What Should I Look For In A Small Dog Food
Here are the factors pet owners must consider when looking for the best dog food for small dogs:
- Protein & Carb sources. Dog food brands with protein sources from high-quality meat and fat products identified by species are best.
- Healthy Grains or Grain-Free Recipes. Grain-free dog food is good for energetic dogs, but whole grains such as barley and brown rice are healthy ways of adding carbohydrates to your dogs diet.
- First ingredient. The best dog food for small dogs must feature real meat placed first on the ingredient list and starches lower on the list. Real meat is packed with protein and amino acids.
- Whole Fruits & Veggies. Produce listed high on the ingredient list helps add calories without using grains and can help naturally meet nutritional needs. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Organic or High-Quality Ingredients. Organic ingredients are natural ingredients grown free from pesticides. The Association of American Feed Control Officials defines organic products according to USDA standards.
Our Favorites Are Taste Of The Wild Dry Dog Food And Purina Beyond Wet Dog Food
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is our top recommendation for dry dog food. If your dog is accustomed to wet food, Purina Beyond Grain-Free Wet Dog Food may be right for your dog.
Dogs may develop allergies to any number of common pet food ingredients, including grains like corn and wheat. Grain-free dog food is only necessary if your pet has been diagnosed with an allergy or intolerance to grains via an elimination diet trial. This type of allergy is rare in dogs, says veterinarian Kristin Wuellner, an employee of Hills Pet Nutrition.
In some cases, a grain-free diet may in fact not be appropriate for your specific pet, particularly as the FDA continues to investigate a possible connection between grain-free diets and a heart condition called canine dilated cardiomyopathy. Its always a good idea to consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your dogs diet.
We researched and consulted Dr. Wuellner to find the best grain-free dog foods available.
Lifes Abundance Small And Medium Breed Dog Food
Lifes Abundance wants to see happy, healthy pups running about, and to get there, theyve created a small and medium dog food blend thats loaded with vitamins, minerals, and delicious ingredients. Your dog will love the taste of high-quality chicken and eggs, as well as a proprietary blend of essential vitamins and minerals for everything from bone health to heart health to skin health and beyond. This formula is designed to provide optimal health. Its available directly from Lifes Abundance and comes in a six-pound or seventeen-pound bag.
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Specialty Diets For Small Breed Dogs
There are quite a few new pet food trends going around right now, including raw diets, grain-free diets, and home-cooked pet meals. If you are considering feeding a non-traditional diet to your small breed dog, talk with your veterinarian. There are serious concerns associated with some of these trends, especially raw diets, that pet owners need to be aware of in order to keep both their pets and their families safe.
Some small dogs have allergies to certain ingredients. If your dog has a food allergy or sensitivity, talk to your vet about the best type of food for your dog and what ingredients to avoid.
More Dog Food Articles To Explore
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Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy
Rating:
Complete Health Small Breed Puppy is one of 13 dry recipes included in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, chicken meal, oatmeal, salmon meal, barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Life stage: Growth
- Best for:Small breed puppies
- Price: $$$
This Wellness formula acquires the largest part of its animal protein from fresh turkey and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 21% fat and 40% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 68%.
An excellent company with multiple puppy recipes.
Sample buyer reviewA newly adopted ~2 yr. old rescued Shih Tzu, Zachary, was obviously neglected. Matted sparse fur and prominent spine/ribs called out for some good food and lots of it. So, we chose Wellness. He has moved from 8 lbs. to 10 lbs. in two weeks. He loves the food and it seems to be doing the trick we asked of it. What a good boy!
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Dry Dog Food Healthiest Choice
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is the healthiest dry dog food for small breeds. Whitefish is the #1 ingredient and along with Turkey meal, it provides a high-quality source of protein and fat which helps Small Dogs gain healthy weight and build strong muscles.
Blue Buffalo also promotes healthy digestion in Small Dogs. The most prominent fiber source is brown rice, which is rich in phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese. Brown rice is easier to digest than other grains. Additionally, the dog food contains wholesome whole grains, garden veggies, and fruit that provides essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. It helps Small Dogs to stay strong, healthy and boost their immune system.
Blue Buffalos Small Breed dry food is rich in essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 sourced from fish oil. This is really beneficial for skin and coat health of Small Dogs like Yorkie, Chihuahua, and others.
Overall, Blue Buffalo is a top dog food brand that provides quality ingredients with animal based protein. Although its a bit expensive but its the goto dog food brand of most pet owners.
- Contains high-quality animal-based sources of protein
- Features ingredients that are sources of fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals
- High omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid content
- Does not include any artificial ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
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Blue Buffalo True Solutions Small And Mighty Small Breed Formula
Small but mighty! If that sounds like your dog, then this aptly named small breed dog food by trusted dog food brand Blue Buffalo might be the perfect fit. Real chicken is this food’s first ingredient, and the formula is outfitted with omega 3 and other important fatty acids, essential vitamins and antioxidant-rich ingredients that keep your dog healthy and energized so they can keep playing catch all day long. While this dog food is better for adult doggos, it’s specifically made for extra-small, small and toy breeds, so can you have peace of mind when feeding it to your pint-size pooch.
