Food Toxic To Yorkies 


Certain foods are extremely toxic to yorkies. Please don't take any chances with your yorkie puppies health. Feed your yorkie only their puppy food. For a treat, a small amount of baked, skinless chicken breast is okay. You may also give your yorkie a little cottage cheese, or some plain yogurt that contains NO artificial sugar. Yorkie puppies also love parmesan cheese sprinkled on their kibble. If you have any questions about what foods you can give your Yorkshire terrier, please call me!


Chocolate/Caffeine:
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic.

After a yorkie puppy has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many yorkie owners assume their Yorkshire is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within 24 hours. Symptoms include staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma and death.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 20 pound dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain 10x more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from the cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat. 


Avocados:
The fruit, pits and plant can trigger fluid retention in your yorkies lungs. This can lead to difficulty in breathing, causing lack of oxygen, leading to death. 


Onions:
Contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Yorkie affected by onion toxicity will develop hemolytic anemia where the yorkies red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. Symptoms include labored breathing, liver damage, vomiting, diarrhea and discolored urine.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the yorkie puppy has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and onion powder. Be careful of foods containing onion or onion powders. It so toxic to your yorkie puppy. Yorkie puppies are sometimes fed baby food. Some baby foods contain onion powder! Read the label and check. Baby foods labeled "better tasting" also contain onion powder! 


Mushrooms:
Mushroom toxicity does occur in yorkie dogs and can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are eaten. Amanita phalloides is the the most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. Symptoms include abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma and death.

 
Grapes/Raisins: 
As few as a handful of raisins or grapes can make a yorkie puppy dog ill. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy. 


Macadamia Nuts:
Macadamia nuts are another concern, along with most other kinds of nuts. Their high phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. 


Baby Food:
Baby food is great for a yorkie puppy that is not eating well, but make certain it contains no onion powder which is toxic. Baby food labeled "better tasting" contains onion powder. 


Bones from Meat Sources:
Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.


Sugarless Gum:
Extremely deadly, even in small amounts. 


Cat Food:
Cat food is generally too high in protein and fats.




If your Yorkie puppy ingests any toxic foods, contact your veterinarian or

ASPCA Poison Control
1-888-426-4435