Small-breed dogs require diets explicitly tailored to their size. Their metabolisms need them to consume more calories per pound than larger breeds, requiring their food intake to reflect this fact.
Small dog food typically features smaller kibble bits that are easier for small jaws and teeth to chew and nutrients targeted explicitly toward skin and coat health.
1. Hill’s Science Diet Small Breed
Hill’s Science Diet Small Breed offers a selection of formulas specifically formulated to meet your dog’s nutritional needs at every life stage and health condition. Veterinarians and pet nutritionists recommend it – it is the #1 pet-recommended pet food brand!
Hill’s puppy formulas contain high-quality proteins and an antioxidant blend designed to support their healthy development.
As dogs age, their nutritional requirements decrease. Adult small-breed dogs often become less active as they age; therefore, they require food with reduced calorie content, such as Hill’s Science Diet Light adult small-breed dog food, to manage their weight effectively and preserve lean muscle mass.
This recipe for small dogs features chicken meal and rice, making it an excellent way to help their digestive systems adapt to larger kibble sizes. Flaxseed oil provides omega-3 fatty acids; however, soybean oil could trigger food allergies in these canines.
Hill’s is dedicated to producing safe pet products and conducting regular quality systems audits at its manufacturing facilities. Furthermore, they partner with shelters by donating food and helping find loving homes for the shelter animals they shelter – helping enrich and extend relationships between people and pets for over seven decades!
2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites
Real meat is the foundation of natural smart nutrition for small dogs, providing genuine support to their overall well-being. Each highly digestible serving comprises protein, naturally sourced glucosamine, antioxidant vitamins A & E, and zinc & selenium minerals; no fillers are included either! Every high-quality ingredient serves a purpose.
Small-breed dogs enjoy this tasty, easy-to-feed kibble explicitly designed for their mouths. Its delicious crunch bites help maintain clean teeth, while its nutritionally dense formula supplies him with all the protein he needs for strong muscles, including his heart. Furthermore, an exclusive high-quality glucosamine formula assists him with joint health maintenance.
Veterinarian-recommended, our SmartBlend of quality ingredients helps support his digestive microbiome, immunity, and weight management for maximum benefits – including beautiful coats, intense energy levels, and bright eyes! With such targeted nutrition, you can expect healthier energy and more excellent coat shine!
This recipe features beef, which has been linked with diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (or DCM). If this issue concerns you, we advise choosing another formula and gradually introducing this food over several days to your pet; follow the recommended feeding amounts listed on the package before adjusting as necessary based on activity level or body condition.
3. Diamond Naturals Small Breed Chicken & Rice Recipe
This small breed food is proudly produced in the US by a family-owned business using premium ingredients from domestic and global sources, tailor-made especially for your pint-sized pup’s specific needs, and featuring chicken as the first ingredient and smaller kibble size. It contains 27% protein and 16% fat for optimal nutrition, including superfoods like chia seeds, blueberries, and pumpkin, as well as antioxidants and natural vitamins and minerals that support skin, coat, and teeth health. This holistic diet has been specifically developed to meet the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for maintenance, and all recipes include guaranteed probiotics for digestive health, immune support, and overall wellness.
Nulo has created this grain-free, protein-first food to ensure your small dog has a long and contented life. It draws most of its animal protein from de-boned turkey and whole dried eggs – sources with high levels of “complete” proteins – making this diet highly bioavailable to your pup’s cells. Plus, the kibble features natural omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. Plus, it comes packed with DHA for brain development and L-carnitine for turning fats into energy conversion!
Nom Turkey Fare is packed with nutritious vegetables, fruits, and grains for optimal health in small dogs. Additionally, this recipe features probiotics and prebiotic fiber to aid digestion, as well as taurine and L-carnitine for heart support. Although more expensive than some Nulo options, Nom Nom Turkey Fare provides all-round good health.
4. Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food is a high-protein food designed to help your pup reach his true potential. Made specifically for small breed dogs and featuring cage-free chicken as its first ingredient, this food boasts optimal protein levels and balanced fats to support weight management and metabolic function, as well as probiotics, omegas, and antioxidants that help nourish them from within.
This food features natural ingredients and does not include any meat by-products – animal waste products consisting of bone fragments, beaks, hair, or intestinal parts with no nutritional benefit – like bone meal and results. Furthermore, its crunchy texture may help remove plaque and tartar build-up. The food is appropriately sized for small dogs.
AAFCO nutrition guidelines support this food’s composition as it delivers high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals essential to keeping your small dog’s overall health. Calcium, phosphorus, and other vital elements help promote strong bones and teeth while the food is free from corn, wheat, and soy, as well as artificial flavors/colors/preservatives for maximum chewing pleasure! Furthermore, its small size makes chewing much simpler.
