Smaller breed dogs have completely different diet requirements because they have much faster metabolism hence they require dog food with higher fat and carbohydrate content. However, despite their need for more calories their diet will still need to be carefully controlled because they can gain weight very quickly.
Hence, never exceed the dosage that the packaging says or that your veterinarian will recommend. Also, smaller breeds have much smaller and weaker jaw so they need the kibbles to be small enough for them to chew and swallow without struggling or choking.
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The best way to find the right dry pet wood is to find out what is causing your favorite pet to experience colic, gas and other unpleasant symptoms. Some dogs might have a sensitivity to specific ingredients such as chicken, beetroot and poultry by-products.
Others might exhibit signs of sensitive digestion as a symptom of a far more serious problem. Moreover, choosing the best dog food for your breeds is best done after thorough examination at the vet’s office to ensure your pet is otherwise healthy.
Ask a Vet
Plus, veterinarians can suggest the right type of diet for your pet as not all dry pet food is the same. Some manufacturers make premium class dog dry food that is rich in protein and fiber while other manufacturers produce a pet food that is high in carbohydrates and fat for dogs that are extra active and have higher energy needs.
Firstly, when you go to the veterinarian you will have to ask for stomach cancer examination because it tends to be the main culprit in 30% of dogs having any problems with digestions. Secondly, once you make sure that your dog is healthy, you will want to eliminate all the extra food from his diets such as bones, treats, and table scraps.
This step might be very difficult for you and especially your dog but it will help you realize whether your dog might be having an intolerance to a particular food ingredient only as opposed to actually needing a complete diet change. Furthermore, you should make sure your dog is not stealing scraps from the trash bin, picking food leftovers from the sink and that your dog stays away from cat litter box if you have a feline at home too.
Top 3 – Best Dog Food for Small Breeds
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Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food |
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Purina Pro Plan Focus Dog Food |
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Purina Pro Plan Dog Food |
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Here Are the Best Dog Food for Small Breeds Review 2022
- Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan Focus Dry Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food
- Eukanuba Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food
- The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Senior Breed Food
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Dog Food
- Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food
- Weruva Classic Dog Food
1. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach Dry Food made with and vegetables especially for toy breeds with a sensitive stomach. This type of dry food is made using only steroid-free chicken fillet and vegetables plus it contains beneficial grains such as oats and rice, dry carrots and green vegetables for vitamins and minerals.
Thus, Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach is recommended by veterinarians and dermatologists. Plus, it includes patented formulas that are rich in B group vitamins, minerals and free-radical antioxidants.
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The patented formula was developed together with veterinarians, dermatologists and pet nutritionists to ensure that this pet food is capable of supporting a dog’s immune system, growth, and a healthy oxidative balance without causing stomach upsets and diarrhea. Furthermore, it does not contain any preservatives, additives, colourants or food enhancers.
Also Read: Best Dog Houses – The Top Dozen Reviews
2. Purina Pro Plan Focus Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Focus dry pet food is made without grain, soy or corn and has been specifically designed for dogs of various size with a sensitive stomach. The various ingredients make this pet food rich in protein and minerals needed for healthy digestion in dogs.
Moreover, the unique blend contains dry fruits and vegetables that help the body maintain a healthy immune system and digestion. Purina Pro Plan series is known around the world for their quality, rich ingredients and strict quality control. Plus, customers have reported their dogs loving this food and have said that the kibble size is just right.
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Also, customers have stated that their dogs started showing signs of improvement just after a week of eating Purina Pro Plan Focus for Sensitive Skin and Stomach. You can find this dry pet food in tightly sealed bags weighing from just 3 pounds to large 28-pound bags. If you are not sure whether your dog will like this food, you could go for the little bag to see his reaction.
3. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Dog Food
Another great series of dry pet food that is available in bags and pouches plus customers have reported that dogs love this food. Purina Pro Plan Savor Shredded dry food is made under the close watch of veterinarians and contains lots of probiotics and vitamins needed for stable and healthy digestion.
