Best Dog Food for Yorkies: Tailored Nutrition for Tiny Dogs

Discussing a topic such as Best Dog Food for Yorkshire Terriers is crucial for every pet owner out there. Better read on and be informed.

The Yorkshire Terrier, also commonly called a “Yorkie” is a toy breed that originated in Northern England. The breed was developed by the Scottish to aid in ridding mills and mines of rodents.

While their long, human-like hair was the butt of many jokes by the mill workers, the breed continued to gain popularity.

Yorkies made their way to America in the early 1870s and were officially recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1886, a year after the AKC recognized their first Yorkshire Terrier, Belle, in 1885.

The size of the dog continued to decrease to be more popular with housewives and ladies of the day until it reached the toy status size it is known for today.

Why Quality Food Matters

Clean water is essential and should always be made available. When it comes to food, though, the Yorkshire Terrier is prone to overeating and gaining too much weight.

The breed is very active by nature but has no problems leading a sedentary life as a lap dog if allowed. Calorie intake should be monitored.

With a higher-quality (or even human grade) food, the calories are kept to a minimum if proper portion control is maintained. Treats can (and should) be offered as a reward or for training. However, too many treats can add to the overweight problem.

 

Best Dog Food for Yorkies

Let’s dive into the best brands of dog food for the Yorkie breed. Each recommendation below is based on the ages of the dog and the nutritional concerns of the breed.

1. Ollie Lamb with Cranberries

Ollie makes human grade dog food with only sourced ingredients from reputable farmers. They are wholesome, fresh and contain very few ingredients.

Featured here is a vet-formulated meal designed to provide optimal nutrition for dogs of all life stages. Made with real lamb as the primary protein source, this recipe delivers essential amino acids to help maintain strong muscles and overall health.

Wholesome ingredients like cranberries and butternut squash add natural sweetness and provide a boost of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants to support immune function and digestion.

Crafted with 100% human-grade ingredients, this nutritious meal is slow-cooked in small batches to preserve flavor and maximize nutrient retention.

Every bite is packed with whole foods, ensuring a fresh and exciting mealtime experience that nourishes from the inside out. Free from artificial additives and fillers, this food offers a balanced, high-quality diet that dogs love and pet parents can trust.

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2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Chicken & Brown Rice

This is specially crafted to meet the unique nutritional needs of small breed dogs, perfect for Yorkies!

Made with high-quality real chicken as the first ingredient, this protein-rich recipe helps support strong muscles and an active lifestyle.

Wholesome brown rice and whole grains provide a steady source of energy, while a precise blend of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants helps support overall health and well-being.

This formula is enriched with DHA and ARA, vital nutrients naturally found in mother’s milk, to promote cognitive function and retinal development, ensuring your furry companion stays sharp and alert.

Carefully balanced with Blue Buffalo’s exclusive LifeSource Bits—a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals—this nutrient-dense food supports a healthy immune system and oxidative balance.

Free from poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives, it offers a wholesome, delicious, and complete diet to keep your small dog thriving.

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3. Nature’s Recipe Small-Breed Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

A food that is expertly crafted to provide balanced nutrition tailored for small breed dogs. Made with real chicken as the first ingredient, this protein-packed recipe helps support strong muscles and sustained energy levels.

Wholesome sweet potatoes and pumpkin serve as natural sources of fiber, promoting healthy digestion and gentle nutrient absorption.

Enriched with taurine, this formula also supports heart health, while a blend of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids nourishes the skin and promotes a shiny, healthy coat.

Antioxidant-rich zinc and vitamin E work to strengthen the immune system, helping your furry friend stay active and resilient. The perfectly sized kibble is designed for small mouths, making mealtime both enjoyable and easy to chew.

Free from grains, corn, wheat, and artificial flavors or preservatives, it delivers a delicious and wholesome diet to keep your small breed companion happy, healthy and thriving.

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4. Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato

This is specially crafted to meet the nutritional needs of small breed dogs. Real deboned chicken is the first ingredient, providing a high-quality source of protein to help maintain strong muscles and energy levels.

This grain-free, gluten-free recipe is gentle on sensitive stomachs, making it an excellent choice for pups with dietary sensitivities.

Fortified with probiotics, it supports healthy digestion and nutrient absorption, while high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin help promote strong joints and mobility.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids nourish the skin and coat, ensuring a soft, shiny appearance. The perfectly sized kibble is designed for small mouths and works to clean teeth and freshen breath with every bite.

Free from artificial preservatives, flavors, and fillers, this kibble provides a delicious and wholesome meal that keeps your small breed companion happy, healthy and thriving.

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5. AvoDerm  Sensitive Support Turkey Formula

The AvoDerm brand has a unique name that highlights one of the ingredients they make sure to include in every recipe – avocado.

Not only is avocado rich in healthy fats, but it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help support your dog’s balanced nutrition.

