Best Dog Food for Small Dogs in 2019 – Reviews & Top Picks

Images	Name of Dog Food	Type	Weight	Ingredients	Age	View on Amazon
	Blue	Holistic	15 lb	Chicken/Brown Rice	Adult	Check Price Read Reviews
	Blue	Grain-free	24 lb	Chicken	Adult	Check Price Read Reviews
	Rachael Ray	Natural	28 lb	Turkey/Potatoes	Adult	Check Price Read Reviews
	HILLS’S	Sensitive	30 lb	Chicken/Barley	Adult	Check Price Read Reviews
	Eukanuba	Grain-free	33 lb	Chicken	Adult	Check Price Check Reviews
	Sojos	Dry Raw Food	1.25 lb	Lamb	Adult	Check Price Check Reviews
	Nature’s Recipe	Grain-free	30 lb	Salmon/Potatoes	Adult	Check Price Check Reviews
	Nature’s Balance	Natural	26 lb	Chicken/Rice	Adult	Check Price Check Reviews
	Wellness	Grain Free	24 lb	Salmon/Oats	Adult	Check Price Check Reviews
	Weruva	Grain Free	4 lb	Chicken/Lamb	Adult	Check Price Check Reviews

10 Best Small Breed Dog Food Reviews in 2018

#1.  Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken and Brown Rice for Adult Dogs

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is made with pure chicken meat and high-quality brown rice for adult dogs of small breed.

Only protein-rich, boneless and skinless chicken is used in making this premium quality dry pet food. Plus, it contains wholesome whole grains, dry fruits and vegetables for added vitamins and minerals.

Moreover, the increased level of protein in this dog food is ideal for the higher needs of small dogs.

Plus, it includes patented LifeSource Bits that are rich in B group vitamins, minerals and free-radical antioxidants.

The LifeSource Bits 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.

Furthermore, it does not contain any preservatives, additives, colourants or food enhancers.

#2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Adult Small Breed Dog Food with Chicken

Blue Buffalo Company has developed this high protein dry pet food for small adult dogs as they have a much higher protein requirement compared to adult dogs of medium or large size.

Moreover, the added L-carnitine helps dogs develop and keep lean muscle on and reduces their chances of gaining extra weight.

Plus, this dry pet food is enhanced with various dried fruits, vegetables as well as herbs such as oregano and rosemary.

Furthermore, the pet food is made at a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the US and passes strict quality control that prohibits any traces of poultry by-products. Also, it does not contain any corn, wheat, or soy.

All Blue Buffalo pet food recipes include a two-type food kibble size made from finest ingredients that are enhanced with a beneficial blend of vitamins, minerals and herbs.

To preserve the dry food from spoiling or turning mouldy, all ingredients are processed at a very low temperature over a long period of time and packaged in vacuum sealed bags.

#3. Rachel Ray Nutritious Zoo Grain Free Natural Pet Food with Turkey and Potatoes

The main ingredient in this pet food is a farm-grown turkey that has not been injected with any proteins or antibiotics. However, remember that turkey contains nearly 70% of water.

Once the turkey is processed it will lose most of its moisture thus reducing the turkey content to just a fraction of the original mass.

Moreover, turkey and chicken meal are added into this dog food for added protein-rich meat concentrate along with dried green peas that are a good source of simple carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are essential for optimal energy release in small dogs plus they are high in fibre helps keep small intestines healthy and working the right way.

But, green peas only contain about 25% of protein so keep this mind when trying to figure out the protein content of this natural small breed dog food.

Furthermore, Rachel Ray Natural Small Breed Pet Food contains raw chicken fat that is a great source of linoleic acid as well as omega-6 fatty acids.

However, the dry pet food does not contain any probiotics that aid good stomach digestion and help avoid colic gas.

Also, it contains chemically made minerals called chelated minerals that are easier to absorb but might cause health scars later in life.

#4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin Dry Dog Food

Unfortunately, the first ingredient in this Hill’s Dry Dog Food for small breeds is corn which is used by manufacturers because it is the cheapest grain cereal on the market but sadly it has little to no nutritional value to your pet.

Often, it is simply used as filler in the pet food industry to help reduce the need of adding more expensive ingredients such as meat, fruits and vegetables.

Secondly, the manufacturer has added soybean mill run which is again very cheap filler often used in cattle feeds.

The meat ingredient includes chicken by-products meal which are leftover of what a chicken after prime cuts have been cut from the slaughtered bird.

Sadly, this means that in addition to leftover organs, the manufacturer can add anything else remaining such as undeveloped eggs, beaks and feet.

On the good side, these by-products are considered to be meat concentrates as they contain nearly 10 times more protein than simple chicken meat.

Furthermore, the manufacturer has apparently thought of adding another cheap plant-based filler such as powdered cellulose. A by-product of vegetable processing that is very difficult to digest in the dog’s stomach and requires lots of bile juice.

Often, cellulose is used to give your pet the feeling of fullness but other than that it has zero nutritional value to your beloved pet.

Lastly, Hill’s Science Diet contains raw minerals that are hard to absorb as compared to chelated minerals and are often associated with cheap pet food brands.

