New Yorkie Puppy

[Sherri]

My sister got a Teacup Yorkie yesterday. The breeder she got her from said to feed her WALMART brand food, saying that food too high in protien is not good for a small dog. She said that the cheap food is actually better for a small dog than the high quality food. My sisters puppy is 2.5 lbs. and 8 wks old. Has anyone else heard this before? Any good food advice I can give to my sister?

[Dave Kersh]

I've never heard of cheap food being better for any dog.
You can find the ingredients online for Ol' Roy (Walmart brand). It contains (among other not-so-nice ingredients) animal digest. I won't describe here what animal digest is, but you can do a google search. Tell your sister what's in that food and if she still wants to feed it, you've done your best to warn her.
Cheap dog food is just that, cheap. If she wants to do a little better for her dog, there are other foods on the same aisle at Walmart that are a bit more expensive but much better for the dog.
If she wants her dog to have the best possible food, she'll have to find a place that sells super-premium foods like Innova, California Natural, Wellness, etc.
You might do some more research, but I've never heard that too much protein is bad for small dogs. In fact, there has been some talk of too much protein being bad for large breed puppies. There's a great deal of information out there; you'll have to decide for yourself what's credible and what isn't.
Good luck! :)

[Grace Erick]

Hi Sherri,

I have heard breeders recommend and feed their dogs the worst food, because I feel they like to feed cheap food since they may raise a lot of dogs or they don't know any better, but what I find terrible is that they recommend the new puppy owner still feed the same terrible food. They can say this is what I am feeding them but I recommend.......

Some good food companies may make good adult food and not as great puppy food, so you have to read the label. Solid Gold is one company that makes a good puppy food and good small dog adult food called Little Bits or something like that. Here is the link:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.c om/Solid_Gold_Natural_D og_Food_s/239.htm

I couldn't find the actual Solid Gold site at the moment. As for high protein not being good for puppies, I don't know. I see all puppy foods with higher protein levels than adult food, so I am thinking she may be wrong. What people do look for is the correct amount of calcium and phospherous levels which I don't know what they are but they are but are always brought up when it comes to feeding Innova dog food. Puppy food seem to be about 28-30% protein and adult food is usually about 24% protein.

Bye, Grace

[Sherri]

Thanks Dave and Grace.. I talked to my sister and explained to her why Walmart food is not the best. She said she will definatley not feed her little Sophie the Walmart food.