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What are small dogs?
Small dogs are doggies whose ideal weight are under 20 pounds, they are mostly cute, cuddly, and have a small stature. Small dogs vary from other dog breeds in size, maintenance, and requirements. Their nutritional needs are also different from that of other dogs, they require meals that are specially made to cater for their dietary needs because of their higher metabolic rates and some health issues. In this article we would be discussing the best food for small dogs.
Nutritional needs of small dogs
These dogs may be small in size, but it does not mean that they automatically need small amount of meals or few calories per meal. Since their nutritional needs are different from that of other dogs, they may require more calories per pound.
They have high metabolic rates that affects their diet especially in puppyhood, some health concerns also influence their diet as they grow older. It is important for you to talk to your vet about the specific nutritional need of your doggy.
Technically, dogs need a lot of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to develop properly and stay healthy, they rely on fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats for their diet to be complete and balanced. Most dog owners prefer to feed their dogs canned or dry commercial diets since it makes it easier to balance your dog’s nutritional needs but some small dog breeds may have their own nutritional concerns you may not be aware of.
Best Food For Small Dogs
- Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Recipe
The Appalachian valley small breed dog meal is a dry food recipe, it is a fully balanced grain-free recipe that contains no additives like artificial flavors, colors, or harmful chemical preservatives. This dog meal contains about 36% of proteins, 20% of fat, 36% of estimated carbs and a fat to protein ratio of about 56%, it also contains animal proteins which were derived from lamb meal and fresh venison.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults
Type: Grain-free, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Venison, lamb meal, garbanzo beans, peas, lentils - Merrick Classic Small Breed Dog Food
Merrick classic small breed dog food is a dry meal recipe, it is a solid grain-inclusive recipe with fiber rich quinoa that aids digestion. It contains 30% of protein, 17% of fat, 45% of estimated carbs that results in a 56% fat to protein ratio, it also contains animal proteins majority of which are fresh chicken and chicken meal.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adult
Type: Grain-inclusive (quinoa, barley, rice, oatmeal)
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, turkey meal - Nom Nom Turkey Fare Fresh Dog Food
Turkey fare fresh dog food is a wet meal recipe, it is a grain-inclusive fresh meal that gives off a home-cooked feeling. It contains about 37% of protein, 17% of fat, 39% of estimated carbs and 45% fat to protein ratio, it also contains fresh turkey and whole eggs as animal proteins.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adult and puppy
Type: Grain-inclusive (rice), human-grade ingredients
Design: All life stages
Key ingredients: Ground turkey, eggs, brown rice, carrots, and spinach - Nulo Freestyle Small Breed Dog Food
This small breed dog food is a dry meal recipe, it is manufactured to support the higher metabolism rate and high energy levels of small dogs. It contains meat proteins that come from fresh salmon, turkey and menhaden fish meals and it also contains 34% of protein, 19% of fat, 39% of estimated carbs and a fat to protein ratio of 55%.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed puppies and adults
Type: Grain-free
Design: All life stages
Key ingredients: Deboned salmon, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, salmon meal, red lentils - Instinct Original Small Breed Dog Food
Instinct original small breed dog food is a dry meal recipe, it provides a good balance of protein, fat, and calories. It consists of 39% protein, 22% fat, 31% estimated carbs and 56% fat to protein ratio, it also contains animal proteins which are largely fresh chicken and chicken meal.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults and puppies
Type: Grain-free
Design: All life stages
Key ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, chickpeas, tapioca, chicken fat - Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Adult
The Blue buffalo small breed adult food is a dry chicken and brown rice recipe, it is made of a fully balanced blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which help to develop a healthy immune system. It consists of animal proteins from fresh chicken and chicken meal and it also contains 29% protein, 17% fat, 46% estimated carbs and a 58% fat to protein ratio.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults
Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, rice, oatmeal)
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
This dog food brand offers multiple flavor options and is great for people who like to rotate their doggy’s diet. - Canidae Small Breed Dog Food
This meal is a dry food recipe, it is a very healthy and protein rich diet recommended for small breed adult dogs and it is free of grains, corn, soy, or wheat. It contains 33% protein 13% fat, 45% estimated carbs and a 40% fat to protein ratio, it also contains fresh chicken and menhaden fish meal as meat proteins.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults
Type: Grain-free
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Chicken, menhaden fish meal, peas, lentils, potatoes - Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Adult Dog Food
This meal is also a dry food recipe, it is a specialized blend of high-quality proteins, fats and carbohydrates that is packed with a lot of energy in it. It contains fresh turkey, chicken and salmon meals as meat proteins and it also has a 57% fat to protein ratio.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults
Type: Grain-inclusive
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Deboned turkey, chicken meal, salmon meal, oatmeal, ground brown rice - Halo Grain Free Small Breed Wet Dog Food
The Halo grain free dog food is a wet dog meal recipe, it is a very good choice for small breed adults. It contains 50% protein 23% fat, 19% estimated carbs and a 45% fat to protein ratio, it also contains fresh turkey and turkey liver as meat proteins. Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults
Type: Grain-free
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Turkey, turkey broth, turkey liver, ground peas, duck - Diamond Naturals Small Breed Chicken and Rice
Diamond naturals small breed dog food is a dry meal recipe, it is a budget friendly option that is ideal for small breed adults. It contains animal proteins the bulk of which are fresh chicken and chicken meal and it also contains a fat to protein ratio of about 59%.
