feeding

Question
Hi - i have a 2 yr old yorkie/chihuahua female who weighs 9 lbs
supposed to be between 7-8 lbs. Lexee has been on just about every high end dry food, canned, pre made raw and dehydrated.
She will eat a particular food for about 2 days and then quit.
Right now she is on Acana Grasslands (same co. that makes orijen)
Protein is 33% - i have been told that the protein is too high for her and also have been told that it is fine. What are your thoughts and is feeding her a 1/4 cup twice a day good.
Also Lexee has been spay.

Thankyou
Sharron
Calgary Alberta

Answer
Hi Sharron...

You share a problem with many other Yorkie and Chihuahua owners...a picky eater!  Thankfully, we have so many really good brands of food out there now to choose from - brands that are premium and human grade. It sounds like you've tried plenty of them already...  How is she doing on the Acana Grasslands so far?  Also, I'm wondering if you are Lexee's sole owner?  In other words, did you adopt her from someone else at some point?  I ask because I'm wondering if she came from a home where she was fed a lot of human food?  I see a lot of Chis that are really picky eaters and often times it is due to the fact that they have been given so much human food as both treats and a main course that they just will not settle for dog food, period.

Personally, I think that the 33% protein is just fine.  I like to advise Chi and Yorkie owners to please have blood work done on your dog so that you know what their liver values are before continuing with high protein food if you see any changes that may indicate a problem. Yorkies are very prone to liver shunts - VERY prone!  And Chihuahuas are known to also have them.  If you see any elevation in liver values, diet becomes a whole different ballgame and you may have to give not only less protein, but a different kind of protein than what you're accustom to feeding your dog.  Anytime a Chi or a Yorkie is a picky eater or is having digestive problems or neurological symptoms, I think a blood panel is in order.  One of the symptoms of liver disease or a liver shunt is "picky" eating.  I just want you to make sure that everything is fine...

Having said all of that, my smallest Chi was having digestive problems and a liver problem was ruled out. However, it was determined that she could not properly digest dry food. I consulted with a board certified internist, two holistic vets and a canine nutritionist and all of them recommended EVO canned dog food which is quite high in protein. She flourished on the EVO and INNOVA (also made by Natura), however that company recently sold out to Proctor and Gamble and I no longer feel confident in their products. I did a lot of research and talked to various companies that manufacture pet food and decided that I felt the safest and most confident with Evanger's dog food. All of my Chis are on their food now and have been for several months and are doing really well. I have absolutely no financial interest in the company - I just find their products to be superior and feel that they work really well for my dogs and cats. Their Chunky Chicken Casserole Dinner is a big hit at my house. I do break up the chicken smaller so that it doesn't stick between their teeth.  

Sharron, I have been advised by the professionals that I have consulted with not to feed what's recommended on packaging - that it's usually too much. I can't see your dog and don't know how active she is. I can tell you that one of my dogs lost a considerable amount of weight when he was on a canned venison dog food with no grains which we were using due to food allergies he was having. Grains certainly do contribute to weight gain and other problems. I do think that if you are feeding 1/4 cup of dry food two times per day and you feel that your dog is too heavy, then you need to either cut back on the amount you are feeding or take a look at the ingredients in that food that may be causing weight gain or break up the amount you are feeding into three meals per day. I'm wondering how your dog has managed to get up to 9 lbs. if she won't eat a particular brand of food for more than a couple of days? It has to be very difficult for you to monitor her weight under those circumstances. When you say that Lexee is suppose to be between 7-8 lbs., who told you that? Or how did you determine that? I ask because I was told by one of my dog's veterinarians that he needed to get down to 9 lbs. (he's a really big Chi) and he got down to almost that weight and looked so skinny and malnourished.  I was actually surprised.

Please write back if you feel compelled to answer some of the questions that I've asked above and let me know if I can clarify anything for you or assist you any further. You sound like a very attentive and proactive dog guardian!

Jo Ann