How We Chose The Best Dog Food
In order to find the best dog food among so many options, we took a look at the following factors:
Product lines. We looked at a brands options for different ages, sizes, breeds and health concerns to see if consumers could find what they were looking for, regardless of their dogs circumstances.
Ingredients. We read through the ingredients list, comparing them to label standards set by the FDA and AAFCO, and third-party ingredient analysis.
Recalls. We searched the recalls for each brand during the past decade to gauge not only the quality of the products, but a companys transparency and its approach to solving the issues.
Price. We calculated prices per pound or ounce and compared them with competing products in the same category to determine their value. Naturally, recipes with whole meats versus recipes with meat meals may be costlier, but could offer higher value.
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Halo Small Breed Dog Food Best For Sensitive Stomach
Halo Natural Small Breed Dog Food features real Whole meat and no meat meals which makes it the best choice for Small Dogs with sensitive stomach.
Halo includes only Whole Chicken or Fish and absolutely no Meat Meal in the ingredients, unlike many other dog food brands. Meat meals are processed at high heat due to which the protein loses its degree of digestibility. Whole Meat, on the other hand, is highly digestible and perfect for Small Dogs because they have smaller intestinal tracts. A highly digestible dog food has more nutritional value for Small Dogs in terms of healthy weight gain, muscle development and meeting the energy requirement.
Because of Halos super digestibility, the poop quality of Small Dogs is considerably better. You can expect to see firm stools improving the stomach health of your little pup.
Halo small breed dog food also features smaller kibble for little mouths and fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
- Ideal for small dogs with sensitive stomach
- High fiber content to boost colon health
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
Cons
- Most protein sources are plant-based
Does Grain Free Dog Food Cause Heart Disease
In an announcement made by The Food and Drug Administration in 2019, it was revealed that grain free dog food poses safety concerns on dogs. Dogs who consume food labelled as grain free are more prone to heart diseases. In addition, the substitute carbohydrate components used in grain free dog food are a potential cause of heart-related issues in dogs.
Vet recommended dog food is said to initiate dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs leading to risks of a heart attack. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition leading to weakness in the heart. This condition causes enlarged heart and thinning of heart muscles resulting in heart failure and even death. However, the study fails to confirm grain free dog food behind the reported heart diseases among dogs. Therefore, it is also being assumed that there exist other contributing factors than just the grain free component which might be causing such health conditions.
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How To Choose Best Grain Free Dog Food For Senior Dog
Well, with a lot of choices in the grain-free category, with hundreds of different ingredients and tastes, as dog owners, our responsibility to make the right choices for them. Learning so many different ingredients and variables takes forever because most of us arent chemists or vets, so we take this seriously.
The right grain-free, dry dog food provides more protein than its full-grain counterparts. This can upset the balance of minerals and vitamins in the diet, which is why most of them have a formula based on more meat and less plant protein, the most popular of which are potatoes and legumes to replace the grains used in standard recipes.
When compared to meat, the plant proteins have less amino acid content, thats why you have to make sure the food has the correct balance. Always taking into consideration so many factors can be overwhelming, thats why we made this top 7 list of what to look for in a grain-free food.
Should Your Dog Go Grain
With all the many different types of dog food out there, why should you choose a grain-free variety for your pup? Here are some of the claimed benefits.
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Proponents of grain-free dog food claim that grains are not a natural part of a dog’s diet, and because their ancestors didn’t eat them, modern dogs have trouble digesting them.
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Grain-free dog food is perfect for dogs who have an allergy to grains or gluten.
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Some dogs with sensitive stomachs are less likely to have upset tummies when they eat grain-free food, especially if the formula contains just a few simple ingredients.
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You may find that grain-free dog food keeps your dog fuller for longer.
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Feeding your dog grain-free food may result in fewer stools and decreased flatulence.
While you can find some top-quality grain-free dog foods out there, don’t feel like it’s the only option, and don’t assume a food is good simply because it’s grain-free.
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Karma Dla Psw Ras Miniaturowych Z Przeznaczeniem Dla Yorkshire Terrier Formua Bezzboowa Z Rybami
Podstawowe cechy produktu:
- Wzmacnia odporno dziki zawartoci witamin i probiotyków.
- wiea ryba doskonay smak i wzmocnienie ogólne organizmu.
- Chroni zby i wzmacnia dzisa.
- Mirko granulki uatwiaj chwytanie karmy i czyszcz zby.
