best FOOD for Small Dogs
Updated November 2020
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
- As Good As It Gets
- Best On A Budget
Bottom Line
A subscription-based delivery service of fresh, human-grade dog food. One of the best options for wet and fresh dog food.
Another subscription dog food made from fresh ingredients. It offers vet-developed plans fit for your dog’s nutritional needs.
A natural dog food with farm-raised chicken as the main ingredient. Contains essential antioxidants and uses real ingredients only.
Provides high-quality protein, vitamins, antioxidants and chelated minerals to fuel an active dog. Comes in a unique kibble designed for small jaws.
A flavorful high-energy food that supports a small breed’s nutritional requirements.
Pros
Uses fresh ingredients.
Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
Above-average protein content.
Provides some benefits that can’t be had with kibbles.
Allows you to create your food plan.
Uses human-grade ingredients.
Offers customizable food plans.
Food isn’t deep-frozen.
Environment-friendly packaging.
Pre-portioned to avoid overeating.
No chicken by-product.
No wheat, corn, grain, or soy protein.
All-natural ingredients.
Excellent for weight management.
Contains an increased amount of protein for small breeds.
All-natural Life Protection Formula.
Meets the nutritional needs of small breeds.
Contains real turkey.
Affordable.
Available in most retailers.
Cons
Expensive.
Some recipes include carbohydrates in the form of grains which are not essential to a dog’s diet. Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Expensive.
Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Hard to bring fresh food on trips/vacation.
Change in formula might be off-putting to dogs that enjoy the previous formula.
A little expensive.
Lists garlic as one of its ingredients.
High price.
Contains chicken by-product.
Not grain-free.
Can cause allergic reactions to dogs with food sensitivities.
- As Good As It Gets
Nom Nom Dog Food
Bottom Line
A subscription-based delivery service of fresh, human-grade dog food. One of the best options for wet and fresh dog food.
Pros
Uses fresh ingredients.
Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
Above-average protein content.
Provides some benefits that can’t be had with kibbles.
Allows you to create your food plan.
Cons
Expensive.
Some recipes include carbohydrates in the form of grains which are not essential to a dog’s diet. Fresh food can’t be used for training.
- Best On A Budget
The Farmer's Dog Food
Bottom Line
Another subscription dog food made from fresh ingredients. It offers vet-developed plans fit for your dog’s nutritional needs.
Pros
Uses human-grade ingredients.
Offers customizable food plans.
Food isn’t deep-frozen.
Environment-friendly packaging.
Pre-portioned to avoid overeating.
Cons
Expensive.
Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Hard to bring fresh food on trips/vacation.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Natural Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken
Bottom Line
A natural dog food with farm-raised chicken as the main ingredient. Contains essential antioxidants and uses real ingredients only.
Pros
No chicken by-product.
No wheat, corn, grain, or soy protein.
All-natural ingredients.
Excellent for weight management.
Cons
Change in formula might be off-putting to dogs that enjoy the previous formula.
A little expensive.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Bottom Line
Provides high-quality protein, vitamins, antioxidants and chelated minerals to fuel an active dog. Comes in a unique kibble designed for small jaws.
Pros
Contains an increased amount of protein for small breeds.
All-natural Life Protection Formula.
Cons
Lists garlic as one of its ingredients.
High price.
Purina Bella Natural Small Breed Dry Dog Food, Natural Bites With Real Chicken & Beef
Bottom Line
A flavorful high-energy food that supports a small breed’s nutritional requirements.
Pros
Meets the nutritional needs of small breeds.
Contains real turkey.
Affordable.
Available in most retailers.
Cons
Contains chicken by-product.
Not grain-free.
Can cause allergic reactions to dogs with food sensitivities.
How We Decided
Aside from looking for online reviews, our team of puppy-testers got down to business and sampled these products to determine which one is the best dog food for small dogs.
23
Models Considered
8
Hours Researched
1
Experts Interviewed
5
Consumer Consulted
Buying Guide For Best Dog Food for Small Dogs
The science in the production of dog food has brought a lot of benefits to dogs. Gone are the days of generic dog food for all kinds of dogs.
With the proper research and development, dog food has become specific for each breed, giving them the nutrients they need to be the healthiest they can be.
And compared to other breed sizes, small-breed dogs require the most nutritional requirements. Surprisingly. smaller breeds need more calories per pound because of their higher metabolism. Smaller dogs also live longer, requiring more fuel for them to live their lives as healthy as possible.