Features:
Suitable for: Small breed adults
Type: Grain-inclusive
Design: Maintenance
Key ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice and grain sorghum.
Tips On Best Dog Food For Small Puppies
Small breed dogs in general, are not easy to maintain and feed as you need to pay careful attention to their feeding because they are susceptible to hypoglycemia; which is a condition where the dog has a low blood sugar resulting from a low sugar and low body fat reserve.
It is natural for small dog breeds to have low sugar and low body fat reserve due to their high metabolic rate, this only means that they have to be fed a calorie dense small breed puppy food about four to six times daily and they have to be watched closely for any signs of hypoglycemia. Signs of hypoglycemia in dogs are:
Weakness
Muscle tremors
Lethargy
Seizures
The best small breed puppy foods contain the right amount of nutrients for small breed dogs, they also have smaller kibbles which are easier for the puppies to chew and swallow without risk of choking.
Tips On Dog Food For Small Breed Adults
Finding the best dog food for small breed adults can be a bit tricky because there are a lot of options that promise to offer your dog the best nutrition packed meal that ranges in price. Asking your vet for his/her recommendation will help you to narrow your search, veterinarians are a valuable resource during this process because they have access to the latest on dog nutrition and pet food recalls.
Small dog breed adults need more calories per pound than larger dog breeds, but they also require small kibbles owning to their small mouths and to prevent choking, that is why diets that are specially formulated for small dog breeds are best.
Though small dog breeds may require more calories than larger dog breeds, it does not mean that they should be overfed as they may be prone to obesity which is one of the biggest issues regarding dog nutrition. Obesity in dogs reduces their lifespan by about two years and it also exposes them to various health issues like:
Heart diseases
Kidney diseases
Cancer
Osteoarthritis
Cranial cruciate ligament injury
High blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Tips On Dog Food For Smal Breed Senior Dogs
Small dog breeds have a greater life expectancy than larger dog breeds, this means that after graduating from puppy food, your dog might be eating the same meal for up to fifteen years. Their diet should be rich in antioxidants as they can help to prevent free radical damage over the long years.
Senior dogs can be fed adult or other life-stage formulas since there is no geriatric, senior or mature dog food nutrient profile that is recognized by the (AAFCO) Association of American Feed Control Officials. The small breed senior dog food available do not have to meet a specific nutrient requirement and they may not have undergone proper testing but that does not mean that they are not a good choice for your senior small breed, you should ask your veterinarian about a senior diet before you start feeding it to your doggy, your vet may even recommend a prescription diet for your senior dog depending on its health.
FAQs about small breed dog food
How to read a dog food label?
You should know how to read a dog food label because it gives you information about the food you are about to purchase, it might be quite confusing and hard to interpret but there are a few things you should look out for in a dog food label and they are:
Life stages: you should check the life stages (i.e. puppy, adult, or all life stages) of a dog food before purchasing it.
Ingredients: make sure you check the ingredient carefully to find out the primary ingredients in the dog food and to find out if your dog is allergic to any of the ingredients listed.
Complete and Balanced: you should always check for that statement because it means that the food contains at least the minimum amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals which is required for dogs, to ensure that they do not suffer from nutrient deficiency.
Calories: you should check the label to find out the number of calories in their servings so that you can calculate how much calories you need to feed your dog.
How much to feed a small dog breed?
The feeding of a small dog breed is not a walk in the park, you have to be very observant and consistent if you want your dog to live a very healthy and long life. The right place to find out how much to feed your small dog would be your veterinarian’s office or the manufacturer’s guidelines on the back of the food pack.
You need to measure the meal according to the manufacturer’s or your vet’s instructions, you also need to watch your dog’s weight closely to see if there is a weight gain or loss, you can always ask your veterinarian to help you determine the best weight for your dog.
Does the cost of a dog food influence the quality?
This notion is a misconception as expensive dog food is not a guarantee of quality but on the other hand, it is also a good idea to stay away from cheap dog food because there is a possibility that they have used substandard ingredients in the food.
Before purchasing any dog food, consider different brands of dog food around the same price range, preferably a price range that will not cause much strain to your wallet and make sure you consult with your veterinarian to find out if they are healthy choices.