Yorkshire Terrier Homemade Food Guide: Best Yorkie Recipes & Nutrition Advice

This is the ultimate guide to learning how to prepare the best homemade food for Yorkies (aka Yorkshire Terriers).

There’s nothing more important than making sure your Yorkshire Terrier is getting the best nutrition they need to be healthy and strong! One way to ensure your Yorkie is getting what he or she needs is by making homemade meals and avoid traditional dog kibble. You’ll learn why this is vital in a second.

Our Yorkshire Terrier homemade food guide covers the risks, benefits, breed-specific nutritional advice, best Yorkie homemade recipes, and everything in between so you can cook the perfect meal plan for your tiny furry friend. Let’s get started!

Yorkie Homemade Dog Food Benefits

Home cooking for Yorkies may provide several benefits.

• Healthy eating habits
• Quality control
• More affordable
• Healthier
• Portion size control
• Fresh ingredients
• Dietary requirements can be met

Board-certified veterinary nutritionists and diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, MS, Ph.D., and Joe Bartges, DVM, Ph.D., also agree that switching to homemade dog food comes with great advantages such as diet management, appeasing picky eaters, bond-building, combatting food intolerance and allergies issues, and avoid concern over food recalls¹.

Further benefits include preventing many conditions associated with a poor diet, such as obesity, poor skin, coat condition, pancreatitis, diabetes, and reduced immunity.

Food & Yorkshire Terrier Health: Why Feed Homemade?

Yorkshire Terriers are generally healthy dogs, but there are important aspect of nutrition and its effect on this breed’s health you should be mindful of.

Yorkies are sensitive to certain foods, which can manifest as skin allergies. Unfortunately, kibble tends to be a common allergen due to all the chemical preservatives, artificial coloring, and fillers it contains.

Allergies in Yorkies can cause skin irritation, hair loss, dandruff, and other skin and coat issues. Oftentimes parallel symptoms occur, including upset stomach, gastrointestinal problems, nasal and eye congestion. Some Yorkies have even been known to react to tap water with high mineral content².

Another common condition in young, small-breed dogs, like your Yorkies, is Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar³. Owners of Yorkies whose dogs suffer from this condition should feed small meals (3 to 4) throughout the day to keep glucose levels stable. It’s advised to have a glucose source readily available. In an emergency situation, you should dab sugar water on or under the tongue. 

Dental disease is common in this breed due to their small jaws and overcrowded teeth propensity⁵. Despite advertisements and popular misconceptions, dry dog food will not help to clean your dog’s teeth. On the contrary, it will cause dental disease in dogs. Kibble is highly processed and contains substances that actually fuel inflammation in the dog’s body, including mouth tissues. Most kibbles are starchy and full of fillers that break down to sugar, which contributes to plaque and bacteria⁴.

This breed tends to get overweight easily due to its small size. Sadly, obese Yorkies are at higher risk of more health problems. According to WebMD, Yorkies have a genetic predisposition to suffer from tracheal collapse. What makes it scarier is that obesity increases the risk of this condition⁶. Moreover, Yorkshire Terriers experience a number of different musculoskeletal problems including luxating patella, intervertebral disc disease, legg-perthes, and other joint problems^3,7,8. Know that obesity can significantly stress a dog’s joints and skeletal structure, aggravating a pre-existing condition or even cause them over time⁹. This is why it’s crucial to maintain a healthy weight in Yorkies.

Heart disease is another health concern that hunts Yorkies. They are among the top 20 breeds that are prone to congenital heart disease¹⁰. Further research shows that alternative dog diets (grain-free, legume-rich) lead to canine heart problems¹¹. Obesity can increase the probability of heart disease. In fact, the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois has seen cases of diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Yorkshire Terriers linked to boutique diets such as grain-free and exotic ingredients-based diets¹².

Finally, about 3% of Yorkies may suffer from portosystemic shunt (liver shunt)¹⁴. A condition that basically doesn’t allow the liver to detox properly or process proteins as it should. Affected dogs, experience toxins build up and can affect the brain and central nervous system eventually. Often, dogs suffering from liver disease do extremely well on a low-protein, clean diet, and high-fat diet.

Pancreatitis is one of the most common and severe diseases that affect Yorkies. It refers to an inflammation of the pancreas and it’s brought on mostly by a high-fat diet. When feed overly processed dog foods, dogs have trouble digesting them because they lack natural enzymes that aid in digestion. Because of this, the pancreas must produce an abundance of digestive enzymes, which is taxing. Commonly prescribed drugs like prednisone are also known to cause this condition.

How Can A Homemade Diet Help Yorkies With All of This?

