After centuries of breeding, a significant amount of dog breeds now exist- as small as a Chihuahua and as large as St. Bernard. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than their larger counterparts primarily because they grow slower and have a much slower metabolism rate than dogs belonging to larger breeds.
Moreover, larger breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Labrador Retrievers are known to develop illnesses such as glaucoma and cancer at a much higher rate than dogs such as Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Yorkshire Terriers. Latest scientific studies across over 60,000 dogs from 75 different breeds have found that the dog’s life expectancy decreases by about one month with every 2 kg increase in the dog’s weight.
Another difference is that smaller dogs eat much less but require more energy hence the food they receive must be high in the calorie count and of prime quality. Plus, larger breeds need much more exercise to stay fit otherwise they might develop a number of problems with their joints, heart, and metabolism.
Here Are the Best Dog Food for Small Dogs Review 2022
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Dog Food
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Dog Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
- Eukanuba Small Bites Dry Dog Food
- Sojos Complete Natural Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Senior Dog Food
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Dog Food
- Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food
- Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is made with pure chicken meat and high-quality brown rice for adult dogs of a 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.
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The LifeSource Bits formula was developed together with veterinarians, dermatologists, and pet nutritionists to ensure that this dog food is capable of supporting a dog’s immune system, growth, and healthy oxidative balance. Furthermore, it does not contain any preservatives, additives, colorants, or food enhancers.
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2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Company has developed this high-protein dry dog 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 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 dog 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.
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All Blue Buffalo dog food recipes include a two-type food kibble size made from the finest ingredients that are enhanced with a beneficial blend of vitamins, minerals, and herbs. To preserve the dry food from spoiling or turning moldy, all ingredients are processed at a very low temperature over a long period of time and packaged in vacuum-sealed bags.
3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Dog Food
The main ingredient in Rachael Ray Nutrish’s 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.
Additionally, turkey and chicken meals are included in 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.
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But, green peas only contain about 25% protein so keep this in 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.
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4. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
Unfortunately, the first ingredient in this Hill’s Dry Dog Food for small dogs 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 a very cheap filler often used in cattle feeds. The meat ingredient includes chicken by-products meal which is leftover of a chicken after prime cuts have been taken 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.
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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 Small Bites Dry Dog Food
The first ingredient is chicken, and it is a quality ingredient when raw but not when processed as it losses up to 60% of the 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.
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 fiber 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 fiber.
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Furthermore, customers have also noticed the addition of sodium hexametaphosphate, an industrial polymer often used in the skincare 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 buildup on the teeth.
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6. Sojos Complete Natural Dog Food
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. This manufacturer has also added whole eggs that are easy to digest by small dogs 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 fiber and vitamins. Plus, cranberries are a great source of vitamin C that is required for healthy skin and good eyesight.
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As you know, peas and sweet potatoes are gluten-free sources of healthy carbohydrates needed for good metabolism and optimal level of energy in your beloved pet. These are added to this food. 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 Recipe Senior 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 dog food because it has very little calorie count and loses nearly 60% of its weight after being processed.
On the other hand, 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 fiber and B group vitamins needed for a healthy blood system.
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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.
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8. Natural Balance L.I.D. 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 fiber nutritional value.
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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 Complete Health Dry Dog Food
Overall, Wellness Grain is the best dog food for small dogs 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 a healthy blood system with optimal hemoglobin level.
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Plus, Wellness pet food is made in the US under strict quality control measures that ensure each bag of dog food is high quality, mold and bacteria-free.
10. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Dog Food
I’m often quite tired of looking for a dry dog food that’s grain-free, made from single-source protein, and not full of meat byproducts, while also being within my budget. Well, my search was over when I found Acana Singles.
The reason why this dog food is called ‘Singles’ is that it only contains a single animal-source protein, which is beef. This dry food doesn’t even contain beef byproducts but deboned beef, muscle, and liver.
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More importantly, it does not contain plant protein sources like legumes or peas, which can sometimes cause stomach issues. To further improve stomach health, this food contains sweet potatoes and pumpkin, which contain really good fibers.
The high protein content of this dry dog food is perfect for small dogs with high energy. Lots of pet parents also insisted that their dogs absolutely loved this food. Healthy and approved by dogs, what more could you want?
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Why Small Kibble Size is Crucial?
Kibble size is determined depending on the size of dogs jaw and their teeth hence the kibble size should be much smaller for toy breeds. Besides, smaller breeds are more likely to develop gastrointestinal upsets as well as problems with teeth. Therefore, it is crucial that they have a good diet with right-sized kibbles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which Dog Food Is the Best One?
A: This can be the most asked question when it comes to dog food. But it is not a question that one can answer with ‘Brand A provides the best dog food for small dogs. It is not a simple question. You need to know the specific things about your dog.
It is the same as humans. Some can’t eat cheese because of medical conditions and some just don’t like it. Know your dog better and then find the best quality dog food that satisfies your dogs needs. Be patient, finding the perfect one would take a while.
Q: How Are Small Breed Canines Different?
A: A small dog’s nutritional needs are very different from a large dog’s. Small breed dogs have faster metabolisms. Everything happens very fast, that’s why it can cause hypoglycemia (makes the dog weak and lethargic) if the blood sugar level drops too low. Small dogs’ stomachs are also smaller than others. So, they need less food with plenty of healthy fat and protein.
Q: What to Look for in a Small Breed Dog Food?
A: Small dogs have small mouths, that’s why you need to choose small-sized kibble. These small-sized kibbles should contain plenty of protein and healthy fat since these dogs have smaller stomachs. They cannot eat a bunch of food. You need to make sure the food does not contain high carbs because small dogs easily get fat.
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.