The salmon and rice blend contains lots of rich proteins and omega-3 fatty acids needed to keep the intestine linings healthy and resistant to bile juice acid that causes dogs to vomit and feel nauseated. The rice provides needed carbohydrates for energy release while the salmon is known to be also reached in protein needed for growth of lean body mass.
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Added probiotics help stabilize digestion and introduce ‘good bacteria’ needed for optimal digestion and energy release. Probiotics help prevent painful stomach colic and are known to fight bad bacteria growing in the intestines that cause gas release and subsequent painful stomach cramps. Moreover, Purina Pro Plan does not contain any chemical additives, colorants and preservatives.
Also Read: How To Choose Best Dog Food For Pitbulls
4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food
Specifically designed for dogs with sensitive digestion, it is made with medium sized kibbles and optimal ingredient list including salmon and lamb. Customers have reported their dogs having great appetite plus the digestion problems were said to slowly subside within 2-4 weeks.
Veterinarians have noted that Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach dry food is rich in protein and carbohydrates needed to build lean muscle mass and maintain optimal energy level. Dogs of all breeds were noted to be active, playful without showing any signs of stomach pain, gas or colic.
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However, the dry food still contains rice and whole grain wheat that might not be liked by some dogs hence it will be best if you could purchase a small bag as a sample and see if your dog will eat it and feel better. As for vitamins and minerals, this dry dog food contains all the necessary microelements needed for a healthy organism.
5. Eukanuba Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food
Eukanuba manufacturers various dry pet food that mainly contains lamb and fish hence the food kibbles are rich in lean protein and beneficial omega 3 fatty acids required for optimal metabolism and healthy digestion. It’s also produces dry dog food with chicken for breeds with sensitive digestion, however; keep in mind that dry chicken loses up to 60% of its water during processing.
Plus, customers have reported that poultry by-products take second place in the ingredient list thus this means that the dry food contains lots of slaughterhouse waste such as crushed bones, chicken feet and beaks as well as leftovers of lungs, heart and kidneys. These ingredients are used as fillers but do not carry any nutritional value to the dog hence avoid at all costs buying pet food that feature by-products in the first 4 ingredients.
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On the good side, Eukanuba pet food is known to contain a high percentage of DHA and EPA, two elements known to be high in fiber and omega 3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the bags are packaged using airtight techniques that ensure the kibbles will stay dry and fresh throughout use.
6. The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen manufacturers dehydrated dog food that you will need to soak in water or meat broth before giving the food bowl to your breeds. Customers can choose from Chicken/Quinoa, Salmon/Rice or Lamb/Sweetpotato. Regardless of what you choose, you can feel confident that your dog will get the best nutrients that will not cause problems with his digestion.
Salmon and rice formula is rich in omega 3 fatty acids thanks to salmon while the brown rice provided needed carbohydrates for high energy level. Plus, salmon is rich in protein that is needed for lean muscle mass and healthy overall weight of the dog.
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Moreover, the formula contains whole eggs that are easy to digest and provide a high level of protein needed for young and energetic dogs regardless of breed. Apart from digestion, protein is needed for healthy skin and a shiny coat as well as balanced shedding.
7. Nature’s Recipe Senior Breed Food
Nature’s Recipe dog food has been long known to produce quality dry food for dogs with various needs. The main ingredient the manufacturer uses is lamb and fish, two ingredients that are very rich in protein. Moreover, lamb and fish do not lose their nutrients after processing unlike chicken and turkey do.
Plus, it has an optimal calorie count hence you will not have to worry about your dog gaining weight especially if he is a senior and has limited mobility. Other ingredients include whole rice, oatmeal and barley. These ingredients are known to be rich in fibre and B group vitamins needed for healthy body functioning.
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Also, Nature’s Recipe manufacturer has implemented strict quality control that ensures each bag is vacuum sealed and does not contain anything foreign. The shelf life of dog food bags is only 8 months because the manufacturer has refused to use lots of preservatives and additives.
Also Read: Best Dog Food for Small Dogs – Reviews & Top Picks
8. Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Dog Food
Overall, Natural Balance is very similar to the above-mentioned type manufactured specifically for senior dogs with limited mobility. However, this type of dog food will be better suited for dogs that are active and have higher energy needs because it contains oats, brown rice and quinoa known to be very rich in carbohydrates.
