How much to feed a Yorkshire Terrier: small, weighed portions
An adult, neutered Yorkshire Terrier weighing 3 kg needs about 255 kcal a day with normal exercise – that is only around 70 g of dry food or 255 g of wet food. A 2 kg Yorkie gets by on about 190 kcal (55 g of dry food), a 5 kg one on around 375 kcal (105 g). Many Yorkies weigh more than the 3.2 kg in the standard – base your calculation on the weight your dog has at a good body shape.
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Adult weight
- Standard:
- up to 3.2 kg
- In practice:
- average approx. 5 kg
Maximum weight according to FCI standard no. 86; the standard does not specify a height at the withers. Practice figure: average weight of adult Yorkies in British veterinary practices (VetCompass, 2025).
Activity type
According to the FCI a toy terrier, i.e. a terrier in miniature format – with very small portions in which every gram counts.
Breed watch points
Teeth, liver shunt, low blood sugar
Calculate how much to feed your Yorkshire Terrier
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
70 g
Dry food per day
≈ 255 kcal · 2 meals of 35 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 65–80 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 35 g
- Energy
- 255 kcal (230–280)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 3 kg^0.75 ≈ 160 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 255 kcal per day.
255 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 70 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Yorkshire Terrier feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg | |||
| Calm | 165 | 45 | 165 |
| Normal | 190 | 55 | 190 |
| Active | 235 | 65 | 235 |
| 3 kg | |||
| Calm | 225 | 65 | 225 |
| Normal | 255 | 70 | 255 |
| Active | 320 | 90 | 320 |
| 5 kg | |||
| Calm | 330 | 90 | 330 |
| Normal | 375 | 105 | 375 |
| Active | 470 | 130 | 470 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 3 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 3 kg^0.75 ≈ 160 kcal × factor 1.6 = 255 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 70 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Teeth: the most common diagnosis in Yorkies
A VetCompass study of Yorkshire Terriers in British veterinary practices (2025) found periodontal disease to be the most common diagnosis: 21.1 per cent of the dogs were affected, almost twice as many as the average across all dogs. Baby teeth that stay in place after the adult teeth come through were, at 3.6 per cent, more than three times as common as in dogs overall.
Dry food alone does not reliably protect the teeth: according to the MSD Veterinary Manual, the widespread belief that kibble mechanically scrapes away plaque and tartar is not always true. Toothbrushing and regular check-ups matter more. Chews weigh heavily in such a small ration: with a daily requirement of 255 kcal, a chew with 25 kcal is already around a tenth.
- Brush the teeth daily if possible, using toothpaste for dogs.
- The change of teeth starts at around 14 weeks – afterwards have the vet check whether any baby teeth have stayed in place.
- Weigh food to the gram and deduct chews from the daily ration.
Liver shunt: when symptoms appear after eating
The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the breeds in which a congenital portosystemic shunt – liver shunt for short – is more common. Blood from the intestine bypasses the liver, which is supposed to detoxify it. The MSD Veterinary Manual names the Yorkie first among toy breeds with shunts outside the liver; the signs usually appear in young dogs.
According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the signs often come in episodes and become more pronounced after eating: staggering, head pressing, seizures, plus vomiting, diarrhoea, drinking a lot and a noticeably small stature. Treatment is surgical or with medication and a protein-adjusted diet prescribed by the vet. This diet is intended for dogs with a diagnosis, not as prevention for healthy Yorkies.
Yorkie puppies: preventing low blood sugar
Very small puppies of toy breeds have few fat and muscle reserves and an immature liver. According to the American Kennel Club, they can slip into low blood sugar between meals, especially when they play hard, get cold or are stressed. Small, frequent meals are therefore important: up to about three months four a day, after that three.
According to the VetCompass study, Yorkies grow quickly in their first year and keep gaining weight until about their fifth year. So keep weighing your dog regularly once it is an adult, too. According to the calculation, a 1.5 kg puppy under four months needs about 285 kcal a day.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Yorkshire Terrier
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Yorkshire Terrier – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Yorkshire Terrier
How much food does a Yorkshire Terrier need a day?
A neutered Yorkie weighing 3 kg with normal exercise needs about 255 kcal a day: roughly 70 g of dry food or 255 g of wet food. With such small amounts you should weigh the food to the gram.
How much should a Yorkshire Terrier weigh?
The FCI standard gives a maximum of 3.2 kg. In British veterinary practices, however, the average weight of adult Yorkies was just over 5 kg, and three quarters weighed more than 3.8 kg. Not every heavier Yorkie is overweight – for the food amount, what counts is the weight at a good body shape.
Is dry food better for my Yorkie’s teeth?
Not reliably. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, the assumption that dry food mechanically reduces plaque and tartar is not always true. In Yorkies, where periodontal disease is the most common diagnosis, toothbrushing and veterinary check-ups matter more than the type of food.
Can a Yorkshire Terrier have table scraps?
Better not. The MSD Veterinary Manual lists the Yorkshire Terrier among the breeds in which inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is described more often. A common trigger is a dog eating something not meant for it – table scraps or rubbish, for example.
How often a day should a Yorkie puppy eat?
Four times a day up to about three months, then three times until it has finished growing; adult Yorkies twice. Very small puppies should not skip a meal because they are prone to low blood sugar.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 86: Yorkshire Terrier (englische Fassung) – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Yorkshire Terriers under primary veterinary care in the UK – demography and disorders (O’Neill et al., 2025) – Companion Animal Health and Genetics
- Periodontal Disease in Small Animals – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Dental Disorders of Dogs – MSD Veterinary Manual (Ausgabe für Tierhalter)
- Portosystemic Shunts – American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS)
- Congenital and Inherited Anomalies of the Liver in Animals – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats – MSD Veterinary Manual
- Hypoglycemia in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment – American Kennel Club (AKC), mit Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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