Is my energetic Yorkie's occasional low appetite normal and healthy?

This seems to be pretty normal activity for a growing puppy. They tend to fluctuate with stools and also his food requirements are not going to be as much as they were when he was a younger pup (< 6 months of age). He should also only need to eat twice a day now and follow the guidelines on his food bag. Also, since he is eating less he will naturally produce fewer stools. Most pets by the time they are adults will produce 1-2 stools a day normally. I wouldn't change anything that you are currently doing, nor would I be concerned that anything is wrong with Ollie based on this description of events. Now if he develops any signs of illness which include vomiting, diarrhea, and complete disinterest in food, then I would recommend taking him in to your local vet for an exam and treatment. Otherwise, continue to enjoy your pup who is steadily maturing into an adult dog. Take care of that fur baby and remember to get him regular health check-ups twice a year to ensure he is in tip top shape. Best wishes!

If she is maintaining a healthy weight and growing steadily then I would not be concerned. Feeding guidelines are only an indication and are an average no t a requirement. If you vet determines she is healthy then I would continue to monitor her body condition score and growth

As long as she eats and is not losing weight, don't stress out over it. It is true that smaller breeds can be a bit more finicky. Switching foods would not be recommended as it can lead to gastrointestinal upset and reinforce her finicky nature. Instead, try mixing in a bit of warm water or a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate the appetite.

Small dogs like Yorkies are notoriously picky eaters especially when human food is offered. The best advise is to offer a small sized kibble and leave it in the bowl without offering any table food. You can soften the kibble with a little bit of water if that helps. Dogs typically won't starve themselves so he should eat it eventually. I would also have his teeth examined by a veterinarian to make sure he doesn't have dental disease making it painful to eat.

It can be normal for some dogs to be picky eaters, especially if they are rewarded with human food if they wait long enough. It is not normal however for Yuki to be losing weight. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem first - if she seems otherwise healthy you can then discuss trying to find a commercial dog food that she likes (canned food might be an option), or discuss talking to a nutritionist to formulate a balanced home cooked diet.

Remember that all dogs are individuals just like humans. Some dogs have a fast metabolisms and others have slow metabolisms. If Chloe is maintaining her weight then that is the appropriate amount of food to feed her. The only other conditions that will cause pets to gain weight easily is endocrine diseases such as Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism. You may consider having her tested for those diseases since they will slow down her metabolism and caused her to gain weight easily. Otherwise you should continue to feed her the same amount of dog food. If Chloe is acting like she is starving or always hungry, you may try switching her to a lower calorie food so that she can eat a greater amount. If her lifestyle does change and she becomes more active, she will likely need to increase the amount of food. I hope this helps.

No he’s not too thin. He’s athletically lean. As long as he has as much food as he wants you do not need to worry. Many dogs regulate the amount they eat depending on their energy expenditure. That way they maintain their optimal weight. You are correct to feed when there are no distractions and he has time to pick at the food if he doesn’t want it all at once. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Timber.