A balanced homemade meal can minimize and reduce the changes of Yorkies experiencing diet related health issues.

Fresh homemade diets help avoid food allergens and harmful chemicals found in kibbles. These include additives, preservatives, and other detrimental ingredients that may trigger allergies in your Yorkie.

With homemade recipes, you control what your dog eats. You can pick the best quality and healthiest ingredients to keep your Yorkie healthy and allergy-free. We highly advise doing an At-Home Food Dog Allergy Test before selecting the ingredients for their next meal if you are unsure about the ingredients that may cause sensitivities or allergies in your pet.

Homemade dog food is highly digestible. This means nutrients can be more easily absorbed by your dog’s body which means minerals, vitamins, and amino acids act quicker in decreasing inflammatory responses helping prevent or relieve allergies.

When it comes to dental health, the less processed dog food, the better. Fresh, homemade foods are also less inclined to stick to teeth the way hard, crunchy kibble does. It also promotes better breath. Feed Yorkies the healthiest diet you can and implement good dental care practices to keep dental problems at bay.

Obesity in Yorkies should be avoided. A Yorkshire Terrier puts more stress on their bones and joints, which can exacerbate skeletal problems like luxating patella, intervertebral disc disease, or other mentioned above. Unlike kibble, homemade dog food allows you to calibrate the amounts of vegetables, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals per meal. If you notice your Yorkie is putting some weight, you can easily reduce the carb and fat intake and provide above-average protein (29%) to help them reach a healthy weight and put less stress on their joints. Studies also show that dogs maintaining their ideal body weight live almost 2.5 years longer (and with significantly fewer diseases) than their overweight siblings. In the studies, overweight Yorkies lived 13.5 years while normal weight Yorkies reached 16.3 years of age¹³.

For heart problems, homemade meals provide an excellent source of a heart-healthy diet by removing unnecessary chemicals found in commercially available dog food.

Lastly, freshly made dog food can help with either Portosystemic Shunt and Pancreatis by allowing you to customize a specific diet that caters to the dietary needs of these conditions and your dog gets highly digestible food that’s not taxing on the liver or the pancreas thank to its high bioavailability.

Yorkie Homemade Dog Food Risks

These are potential risks of cooking for your Yorkshire Terrier you need to avoid.

• Not understanding the nutritional needs of Yorkies
• Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
• Not preparing a balanced meal
• Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
• Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
• Not understanding your dog’s life stages (puppies, adults & senior) nutritional needs
• Neglecting your dog’s health conditions

A study by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary found that most homemade dog food recipes are lacking key essential nutrients, and other recipes used dangerously high levels of some nutrients.

Even more shocking, research published in The Journal of Nutritional Science concluded 48% of dog homemade diets had an imprecise determination of ingredients and quantities and that 71.3 % of dog owners did know how much food to serve per meal. What’s more alarming is that 30.4% of the pet parents admitted to purposely changing the recipe, 40% of owners didn’t measure the proportions of the ingredients well enough, and 28.3% didn’t use any of the recommended vitamins, minerals, or amino acid.

Cooking for dogs is not something you should take lightly, if you do, it can have repercussions on your dog’s health. It’s adviced to speak with a veterinary nutritionist. Your vet should be able to provide you with trusted recipes, guide you on your Yorkshire Terrier’s nutritional needs, and/or recommend a homemade dog food delivery service.

Yorkie Nutritional Guidelines to Follow

If you are making homemade food for Yorkies, make sure it contains the 6 essential nutrients recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. (AAFCO). AFFCO is the entity regulating dog food nutritional value in commercial dog food. These nutrients are required in order to support life and function in dogs.

A Yorkshire Terrier meal plan should also consider your dog’s health status, activity level, size, breed-specific needs, and weight.

Nutrient	Food	Description
Protein	Chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, yogurt and cooked eggs	Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more.
Carbohydrates	Oats, brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat	Source of energy for dogs and supplies glucose needed by the brain, nervous system and other critical organs for normal function.
Fat	From meats and oils such as olive or sunflower oil, fish oil, canola oils among others	Responsible for providing quality energy. Necessary for the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, muscles, and body tissues
Minerals	Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.	Common functions include the formation of bone and cartilage, nerve and muscle function, fluid balance regulation, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream and hormone production.
Water	Water	Hydration is critical in dogs. A dog that loses too much water (10% to 15% of the water in his body) can get very sick and even die. Ensure they have water available throughout the day.
Vitamins	A, B, C, D, E, and K	Keeps skin and coat healthy, strengthens bones and teeth, and gives them the overall energy that they need to function.