Their foods are made with premium ingredients like real meat proteins, wholesome grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure the quality of your pet’s nutrition.

This Limited Ingredient Diet (LID) formula is specifically designed for dogs weighing under 20 lbs. Each small kibble piece is grain-free and features real turkey as the sole animal protein source.

It also includes a special fiber blend to promote smooth digestion. Plus, it’s enriched with omega fatty acids to help support dogs with sensitive skin!

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6. Chicken Soup Adult Dog Small Bites Recipe

If you’re looking for a small-breed formula for your Yorkie, this small bites recipe is a good choice. Made with chicken, turkey, chicken meal and turkey meal, this is a protein-rich recipe that is also full of natural flavor.

This kibble is thoughtfully crafted to provide complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs, especially those who prefer smaller kibble sizes.

Real chicken and turkey are the first two ingredients, delivering high-quality protein to support strong muscles and maintain energy levels.

This wholesome recipe is enriched with a blend of antioxidants and superfoods, including apples, blueberries, and spinach, to promote overall well-being and a strong immune system.

To support healthy digestion, it contains prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root, which aids in gentle digestion and nutrient absorption.

Wholesome brown rice and whole grains provide sustained energy, while omega fatty acids help nourish the skin and coat.

Free from wheat, corn, soy, and artificial preservatives, this small bites offers a natural, delicious and nutrient-packed meal that helps your furry companion thrive at every stage of adulthood.

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7. American Journey Premium Loaf Chicken & Turkey

Chicken and turkey loaf offer plenty of nourishment for poultry-mad doggies. Together, the two provide much of the protein content in this meal, reaching 9% minimum.

There’s also liver for a richer and more savory taste, not to mention it’s a good source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

The fat is listed at 6% minimum, crude fiber at 1.5% max, and moisture is at 78% maximum. It’s mostly the same nutrition content as the Premium Loaf Beef flavor, except for the caloric count, which is lower at 426 kcal/12 oz can.

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8. Merrick Grammy's Pot Pie

This flavorful variety of canned dog food is inspired by homemade chicken pot pie, just like Grammy used to make. All of the wholesome ingredients in wet food are sourced and processed in the US.

Talking about pot pie evokes picturesque images and savory smells coming from a cozy kitchen. Every pot pie includes everything you love in a complete meal: wholesome meats and tasty vegetables. This recipe for dogs includes those same key ingredients in a form that your pet will adore!

It is prepared with irresistible ingredients like chicken, red jacket new potatoes, carrots, peas and red apples. Each mouth-watering can of dog food contains home-style chunks of that your dog is sure to enjoy.

Made with zero artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Merrick canned dog food is locally sourced to ensure the highest quality. The food is made in Merrick's US-based five-star kitchen and manufacturing facilities that uphold FDA food preparation guidelines.

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9. Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Small & Toy Breed

Iams small breed puppy formula is perfect for the baby Yorkie in your life. The farm-raised chicken helps spur growth, keep up metabolism and aids in reducing skin irritations.

Packed with 22 key nutrients, including those found in mother’s milk, it delivers essential vitamins and minerals to support brain development, immune health and overall well-being during this critical growth stage.

This wholesome formula is designed with small, bite-sized kibble for easy chewing while promoting dental health. Free from fillers, every ingredient serves a purpose, ensuring your puppy gets the highest-quality nutrition in every bite.

For a Yorkshire Terrier pup, there isn’t much better. With this puppy food, you can provide your growing pup with a well-balanced, nutrient-dense meal to help them thrive from the very start.

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10. Nutro Ultra Holistic Superfood Blend

Specially crafted to meet the unique nutritional needs of aging dogs, providing a balanced and delicious meal that supports overall health and vitality.

This premium recipe features a trio of high-quality proteins—chicken, lamb, and salmon—along with a blend of 14 superfoods, including blueberries, chia seeds, kale, and coconut, to deliver essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin help support joint health and mobility, keeping senior dogs active and comfortable as they age.

Carefully crafted with non-GMO ingredients, this wholesome formula is free from artificial preservatives, flavors, colors and common fillers like corn, wheat, or soy.

Senior Yorkies can have a myriad of bone issues, and Nutro has ingredients that address these specific needs.

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Yorkie Common Health Issues

Yorkshire Terriers, like any other dog breed, will have health issues. Some are common to the breed while others are common to the species. We will cover each one here, so you know what to be aware of.

Sensitive Digestive Tract – One of the most common concerns with Yorkies is their sensitive or delicate digestive tract. When these dogs get food outside their normal diet, it can quickly and easily cause diarrhea or vomiting. The best treatment is prevention.

To help curb the Yorkies tendencies, you should maintain a diet that is high in protein and nutrients. High-quality food appropriate for the dog's age (puppy, adult, senior) will keep them at the food bowl instead of finding things in the yard.