If choosing the best dog food for your small breed is confusing, a visit to the vet can help you decide.
Buying Guide For Best Dog Food for Small Dogs
The science in the production of dog food has brought a lot of benefits to dogs. Gone are the days of generic dog food for all kinds of dogs.
With the proper research and development, dog food has become specific for each breed, giving them the nutrients they need to be the healthiest they can be.
And compared to other breed sizes, small-breed dogs require the most nutritional requirements. Surprisingly. smaller breeds need more calories per pound because of their higher metabolism. Smaller dogs also live longer, requiring more fuel for them to live their lives as healthy as possible.
If choosing the best dog food for your small breed is confusing, a visit to the vet can help you decide.
Key Considerations
Caution
If you opt to go for dry dog food, always keep a lookout for preservatives. It’s not a secret how dog food makers use preservatives like ethoxyquin and fillers like wheat gluten and corn. Adding these drive the cost down and make it a cheap and low-quality dog food option. Feeding these can cause sickness or digestive problems to your pooch.
Food Features
Small dog breeds usually live longer lives than larger breeds. This means your dog could be eating the same dog food for a longer period.
To make help prevent free radicals from doing damage during their lives, look for dog food brands that are rich in antioxidants. Examples of common antioxidants are vitamins C and E and they support a strong immune system.
Expert Tip
Always read the labels. This is a good practice to ensure you’re getting high-quality dog food. Unfortunately, some labels are misleading. To make it simpler, look for the “complete and balanced” statement. This indicates that it contains the minimum amount of vitamins and minerals, just enough for your dog to avoid being malnourished.
Food Prices
Dog food prices are usually driven by the quality of the ingredients used. For our picks, the fresh food options are the most expensive because aside from fresh ingredients, you pay for the meal plan, preparation, and delivery.
Commercial kibbles cost less than fresh or raw food because of the production process. They also come in different sizes to give you more buying options. However, some high-quality kibbles are still not cheap despite the commercial production.
Whether it’s fresh, raw, or dry commercial kibble, the safest rule to follow is to never go for the cheapest option. These usually contain preservatives and fillers and don’t provide the nutritional value your dog needs, no matter what their size is.
Tips
Whether it’s a small or large breed, here are some tips to make sure your dog enjoys every meal you give them.
- Watch out for allergens. Some small breeds are allergic or sensitive to certain food or ingredients. Also, some dogs can be allergic to more than one kind of food. So be sure to watch what you feed them. Your vet can help you find out allergens that you need to avoid.
- Take note of the expiry date. Like any food, dog food will go bad if not consumed on a specific date. Be sure to get dog food that has a “Best By” date that’s at least 6 months away.
- Monitor any weight changes. It’s important to track your dog’s weight because any increase or decrease will require a change in portion size or frequency of feeding.
- Don’t feed your dog before travelling as this can result in car-sickness.
- Make feeding time a fun experience. If you find it challenging to feed your dog, make it fun by using food-dispensing toys or slow-feeding dog bowls.
other products we Considered
There really is no single best dog food for all small breeds or puppies. Your dog’s preference plays a big factor too. Outside of our top five, here are other options you may want to consider.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food: A grain-free dog food that contains a high level of antioxidants and chelated minerals. It’s easy to digest and ideal for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities.
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog: Contains 28% protein from turkey, salmon, and chicken meal. It’s formulated to meet the high energy levels of small breeds and is rich in antioxidants from blueberries, spinach, and apples.
FAQ's
How much dog food should I give my dog?
Dog food makers always put the recommended serving on the package label. Following this ensures that you don’t overfeed your dog and prevents them from becoming overweight.
However, if your dog has specific needs due to health issues, consult your vet on the recommended serving.
Can I feed puppy food to my small dog breed?
No, puppy food is specifically formulated to meet the needs of puppies. Adult dogs, even small dog breeds, don’t have the same nutritional requirements and shouldn’t be fed puppy food.
Is raw food better than commercial kibble?
Both raw and commercial kibble have benefits that are unique to each other. Raw food advocates claim that it provides more energy and healthier coats. Dry commercial kibble is more affordable, provides dental benefits because, and has a lower risk of bacteria contamination.
It’s a matter of your preference as a pet parent and what your dog enjoys more. Either way, it’s best to consult with your vet or pet nutritionist so that your dog can get the most out of its food.
The Team That WOrked on This Review
Nitin Gupta
Chief Content Officer
JJ Resnick
Director of Growth
Erik Adler
Editorial Director