal
- Oatmeal
- Beef fat
Also added to boost your puppy’s vitality are carrots, peas, fish oil, and a blend of vitamin and mineral supplements.
7. American Journey Active Life Formula Puppy – Best for Muscle Growth
Your puppy can have a healthy start to life with the American Journey Active Life Formula. This puppy food contains antioxidants for immune health and omega fatty acids that promote a healthy coat and skin.
If you choose this dry puppy food, it also provides calcium and phosphorous for strong bones and teeth. Nutrient-dense ingredients such as berries, sweet potatoes, and kelp support cognitive function and eye health.
American Journey prepares their puppy formula without corn, soy, wheat, chicken by-products, or artificial flavors.
The following ingredients contribute to 25 percent protein, 15 percent fat, and 5 percent fiber in this puppy food:
- Deboned chicken
- Chicken meal
- Turkey meal
- Brown rice
- Peas
- Rice bran
- Brewers rice
- Chicken fat
- Barley
- Flaxseed
This well-balanced, protein-rich kibble is a good choice for the health and happiness of Yorkie puppies.
8. Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Puppy Recipe – Best for Healthy Joints
Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated recipe has a freeze-dried raw coating on every bite. This exclusive formula of freeze-dried chicken, salmon, and beef provides additional protein to the deboned fish, poultry, and meat in the recipe.
The fiber blend in this dry puppy food is a mixture of brown rice, oatmeal, and barley for gut health and brain function. You’ll never find peas, lentils, or potatoes in this formula.
Also, the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin helps keep your puppy’s joints healthy by building strong cartilage that resists inflammation, tearing, and injuries.
Here are the essential ingredients in Merrick’s Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Puppy recipe:
- Deboned chicken
- Chicken meal
- Brown rice
- Barley
- Oatmeal
- Turkey meal
- Chicken fat
- Dried egg
- Salmon meal
This puppy food is a top choice for Yorkie puppies. It meets all the nutritional needs for your puppy’s age and activity level with 28 percent protein, 16 percent fat, and 3.5 percent fiber.
9. Orijen Grain-Free Puppy – Best for a Grain-Free Diet
It can be confusing trying to decide whether to feed your puppy food with grains or grain-free. If you want to try a whole-prey diet, then Orijen Grain-free Puppy is a nutritious option.
This food has 85 percent animal protein made from fresh or raw meat and organs. It offers your puppy 38 percent protein, 20 percent fat, and 6 percent fiber. It’s also made in the USA, so you know it meets strict dog food standards.
Orijen developed this puppy food as close to a prey-driven raw diet as possible. The first five ingredients in this puppy food are rich meat sources. It also has vitamin and mineral supplements for balanced nutrition.
The following lists the primary animal sources for this puppy food:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Turkey liver, hearts, gizzards
- Flounder
- Mackerel
- Eggs
- Chicken liver
- Herring
This recipe also includes lentils, pinto beans, peas, pollock oil, chickpeas, as well as fruits and vegetables.
If you’re thinking about grain-free puppy food, Orijen Grain-Free Puppy is a healthy option for your puppy.
10. Iams ProActive Small Breed Puppy – Best for Complete Nutrition
Iams has over 60 years of experience developing dog foods, so you know they understand the dietary requirements of your puppy. Iams ProActive Small Breed Puppy food meets all the nutritional needs of Yorkshire puppies.
The puppy formula has smaller kibble than regular puppy food. The wholesome ingredients like chicken, whole grains, and vegetables promote healthy skin and coats. It is balanced and has no fillers or artificial flavors.
The following ingredients provide 30 percent protein, 18 percent fat, and 4 percent fiber:
- Chicken
- Ground whole grain corn
- Chicken by-product meal
- Corn gluten meal
- Dried beet pulp
- Chicken fat
- Ground sorghum
- Natural flavor
- Fish oil
All of these ingredients contribute to your puppy’s healthy immunity, brain and eye development, strong muscles, and overall health. Iams puppy food is made in the USA.
11. Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein – Best for Puppies and Adults
Since Canidae All Life Stages is for puppies and adult dogs of all sizes, it’s suitable for your Yorkie puppy. This food is convenient because you can keep your Yorkshire Terrier on this food throughout his life. The recipe includes all the nutrients your puppy needs for optimal health and well-being.