- Energia Metaboliczna 3910 kcal/kg
- Kwasy Tuszczowe Omega 3: 2,3%
- Kwasy Tuszczowe Omega 6: 2,7%
*Wysoka smakowito zapewnia miso z ryby ososia i tuczyka.Brit Care Mini Grain-Free Yorkshire zosta wytworzony przy uyciu nowej technologi obróbki . To sprawia, e caa ryba oso i tuczyk znajduje si w karmie. Jej obecno w diecie maych ras, takiej jak Yorkshire terrier wpywa kojco na sier i skór psa. Podnosi odporno dziki zawartoci kwasów tuszczowych Omega-3 i Omega-6.
Profilaktyka schorze jamy ustnej i zbów rasy Yorkshire Terrier
Mae rasy psów takie jak: Yorkshire terrier maj PH w jamie ustnej, które sprzyja odkadaniu si pytki nazbnej. Karma Brit Care Mini Grain-Free Yorkshire zawiera szawi godziki i rumianek, które maj waciwoci przeciwbakteryjne. Dodatkowo chrupki Brit Care maj odpowiednia gramatur mikro granule i ich chropowata powierzchnia pozwalaj ciera zby podczas kadego posiku.
Brit Care Mini Grain-Free Yorkshire zawiera wysok zawarto kwasów tuszczowych, pochodzcych ze wieych ryb. Ich obecno w diecie zapewni wspaniay wygld sierci i wosa oraz zdrow skór/ za rokitnik, witamina C, prebiotyki MOS, FOS oraz inulina gwarantuj doskona odporno komórkow.
Whole Earth Farms Whole Grains Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Whitefish
Guaranteed Analysis:
Whole Earth Farms Whole Grains Chicken Recipe wet food is a soft pate that is formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes. Its texture and high digestibility make it ideal for even for seniors, sensitive dogs, or those with dental issues.
The first 5 ingredients of this recipe are all from high quality animal sources like chicken, turkey, and whitefish. Instead of cheap fillers, it has healthy grains oatmeal, and brown rice.
Along with high-fiber grains, superfoods like sweet potatoes, apples, and carrots. These are high in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that support a dogs immune system and overall health.
This recipe is perfect for anyone looking for wet dog food that is pea and lentil-free. It has no artificial additives and is free from carrageenan as well.
Carrageenan is a thickener that is commonly found in wet pet food. Some experts claim that it contributes to certain conditions in dogs.
This Whole Earth Farms recipe has received high ratings from buyers. Many have complimented it on its high quality, saying that it actually smells good and does not smell like most commercially available wet dog food. Needless to say, dogs love this chicken, turkey, and fish pate. They slurp the broth and lick their bowls clean.
Pros:
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The Farmer’s Dog Turkey Fresh Dog Food
The Farmer’s Dog is one of the most popular dog food subscription services to come about in recent years, with a laser focus on nutrition and using the bestmeaning, the freshestingredients possible. Owners start by taking a quiz about their dog’s health, weight, breed, etc. so that TFD can personalize food to each dog’s unique needs. You can then specify how often you want to feed your dog and the proper portions based on your dog’s size, breed, age and weight will show up at your doorstep. It’s a meaningful option for all dogsmy dog is about 30 pounds, and this is what I personally feed her. But TFD is particularly good for small dog breeds, which may have more trouble maintaining a healthy weight, as well as picky eaters , and dogs with allergies. Speaking of allergies, if your dog has a chicken or turkey allergy, The Farmer’s Dog beef recipe may be a better option.
The 10 Best Small Breed Dog Foods
A healthy food for small dogs will provide for your dogs basic nutritional needs and be formulated according to his breed size. Dog food for small breeds tends to be higher in calories and fat than traditional kibble, and the kibbles themselves should be smaller. As long as your dogs nutritional needs are met, you have a wide variety of options to choose from.
Heres our top pick for the best dog food for small breeds:
| Our 2022 Picks: Best Foods for Small Breed Dogs |
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Canidae Pure Real Duck And Sweet Potato Recipe
Rating:
Canidae Pure Real Duck and Sweet Potato is one of 10 recipes included in our review of the Canidae Pure dry product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, duck meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- See all 10 available recipes
Canidae Pure Real Duck and Sweet Potato derives the majority of its meat protein from duck, duck meal and turkey meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 18% fat and 39% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
An excellent grain-free option for adult dogs.
Cost Of Small Breed Dog Food
Once you have sorted through the various dog food brands and found one that you and your vet think will best benefit your dog, you need to decide how much you are willing to spend. A good rule of thumb to follow for commercial dog food diets is to stay away from the cheapest option. Your dogs food is a vital part of his preventative healthcare, and so you want to invest in it as much as possible. When it comes to dog food, you usually get what you pay for.
On the other hand, an expensive dog food is not a guarantee of quality, either. By talking with your veterinarian and comparing brands of dog food in a variety of price ranges, you should be able to find the best dog food for small dogs that also matches your budget.
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