Having a Yorkie in your home is the perfect way to bring added joy to your life. If you’re like most pet parents, however, finding the right dog food is always on your mind. Yorkies are small dogs, with big attitudes and hearts. They deserve only the best. This means dog food made for larger breeds simply won’t do. In this review, we’ll take a look at the 10 best dog foods for Yorkies on the market today. This will allow you to choose the food you feel is best for your little one, without all the worries and hassles that come along with it.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Dog Foods for Yorkies

1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small Paws Dry Food – Best Overall

Our pick for the best overall dog food for Yorkies is Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small Paws Chicken and Rice. While this brand has lots of dog food options, this one is specially formulated for small dog breeds and perfect for your little Yorkies. You can rest easy knowing all your pet’s needs are being met by a balanced recipe that supports muscle growth, healthy coats, and strong bones.

This dry dog food features omega-6 fatty acids, calcium, high-quality proteins, antioxidants, and vitamins C and E. This formula is also all-natural and free of any artificial colorings, flavors, and preservatives. This food is also made in the USA and is intended for small dogs, under 25 pounds, and 1 to 6 years of age.

Unfortunately, this dog food isn’t specialized for dogs with stomach issues. Keep this in mind if your Yorkie has a tricky tummy.

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2. Cesar Loaf in Sauce Variety Pack Dog Food Trays – Best Value

Cesar Gourmet Loaf in Sauce Variety Pack is our pick for the best value when it comes to Yorkie food. Dogs are known for loving wet food options. With Cesar, they will get all the nutrition they need while enjoying the flavors they love. This food is packed with vitamins and minerals while also being softer for smaller dogs. If your pups aren’t fans of certain flavors, no problem. Cesar offers several varieties to make every dog in your home happy.

Another great aspect of choosing this dog food for your Yorkie is the price. If you’re on a budget, these convenient trays make quick, affordable meals. There are 24 cans included in this variety box. You can offer your Yorkie a different flavor for each meal throughout the day without worrying about making a huge dent in your bank account. The only issue we found with this variety pack is that some dogs may not like each flavor inside. This is a downside of choosing a pack like this and not flavors you know your dog enjoys.

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3. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Dog Food

If money is no issue when it comes to dog food, our premium choice could be the best food for your little dog. The Canidae Grain-Free Lamb, Goat, & Venison Meal reduces the ingredients used to help avoid causing stomach upset or allergy flare-ups in dogs. It is also completely grain, soy, wheat, and corn-free which is another great advantage for small dogs or those with stomach issues. You’ll also find no fillers or additives that can be harmful to your pet.

Real lamb is the first ingredient in this food. Venison, goat, and veggies round out the 8 ingredients of this food. This recipe also includes Canidae’s HealthPlus Blend to ensure your dogs get all the probiotics, antioxidants, and omegas they need for great health.

Besides the price, the only issue we found with this dog food was the smell. While it doesn’t bother some dogs, others don’t find it appealing. This can cause them to avoid eating it no matter how great it may taste.

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4. Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies

Making sure your Yorkie puppy gets the right nutrition, straight out of the gate, is a huge responsibility. That’s why our choice for the best puppy food for Yorkies should be at the top of your list. Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Food is packed with all the things your puppy needs to grow up healthy and strong. A trusted blend of omegas, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals helps your puppy grow, look great, and play with the best of them.

This puppy formula is intended for small and toy dog breeds. Pups should be less than 10 months old and no more than 22 pounds to make use of this formula. You’ll also find it has no dangerous additives or fillers and each piece of kibble is sized for small dogs to enjoy.

While this is easily one of the best puppy foods available for small dogs, the protein included isn’t of the highest quality. The other ingredients come together to boost your pup’s immunity and help their digestion but if you want only the best protein used in their foods, you may need to look for another option.

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5. Petco Brand – WholeHearted Grain Free Small-Breed Adult Dog Food

Wholehearted Small Breed Adult Dry Food is proud to prioritize real meat as its main source of protein. This protein is important in helping your dog build and maintain lean muscle while staying strong and healthy. By using real chicken as the main ingredient, not only does this dog food improve your dog’s health, but it also tastes great which is a bonus both dogs and pet parents love.

Another great thing about this dog food is its affordability. Using high-quality ingredients often raises the price of dog foods. That isn’t the case here. This food is kept very affordable so everyone can offer this recipe to their Yorkies. It is also great for little teeth. Tartar control kibble pieces are included in the bag to help make your dog’s teeth healthier.

The only real downside we found with this food concerns pups with sensitive stomachs. Some of the ingredients may cause upset. It is important to watch for any signs of vomiting or diarrhea to alert you on whether this food is suitable for your Yorkie.

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6. CARNA4 Easy-chew Fish Formula Sprouted Seeds Dog Food

CARNA4 Easy-chew Fish Formula may seem strange at first. When thinking about ingredients for dog food, fish isn’t the first one that comes to mind. Luckily, however, lots of dogs enjoy the taste of fish, especially when it’s included in an easy-to-chew kibble tailored for small dog breeds. Featuring fresh-caught perch and herring, each piece of this kibble is made into small, easy-to-chew pieces. This is ideal for Yorkie as there is less chance they will break their teeth trying to eat hard pieces. If your dog is older, this food can also be very valuable. We all know, when a dog ages, it becomes harder to chew.

Beyond all the needed nutrition your dog will get with this dog food, you also get peace of mind. Each piece is carefully checked for pathogens or toxins before being bagged to promote healthier dogs, no matter the breed.

While this is great dog food, the reason it finds its way so far down on our list is due to the pricing. This food is very expensive and won’t fit into most people’s budgets.

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7. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food

The next dog food on our list is Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe. Like a few others on our list, this kibble comes in smaller sizes to make it easier for Yorkies to eat. By using deboned chicken as the main source of protein, a favorite of many dogs, this kibble will most likely be eaten the minute it hits the food bowl. For pet parents, knowing your little one is getting all the needed vitamins, minerals, and omega acids needed for a healthier lifestyle makes your day better.

The blend used in this recipe is crafted to promote healthier hips and joints while also being easy on digestion. Unfortunately, however, since grains are included in this recipe, it may be too hard on some dogs. Yorkies with sensitive stomachs or who have issues with grains should avoid this food if possible.

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8. Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula Canned Dog Food

If you’re searching for a wet dog food that promotes overall better health in your Yorkie then Wellness Complete is the food your pup needs. This food uses ingredients specially selected by animal nutritionists and veterinarians to ensure each can offer dogs what they need for better health. The quality protein sources used are great for your Yorkie’s muscles and promote overall muscle health. The high fiber content is also great for healthier digestion.

The only real issue we found with this dog food is the can size. When it comes to feeding Yorkies or any small breed of dogs, smaller cans are ideal. If you do choose this food, be prepared to properly store leftover portions until your pup’s next feeding. If not, you’ll be spending a lot of money on dog food your little dog can’t eat in one sitting.

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9. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Dog Food

 

Blue Buffalo has always offered great foods for dogs, this dry food is no different. Featuring deboned chicken as the main protein source, this food offers Yorkies everything they need to stay healthy and strong. Complete with omega 3s, 6s, vitamins, and minerals to keep your dog feeling its best, this dog food also packs a great taste they will love. Featuring fresh veggies and fruits your Yorkie will have a well-rounded meal created from the work of holistic veterinarians and nutritionists.

While this dry food is formulated to be small for little dogs, we noticed that it may be a bit too small. Even for small breeds like Yorkies, this food is tiny. You should take note of this when feeding your dog and keep a close eye on potential issues with choking or swallowing pieces whole.

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10. Merrick Lil’ Plates Small Breed Tiny Thanksgiving Day Dinner Wet Food

Rounding out our list of best dog foods for Yorkies is Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Wet Food Trays. One of our favorite things about this dog food is the convenient trays it comes in. When you’re ready to feed your Yorkie, you can simply pop the top and let them eat if need be. These small containers are also easy to store after being purchased.

This grain-free formula is great for your dog’s digestion and offers well-balanced nutrition to keep adult Yorkies looking and feeling great. The deboned turkey used as the first ingredient will also have them running to the bowl when it’s time to eat.

The downside we noted with this dog food is that some picky eaters won’t even give it a chance. Possibly the smell is an issue, but if your dog doesn’t like trying new things, plan on buying this to sample before you purchase larger portions.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Purchase the Best Dog Food for Yorkies

Knowing what to look for when choosing food for your Yorkie is just as important as choosing their name. It is up to us, as pet parents, to ensure we feed our fur babies only the best. Let’s take a look at the things you should keep in mind when deciding which dog food is best for your little guy or gal.

Ingredients

The most important part of choosing dog food is understanding the ingredients. If your dog suffers from stomach issues, it’s especially hard to find the best foods for them. Often, when reading product labels, it’s difficult to tell what’s good and what’s not. As we reviewed these foods for Yorkies, we took the time to investigate the ingredients for each one.

The main ingredient for dog food should be protein. Whether it is chicken, turkey, beef, or even fish, a great source of protein helps make your dog healthier. The addition of healthy grains, veggies, and fruits will provide your pet with all the vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids needed to grow and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and skin.

Price

Whether we want to admit it or not, price is a factor when buying our Yorkie’s food. If you live on a budget, the most expensive foods aren’t always an option. When buying for your pup, keep in mind how much they consume and how often you will need to refill their food supply. This is a great way of stretching our money and allowing ourselves to buy them better food options.

Wet vs Dry Food

All dog owners are aware of their pet’s love for wet food. The real question is which is better for them, wet or dry? Wet food has been known to cause loose stools and touches of diarrhea. Dry food has been known to sit in the bowl for ages before a picky dog will eat it. While we reviewed both types of food, we feel it best for pet parents to offer their dogs the best of both worlds. If you supplement wet food into your dog’s diet they will get the benefits of both food types. This is especially true for small dog breeds that may not be able to constantly eat the harder dog foods.

Taste

Last but not least is taste. Yes, you want to choose foods you feel your dog will enjoy. You know your dog better than anyone else. If you notice they take to chicken or turkey better than beef or steak, stick with what they enjoy. You can easily switch between poultry types to give them variety. The last thing you want is your dog avoiding a meal because they don’t like the taste.

Final Verdict

For the best overall dog food for Yorkies, we feel that Hill’s Science Diet is the best out there. This food is well-balanced and ideal for small dog breeds. Our choice for the best value, Cesar wet food allows you to have great food on hand without breaking the bank. However, if you want the best of the best, with no worries on price, Canidae Lamb, Goat & Venison dry food will surely have your Yorkie licking their lips. Just remember, whichever food you choose, make sure your little Yorkie loves it.

• See also: Why Do Dogs Like to Sleep Curled Up? Here’s the Answer!

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Featured Image Credit: Valerie Nik, Shutterstock