Never feed your Yorkies a diet that promotes obesity. Avoid cooked bones, table scraps, foods with high-fat content, or too many treats.

Since it’s common for homemade dog food to lack one or more of these nutrients, using a multivitamin supplement like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews can help your pup get a balanced diet.

Be sure to speak with your veterinarian. Vets can help you create an individualized diet for your dog. If you need more help, check out Home Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, Ph.D. He’s an expert in veterinary medicine and pet nutrition. His book is considered the bible for dog nutrition by many vets.

Health Dietary Changes In Yorkies

You can manage food-related conditions in Yorkies through diet adjustments.

Feeding a fresh homemade meal and implementing the nutritional changes listed below can help battle these conditions.

Condition	Dietary Needs & Adjustments
Coat Color Changes	Increase amino acids which can be found in protein (>75 grams per 1000 calories)
Concurrent GI Signs	Avoid foods with tryptamine and histamine such as dairy or fermented vegetables and meats (yes, this includes bacon); try a simple ingredient food trial
Chronic Itching and Dermatitis	Fortify the diet with Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Zinc, omega-6 and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil; add a dog probiotic; try a simple ingredient food trial
Dull Coat and Scaling	Adjust EPA and DHA levels in the diet (added fish oil being the most common way); try a food that has added zinc
Dandruff and Crustiness	Add Zinc and Vitamin A levels

Another great tip for Yorkies with coat and skin issues is to add a couple of squirts of dog-specific fish oil to your dog’s meals. The American Kennel Club says fish oil promotes a silky coat, reduces itchy and flaky skin, and can help relieve allergies and joint pain. It can even help strengthen their immune system, heart health and could help them fight canine cancer.

Yorkie Calorie Requirements

Dog caloric needs are based on their weight. An adult Yorkshire Terrier usually weighs between 7 and 10 pounds, so most Yorkies would need to eat between 268 and 346 calories per day.

Make sure you follow the 10% rule when feeding treats to your dog. Food would equal 90% of the total calories and treats the remaining 10%.

For instance, if a Yorkie weighs 8 pounds. Then, he would need 293 calories per day. If you feed him treats, then that’s 264 calories in food (90%) and 29 in treats (10%). Usually, full-grown dogs eat 2 meals per day, so split 293 into two meals of 146 calories each. You can use this calculator to find their exact caloric needs for your Yorkie based on his own weight.

Pregnant Yorkies can need up to 2 times the amount of food they would normally have as the mother’s energy requirements increase after delivery and during lactation. It’s important you speak to your vet if this is your case.

Homemade Dog Food For Yorkie Puppies

Yorkie puppies are small dogs and their calorie intake is different than an adult Yorkie.

Puppies need higher levels of protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorus when compared to adult dogs. Too few (or too many) of these can cause deficiencies, stunt growth, or lifelong complications.

The National Research Council recommends puppies get around twice as many calories as do their adult counterparts of the same breed. Most people worry that they need to change their puppy’s calorie and food amount every day because they’re constantly growing. That’s not necessarily true. “To promote normal growth, most puppies need to be fed the same number of calories, and food, from about 4 months of age to 12 months of age,” says veterinary nutritionist Dr. Justin Shmalberg DVM, from Nom Nom.

Yorkshire Terrier puppies should eat 3 to 4 times a day. When your puppy is a bit older (12 months & up) you can switch to 2 meals daily at scheduled intervals.

During puppy development, it’s not advised to skip a meal to encourage proper growth and development. A puppy’s diet needs to be comprised of a proper balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, water, and vitamins, as outlined in AFFCO’s guidelines earlier.

Homemade Dog Food Delivery Service

Making homemade food for your Yorkie offers by far the best nutrition available for dogs.

However, if you feel overwhelmed with dog nutrition, balancing ingredients, counting nutrients, and all the hassles involved in preparing a balanced diet for your canine friend, then a homemade dog food delivery service is the best option.

The Farmer’s Dog delivers vet-formulated, fresh-prepared homemade dog food tailored to your dog’s unique dietary needs straight to your door. You can tell them all about your Yorkie’s allergies, nutritional goals, obesity issues, or any other concern, and the Farmer’s Dog will cook and personalize your dog’s meals to meet your dog’s requirements.

If you want the best homemade food for Yorkies, The Farmer’s Dog only uses real, human-grade, all-natural ingredients (meats, veggies, grains, etc.) and cooks their recipes in human-grade kitchens and packages them as daily portions for easy serving.