While all dogs, including Yorkies, will at times eat something they shouldn’t, offering their food at regular intervals and keeping their water bowls full with fresh, clean water will help curb the appetite and need to find food elsewhere.

 

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) – Hypoglycemia is arguably the most common health problem with the small breed. The low blood sugar is most commonly seen in new-born puppies before the age of six months, as well as in adult Yorkies who are pregnant or have a liver condition.

Yorkshire Terriers that suffer from low blood sugar will often exhibit symptoms. These can include being sluggish, fainting, being weak or constantly sleeping. If you think your dog has hypoglycemia, you should have them checked out at the veterinarian.

Rubbing a sugary substance on the gums for quick absorption can help in the short term. Honey is usually recommended, though you can also use syrup or orange juice. Proper nutrition is crucial to prevent low blood sugar, and a high-quality diet will give your dog everything he or she needs.

While you can’t feed puppy food to a dog under eight weeks, the first six months are important to start a healthy diet and maintain good eating habits. Foods rich in proteins like chicken or turkey along with vegetables and vitamins should be the choices sought out.

Portosystemic Shunt – A portosystemic shunt is a liver condition that is caused by an issue with the portal vein. In essence, the vein closes down preventing blood flow to the liver. When this happens, the liver won’t do its job of clearing the blood of toxins.

You may hear this condition called liver shunt, but it is the same thing. It is believed that this is a hereditary issue and not every bloodline will suffer from it. Once the liver shunt does occur though, surgery is the only option.

Prevention can be aided with proper nutrition. Though this isn’t the only method, and it isn’t a fix. If the dog is predisposed to the condition, there isn’t much you can do. Controlling the diet, along with antibiotics will help if the condition takes hold.

This diet should include a lot of proteins and a lot of vitamins and minerals. Check your food labels for the dietary needs or see our recommendations below.

Pancreatitis – Pancreatitis is one of the common ailments that can be prevented the easiest. Pancreatitis will cause bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, and even diarrhea. The most common listed cause is a poor diet.

Diets rich in fats, low proteins, and non-soluble fiber can all lead to obesity, which can also lead to pancreatitis. Prevention is the best medicine, and it all starts with a well-balanced diet. You want a high protein (chicken, beef or turkey), low-fat diet.

Look for foods with added vitamins and minerals that will aid in digestion and prevent the dog from storing fat. If you suspect the Yorkie has pancreatitis, you should seek the help and advice of your veterinarian. They will be able to properly diagnose the condition as well as offer help on what you can do differently to treat the disease.

Allergies – Yorkshire Terriers are known to be susceptible to a lot of different allergens. Skin allergies are the most common, though respiratory conditions can develop as well. While the dog’s fur is hypoallergenic and good for humans, the dog itself is highly susceptible to food allergies as well as skin irritants.

When it comes to food, fish, egg and most seafood are common triggers. You should also stay away from foods that contain added colors, as these color dyes can cause an allergic reaction. By purchasing higher-quality foods, you can avoid most of these food-borne allergens, thus preventing any attack.

You should also watch out for air born pollutants such as cigarette smoke and musty or moldy air from contaminated air vents.

What to Look For in a Quality Dog Food & What to Avoid

We know about the things to avoid in dog food to help prevent allergies, pancreatitis and other conditions. But what should you look for to have in the dog food? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of possible ingredients. What should you make sure your dog food includes?

Read the Label – The first line of information will come on the ingredients label. There are several factors you should know when looking here, though. First, it is required that all companies supply contact information on the label.

Do not be afraid to call to find out more detail about their ingredients. Next, the ingredient list is required to list everything in the bag or can in descending order. That means the first listed item is a more prominent ingredient and the amount of each item gets less as they go down the list. The first ingredient listed should always be a type of meat.

Be wary of labels that just list “meat” as this can be any type of meat. You should see chicken, beef or pork listed first. Sometimes other meats are used, like turkey, fish or seafood. However, for the Yorkshire Terrier and their allergy concerns, you should stay clear of egg, fish, and seafood, just in case.

From there, the ingredients should be things you recognize, names you can pronounce and be void of additives like colors and dyes. If you see colors and dyes, you should avoid the purchase, since these can trigger allergies in Yorkies.

Proteins are important for the Yorkie, and most of their protein intake should come from meat proteins. Wheat is a common protein added to dog food to boost their ability to say they have a lot. While this is true, grain proteins aren’t very beneficial to the breed.

You won’t be able to tell how much protein is from meat and how much is from grain just by looking at the label. However, a good indication is to look at the ingredient list and study what follows the meat item. If it is followed by four or five grains, you can be pretty confident that the majority of the protein is a grain protein.

Water Content and Fat – The ingredients aren’t the only thing to make a note of. Items listed will tell you more about the foods if you know what you are reading. For example, moisture content is weighed, meaning it can add to the content of that ingredient without proving more of it.

Chicken, as an example, is meat that is high in water content and therefore weighs more. By using chicken as the main ingredient, the company can use less meat and more grain and still be able to list chicken first, since it weighs more.

Ingredients with high moisture content, such as chicken, aren’t bad for your dog, but it is how the manufacturer uses these ingredients. Fat content is also high in water content, and this can be bad for your Yorkie. High fat leads to obesity, which we noted in the previous section, is a major concern.

You will need some fats, of course, which are essential to any diet. Crude fat, for example, is a measurement of the amount of fat left over after the ingredient is dissolved in a test fluid. Labels are required to list the amount of crude fat (as well as crude protein, crude fiber, and water measurements).

When searching for the right dog for your Yorkie, you should stick to meat proteins (instead of soy or bean), and if the chicken is the main ingredient, the moisture content in dry dog food should be less than 12 percent.

Wet dog food can have a maximum of 78 percent moisture content (though there are ways around this as well). It is natural for higher water content, due to the nature of wet dog food. Stews, soups, and gravy on the label allow for a higher water content than the 78 percent maximum

Grain proteins are okay as well, as long as there is more meat protein than grain. For the Yorkie breed, wheat grain is a good option, but you should avoid soy or bean proteins as they can cause digestive issues or allergies. Grain proteins though should never be the main ingredient.

Meat Byproducts – If you ever see “byproduct” listed next to a meat source, you should put the bag down and move on. Meat byproduct is a mixture of meat products that come from unknown sources.

The term byproduct is coined to tell consumers the proteins aren’t suitable for human consumption. Canines, on the other hand, can. As a rule, if you wouldn’t eat the ingredient, neither should your dog.

Meat byproducts include muscle and bone proteins from chicken, beef, pork, and even fish. However, the rest of the meat in the mix is unknown. Expired meat from the grocer, road kill meats, diseased meats and meat from dead animals have all been found in the byproduct manufacturing process.

Most aren’t even cleaned or filtered. It isn’t uncommon for shipments of expired meats from grocery stores to arrive, still packaged and be tossed in, whole, to the mix.

Brands That are Common Offenders

There are several brands you should look to avoid because of their ingredient list alone. Some of these are well-known and trusted brands, but as we learn more and more about proper nutrition for our dogs, their ingredient lists continue to fail.

Beneful by Purina – Beneful is one of the highest offenders when it comes to their ingredients. While they do use chicken, they also use a lot of meat byproducts. Because 4-D meat is not suitable for human consumption, you won’t run into it in your food’s ingredient lists.

However, it does qualify for canine consumption and as many such manufactures, such as Purina, use it. Beneful also uses a lot of colors and dyes, which should be avoided at all costs by Yorkies.

Ol’ Roy – Ol’ Roy is a Walmart brand dog food and is priced to sell. However, there are no meat proteins at all found in the food. Not even meat byproducts. Instead, corn and grain are listed first followed by a lot of questionable ingredients.

Citric acid, which is used in the food as a preservative, can cause digestive irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Feeding your Yorkie Ol’ Roy has been compared, by veterinarians, as giving your child a diet of Snickers bars and dark cola. There are no redeeming ingredients, and it is just a stomach filler, which doesn’t last long or provides nutritional content for your dog.

Yorkshire Terrier Feeding Chart

The amount you feed your Yorkie is as important as what you feed your dog. While no two dogs will have the same feeding schedules or food amounts, the general rule for an adult Yorkie is ½ to ¾ cup of dry dog food per day.

This feeding amount should be split between two feeding times. You shouldn’t just keep the bowl full and accessible all day. Instead, place the ¼ to ½ cup of food int eh bowl and leave it for about an hour. Remove the bowl until the next feeding time when you add the remainder of the daily scoop.

You need to check for overeating and weight gain. These conditions can cause a lot of health problems for a Yorkshire Terrier and are easily avoided.

The size, weight and activity level of your Yorkie will also determine how much you feed them. Younger, thinner and more active dogs will need more food, while more lethargic “lap dogs” will need less.

If you feel you are feeding too much or not enough, have your Yorkie checked out by the vet and bring examples of how much the dog is eating on a daily basis. The vet will be able to tell you how much more (or less) is okay for the dog based on the examination.

Bottomline

Choosing the best dog food for your Yorkie is essential for their overall health, longevity and happiness.

With their small size and big personality, Yorkies require nutrient-dense meals that support their energy levels, delicate digestion, skin and coat health and dental well-being.

Whether you opt for grain-free formulas, high-protein options, or recipes enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids, selecting a high-quality diet tailored to their unique needs can make all the difference.

By prioritizing wholesome ingredients, essential nutrients, and breed-specific benefits, you can ensure your Yorkie thrives at every stage of life—because they deserve nothing but the best.