The most important thing to consider when choosing your puppy food is the ingredients. You’ll notice in the ingredient list that the first and second meat sources are chicken and turkey meals. These concentrated forms of meat offer 300 percent more protein than whole chicken or turkey.
Here’s a summary of the nutrients in Canidae All Life Stages:
- Chicken meal
- Turkey meal
- Brown rice
- Peas
- Oatmeal
- Barley
- Sorghum
- Lentils
- Alfalfa meal
- Chicken fat
- Flaxseed
The complex carbohydrates provided by brown rice don’t add much nutritional value but help your puppy’s digestion. Oatmeal, barley, and sorghum add fiber and B vitamins which help maintain blood glucose levels.
The lentils add plant protein to the formula. Other nutrients in these ingredients are omega-3 and the amino acid taurine for a healthy heart.
Based on the ingredient list, Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food contains plenty of protein and less fat than many other dog foods. This makes it highly recommended for Yorkie puppies and adults.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Food for Yorkie Puppy
With thousands of dog food options, it can be baffling trying to choose the best food for Yorkie puppies. Here are a few tips to help you understand the difference between the ones that are the most nutritious and the ones that just advertise that they are.
Yorkie puppies have nutritional requirements that are different from larger breed puppies. Their diet should be formulated for their small stature and robust activity level. Feeding your Yorkie the right puppy food helps keep him trim, fit, and free from diseases.
Features to Look for in Yorkie Puppy Food
Check the following features before deciding on the puppy food for your Yorkie:
- Calories – Make sure you choose puppy food that doesn’t add unnecessary calories. This can cause weight problems that increase your puppy’s risk of bone and joint damage that influences the rest of his life. Weighing your Yorkie puppy every month and keeping a weight chart, you’ll know if the puppy food has too many calories. The calories per cup are listed on the back of the puppy food bag. If your puppy is gaining weight, select food with fewer calories. Keep in mind that it might not be the puppy food that’s causing weight gain but the amount that you’re feeding your puppy.
- Kibble Size – Yorkie puppies have small teeth and muzzles, so make sure you choose food with small-shaped kibble. This makes it easier for your puppy to chew and digest.
- Nutrition Label – When reading the puppy food label, look for the Nutritional Adequacy statement. This is the AAFCO label. This means the food has all the nutrient requirements for your puppy. If the label says that the food is for supplemental use, then it doesn’t have balanced nutrients.
Be Aware of Problems with Puppy Food
Problems to look for in puppy foods are not just about nutrition. They also involve the dog food manufacturers. Just because a company says their puppy food is nutritious, that’s not always the case. Here are a few problems to think about before buying puppy food:
- Imbalanced nutrition – Nutritional imbalance can cause malformed bones, anemia, heart disease, and a dull coat in a growing puppy. They grow so fast during their first year, they require a special nutritional balance to stay healthy.
- Disreputable Dog Food Company – The first thing you want to think about is the nutritional experience and reputation of the dog food manufacturer. If you do a little digging, you can find out if the dog food company employs a qualified nutritionist certified in Veterinary Nutrition. Another consideration is the quality control of the manufacturer. You want to ensure that your puppy’s food is safe and nutritious. They should conduct testing for pathogens, nutrient analysis, and supplier qualifications. Also, make sure it has AAFCO approval.
Yorkie Puppy Owners Reviews of Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Food
Yorkie puppy owners are the best people to find out about the best puppy food for Yorkies.
Case #1
One lady received a Yorkie puppy for Christmas. The puppy wouldn’t eat the food that the breeder suggested. After much research on puppy foods, she chose Royal Canin. Her Yorkie puppy loved it. The kibble was just the right size, and her Yorkie’s coat became smooth and shiny.
Case #2
This Yorkie mom tried four brands of puppy food, including canned food. Her puppy still wouldn’t eat. He was getting thinner by the day. In desperation, she ordered Royal Canin Puppy food. The first time she served it with a mix of three puppy foods. Her Yorkie picked out the Royal Canin and left the others behind.
What Is the Best Food for Yorkie Puppy?
Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy food is the best food for Yorkie puppies since it is specifically created with Yorkies in mind. A well-balanced puppy food like Royal Canin will help your playful puppy to thrive.
You can find Royal Canin Yorkshire Puppy Food and the other suggested puppy foods at Chewy.com.
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