This is real food, just like the food you eat but formulated for dogs. They never use fillers, additives and or process their ingredients to be shelf-stable. All recipes are made from scratch to provide the healthiest, cleanest diet and ensure ingredients keep all their nutritional integrity, unlike traditional kibble.

Moreover, board-certified veterinary nutritionists ensure each recipe complies with AAFCO standards. They only source from reputable food suppliers, local farms, and other human food purveyors that meet USDA standards.

Our readers have access to save 50% off their first The Farmer’s Dog order. No code needed, just use this link and the discount will be applied!

Learn more about The Farmer’s Dog in our in-depth review article

Yorkshire Terrier Homemade Food Tips

Before revealing our favorite Yorkshire Terrier homemade food recipes, follow these recommendations when cooking for him.

1. Set a consistent feeding schedule.
2. Feed your Yorkie two times a day (puppies under 12 months, 3 to 4 times a day, check with your veterinarian).
3. Meal prep weekly or monthly.
4. Measure and control portion sizes depending on your dog’s calorie needs.
5. Keep meals frozen for 2 to 3 months or refrigerated for about 5 days.
6. Make a new batch when the food supply is getting low.
7. If you want to feed different recipes, you can make multiple batches and color code by ingredients, rotating out the different meals.
8. Prepare the food in bulk and portion it into containers (one container per meal makes it extra-easy).
9. Increase portions appropriately as your puppy grows.
10. Monitor weight to make sure you are feeding the proper amount of calories.

How To Cook Homemade Food For Yorkies ( Video)

Watch this video to learn how to make make homemade Yorkies among other tips.

Best Yorkie Homemade Dog Food Recipes

We’ve compiled the very best homemade dog food recipes for Yorkies so you can spoil your pooch with top meals every night.

We’ve also added a special treat recipe for Yorkies that is not only delightful and tasty but it’s packed with awesome health benefits. We kid you not; this recipe can do a lot for your pup’s health and wellness. It has our favorite secret ingredient, dog CBD oil.

Note: Please consult with your pet’s veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your dog’s diet. The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and health of your dog. A common recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.

CBD-Infused Dog Treat | Pork & Beef Veggie Mix | | Macaroni, Quinoa Turkey Recipe | Turkey & Vegetable Dinner

---

CBD-Infused Dog Treats

You can also purchase already made CBD dog treats so your pup can experience all the benefits of CBD.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 apple, cored and grated
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup water
• dash of sea salt
• 120 mg CBD oil

Total: Makes 24 treats

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a dog cookie baking tray with coconut oil.
2. Core and grate the apples, then peel and grate the carrots.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, oats, and coconut sugar together. In another medium-sized bowl, beat the egg. Then, add coconut oil, water, and grated apples and carrots.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients bowl; mix completely. Finally, add CBD oil and mix once more.
5. Using a Tbsp measuring spoon, portion out the dog biscuits and press into the dog treat baking pan. Bake 32-37 minutes or until the biscuits are firm and golden-brown on the outside.
6. Store in an air-tight container.

Notes

The number of dog treats will vary depending on the size of the mold you use. Try to make each dog treat have 2-5 mg of CBD.

Recipe from: Truth Theory

---

Pork & Beef, Sweet Potatoe & Rice

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground pork
• 2-2.5lbs ground beef
• 1 large sweet potato
• 1 large apple, cored
• 2 carrots (or 8 baby carrots)
• 1 cup of kale
• 1/2 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup rice
• 1 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Put the ground meats in a 4-6 quart crockpot.  You can really use any ground meat that you would like.
2. Peel and chop the potato, apple, and carrots into 1″ pieces.  Chop the kale.
3. Add all of the fruits and veggies to the crockpot and mix with the meat.
4. Cook on HIGH for 3-5 hours or on LOW for 5-7 hours until the meat is browned.
5. When the meat mixture is close to being done, cook up the rice with the water on the stovetop. We use long-cooking rice (bring the rice and water to a boil, then turn heat to LOW, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes).  When the rice is done, mix it into the meat mixture.

Note: Separate the food into 1/2c. -1c. portions in small baggies or Tupperware. Keep most of them in the freezer and pull them out about 4-5 at a time and keep them in the fridge.  When mealtime comes, we squeeze a bag down the middle to split the serving in half, microwave the meal serving for about 30-40 seconds and then mix it into her regular dog food.