#5. Eukanuba Chicken Adult Dry Food for Small Breeds

The first ingredient is chicken, and it is a quality ingredient when raw but not when processed as it losses up to 60% of water in the cooking process.

The second ingredient is chicken by-products which are considered to be slaughterhouse waste. The chicken by-products can include undesirable ingredients such as beaks and feet that have no nutritional value whatsoever.

Moreover, this ingredient is forbidden to be used in super-premium pet foods by the FDA as they are considered to be fillers and not the real source of carbohydrates or protein.

Plus, Eukanuba contains plenty of other fillers such as cornmeal, flour, brewer’s rice and sorghum.

Furthermore, a large percentage of pet food consists of barley, a starch-based carbohydrate that is rich in fibre and other beneficial ingredients.

On the bright side, Eukanuba does contain fish oil which is super rich in DHA and EPA. Also, flaxseed meal is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fibre.

However, customers have also noticed the addition of sodium hexametaphosphate, an industrial polymer often used in the skin care industry especially in the production of shampoos, soap, and liquid detergents.

Logically, it would be safe to say that the manufacturer has added this ingredient to prevent tartar build up on the teeth.

#6. Sojos Lamb Complete Nutritional Dry Pet Food for Small Breeds

Sojos has included salmon as their first ingredient, an oily river fish rich in protein and omega 3 fatty acids that are necessary for a healthy organism.

Sojos manufacturer has also added whole eggs that are easy to digest by small breeds and are exceptionally rich in valuable protein needed for the repair of skin and tissue cells.

Moreover, the ingredients list includes cranberries and celery root, both ingredients are super rich in fibre and vitamins.

Plus, cranberries are a great source of vitamin C that is required for healthy skin and good eyesight.

Furthermore, peas and sweet potato are gluten-free sources of healthy carbohydrates needed for good metabolism and optimal level of energy in your beloved pet.

Also, the added flaxseeds carry great value as they stimulate healthy bowel movements and are crucial in helping prevent large intestine disease.

#7. Nature’s Recipes Senior Small Breed Lamb and Rice Dry Dog Food

Like with some of the previous brands, the main ingredients in Nature’s Recipes Senior pet food are chicken and lamb.

The lamb has nutritional value and is great for senior small breed dogs; however, the chicken is less than desirable in pet food because it has very little calorie count and loses nearly 60% of its weight after being processed.

However, the second ingredient is brown rice, a carbohydrate from the complex group that is easy to process and digest.

Other ingredients include whole oatmeal, barley and wheat that are rich in fibre and B group vitamins needed for healthy blood system.

Also, Nature’s Recipe manufacturer has included a chicken meal as a source of protein and a good portion of poultry fat that is rich in linoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids.

In addition to these ingredients, Nature’s Recipes contains other ingredients such as yeast and tomato pomace known to support the immune system of sick or senior small breed dogs.

#8. Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Dry Dog Food

Again, the main ingredient is chicken which reduces its weight and nutritional value by over 60% when processed.

Next, we have the brown rice and oat groats that are considered to be complex carbohydrates rich in energy and caloric content.  Plus, they are gluten-free.

Moreover, Natural Balance Limited Ingredients has dried potatoes and chicken meal added for protein content and fibre nutritional value.

Other ingredients include chicken fat high in linoleic acid and calorie count as well as a range of vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, celery and beetroot.

#9. Wellness Grain Free Natural Pet Food with Chicken and Apples

Overall, this is the best dry pet food for small breeds in this guide because it is made with GMO-free ingredients that are rich in caloric value and provide the dog organism with all the needed microelements such as vitamins and minerals for a healthy and shiny coat as well as tartar-free teeth.

Moreover, no by-products are used and instead, the manufacturer has included only whole meats that are rich in protein, iron and help maintain healthy blood system with optimal haemoglobin level.

Plus, Wellness pet food is made in the US under strict quality control measures that ensure each bag of dog food is high quality, mould and bacteria free.

#10. Weruva Caloric Harmony Dry Dog Food

Weruva Caloric Harmony dog food is made without chicken and potatoes, two ingredients that often cause allergies in dogs.

Plus, small breed dogs such as Pugs and French Bulldogs are more prone to developing food allergies than other small breeds such as Jack Russell and Yorkshire Terriers.

Moreover, other ingredients include prime cut venison and salmon that are super rich in protein and omega fatty acids that are needed for healthy coat and health.

Also, canola oil and flaxseeds are rich in vitamins and other microelements such as iron, magnesium and calcium.

Why Small Kibble Size is Crucial?

Kibble size is determined depending on the size of dogs jaw and their teeth hence the kibble size will much smaller for toy breeds. Besides, smaller breeds are more likely to develop gastrointestinal upsets as well as problems with teeth so it is crucial that they have a good diet with right-sized kibbles.

Conclusion

Look to buy the best pet food you can afford but also pay special attention to the kibble size and the calorie count.

Plus, read the label to see if the pet food is grain free and has an adequate level of vitamins and minerals needed for healthy growth and body maintenance.