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Moreover, all ingredients that are used are carefully selected so that the end result does not contain gluten, soy or nut traces.
9. Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food
In general, Wellness Grain Free brand is considered by many veterinarians to be the best dog food for sensitive digestion regardless of breeds or age.
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It is made by using only the best ingredients without any traces of soy, gluten or grains thus you can be sure your dog will be getting high-quality nutrition that is rich in vegetables, vitamins and minerals required for healthy body functioning.
Also Read: Best Dog Cooling Mat – 10 Options To Choose From
10. Weruva Classic Dog Food
For dog owners, it’s harrowing to watch when their dog is suffering from health issues, especially something as frustrating as constipation. It’s advisable to give your dog home-cooked food containing pumpkin, but who has time for that?
If you’d like your small dog to stay free from constipation and maintain a healthy diet at the same time, Weruva’s variety pack is just what you need.
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The package contains 12 cans of food made from high-quality protein, supplemented with enough pumpkin to relieve your dog of any digestive issues. Not only will this variety pack keep your pet’s life interesting, but you will also not need to worry about harming your pet. The food is produced in human-grade facilities. They’re also free from grains, gluten, GMOs, MSG, and carrageenan. In short, there’s not much possibility that your dog will be allergic to this food.
What Ingredients Cause Stomach Upsets?
Before you jump into conclusions that some ingredients are beneficial while other ingredients are not, remember that all dogs are different. Hence, some might digest everything they swallow while others might suffer from severe symptoms after ingesting food ingredients such as chicken and potatoes.
However, veterinarians from the American Kennel Club have compiled a list of food-related causes of stomach upsets and painful colic in all breeds. This list includes food ingredients that are very high in fat, protein and even fiber plus food ingredients that are rich in sugar have been reported to cause digestion problems too.
Therefore, this would mean that if your dog is eating chicken based diet and shows signs of bad digestion or allergies you would need to switch him to beef, fish or lamb based diet. In most cases, this would be enough to relieve your dog of annoying symptoms.
Also, some dog breeds do not tolerate high fiber content in vegetables such as cabbage and beetroot plus a lot of super premium brands of dog food add artificial fibers such as psyllium and inulin because many manufacturers believe that high fiber content ensures healthy bowel movement.
Lastly, inspect the packaging label to see whether fats make up the first 3 ingredients because dogs digestion system does not tolerate high-fat content. Instead, look for dog food that is rich in protein and carbohydrates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do Small Breed Dogs Need Special Food?
A: Small breed dogs differ from others in many ways. This is also the case with the food. They need a different amount of food than the other, and this food should contain some main ingredients. They should have smaller kibbles that are rich in nutrition. Because although they need more calories, they cannot eat a bunch of food, or they’ll get fat quickly.
Q: What Should You Look for in Food for Small Breed Puppies?
A: You should choose foods that are higher in nutrition. They should be small kibbles for your dog to swallow\ eat quickly. The size of the food can be dangerous for dogs this size. Small breed dogs tend to have hypoglycemia. It means low blood sugar, which can get very dangerous. That’s why you need to feed these dogs with calorie-dense food 4-6 times a day and watch them closely.
Q: Can Your Small Breed Dog Eat the Same Food Every Day?
A: Actually, yes. If you find a diet that is good for your puppy, stick with it. Make sure that his diet is rich in antioxidants since these dogs live long and need to give them a good long life.
Also Read: Best Dog Food for Allergies (Limited Ingredient, Grain Free)
Conclusion
Manufacturers decide on the kibble size depending on the breed and size of the dog that they designing the dry food for. However, if your dog has problems with digestion, it would be best to go for small to medium sized kibbles as they are much easier to digest than larger ones designed for large breeds such as German Shepherds and St. Bernard’s.
Lastly, regardless of your budget, always look to but the best pet food you can afford because it is much easier to prevent problems with digestion rather than treat them later hence spending much more money you would otherwise spend on premium breeds food.
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