Recipe from: Emily’s Little Homestead

---

Macaroni, Quinoa Turkey Recipe

Ingredients

3 lbs ground turkey (or any protein)
1 cup uncooked millet (or any other whole grain: quinoa, rice, pasta)
1 tbs olive oil
1 carrot, shredded
1 zucchini, shredded
1 squash, shredded
1 apple, chopped
1 tbsp calcium powder
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut oil
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)

Directions

1. Bring 1 cup of whole-grain to boil in a pot of water. I overcook it so that it’s soft and easily digestible. Drain.
2. While that’s boiling, shred/chop the veggies.
3. Cook ground turkey with olive oil and drain excess juices.
4. Mix everything together—no need to cook the veggies. The cooked turkey and whole grain will warm them up a bit.
5. Store in Tupperware or ziplock bags and freeze! It makes enough for around 2 weeks of meals (Fira weighs 14 lbs).

Recipe from: WhereSTheFrenchie

---

Wholesome Ground Sirloin Veggie

Ingredients

• 6 cups cooked organic brown rice
• 2 pounds ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
• 3 carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
• 1/4–1/2 cup minced fresh parsley or 1/4 cup dried herbs
• 3 tablespoons of olive or safflower oil

Directions

1. Start with cooking the eggs
2. While the rice is cooking, you can brown the sirloin and get all of the fresh ingredients together.
3. Combine all of the ingredients in a large container and stir to combine thoroughly.
4. Store in the refrigerator in-between feedings.

Recipe from: This Messisours

For even more Yorkshire Terrier homemade food recipes and cooking ideas, be sure to check out Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog.

---

Best Homemade Dog Food Cooking Practices

Follow these recommendations to make Fido’s meals completely safe.

• Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for dogs
• Use only boneless meats (no cooked bones)
• Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
• Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
• Research every ingredient before using it for safety
• Follow recipes as instructed
• Add supplements to their diet if needed
• Run any questions by a vet nutritionist

What Foods Should Your Yorkie Never Eat?

With some many foods, it’s easy to get confused about which foods are healthy and which are toxic for dogs.

Here’s the list of foods, processed goods, ingredients, and chemicals that you should never feed Fido. The main toxic dog foods include:

• Chocolate
• Xylitol
• Onions and garlic
• Avocados
• Coffee, tea, and other caffeine
• Grapes and raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Raw bread dough
• Alcohol

For a more extensive list, check out this handy list we recommend having it on your refrigerator as a reminder.

Yorkie Raw Diet (BARF)

Raw dog food is also known as the BARF diet, which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. A dog raw diet is supposed to resemble the diet of what dogs ate in the wild millions of years ago.

There are many kinds of raw foods available for dogs, including homemade raw dog food, store-bought (frozen, freeze-dried, and dehydrated). Raw dog foods usually include organs, muscle, whole or ground bones, raw eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy.

Making raw dog food for Yorkies, and dogs, in general, requires a lot of effort and planning as the risk for contamination and nutritional imbalance is greater in raw ingredients.

Raw dog food is becoming more and more popular for its positive benefits on teeth, coat, digestive functions, and more. If you want to learn more about the benefits and risks, get the best commercial raw food diet for your Yorkie, read our raw dog food diets article.

Monitor Weight And Health

The quality and quantity of the food must be strictly monitored for a healthy weigh in Yorkies. 

When switching your pup to a new diet, you should monitor his weight and health closely at least for a month. This will help you rule out any adverse effects provoked by a new diet.

Poorly planned and unbalanced dog food can lead to excessive lack of energy, skin or coat disorders, allergies, weight loss, malnutrition, or obesity. If you notice these symptoms, stop feeding them to your pet, review your dog’s diet, and talk to a vet as soon as possible.

It’s important to work alongside your vet to ensure the diet maintains nutritional adequacy.

Other Food Alternatives

It can be difficult to find the right balance of nutrition, protein, fats, and carbs when making for Yorkies at home. We hope this guide helped.

Be sure to run anything by your vet before switching your pup to a new diet or adding a new ingredient to his diet.

We are confident that the best food for Yorkies is freshly made dog food. Our research shows it’s healthier, more nutritious, and can help with several health conditions associated with this breed. The only downside is the time it takes to plan and cook the food.

For Yorkshire Terries prone to food allergies, GI problems, or any food-related health issues, check out our vegan dog food guide. Veggie-based dog food is another great alternative to kibble.

---

Sources & References: [1] AKC, [2] Yorkie Info Center [3] Central Texas Veterinary [4] The Farmer’s Dog [5] BMC Veterinary Research [6] Fetch by WebMD, [7] Patellar Luxation in Dogs, [8] Patellar Luxation, [9] PubMed, [10] PLOS One [11] TVP, [12] College of Veterinary Medicine, [13] AVMA, [14] UFAW

Like It? Subscribe & Share!

* indicates required

First Name *

Email Address *

Dog Breed

Leave this field empty if you’re human: