Importance of Good Dog Food
If you’re on the hunt for the best dog food for small dogs, you’ve found the right place. Small dogs have unique nutritional needs. Their bodies grow at a different rate than large breeds, and they require different levels of nutrients.
Sadly, if you provide poor quality food for your dog, especially while they are growing, their health can suffer. Dogs who receive improper nutrition can be more prone to illness, allergies, and other maladies.
While you are on the hunt for the best dog food for small breeds, you want to make sure that your pup is getting all their essential nutrients, but only using wholesome ingredients.
Five Best Dog Foods for Small Dogs
As a Certified Dog Trainer, I have seen many different dog breeds and the foods that they eat. Throughout that time, I’ve heard a wide variety of good and bad food reviews. I’ve used that experience to provide you with an all-encompassing guide to the best dog foods for small dogs on the market.
Each of these foods has a certain scenario or feature that sets it apart from the rest: taste, all-around use, value, etc. It is difficult to provide an all-encompassing choice of which is the best dog food, but we have ranked them in terms of quality, price, versatility, and more.
Here is our unbiased review of the top 5 best dog foods for small dogs!
All-Around Best Dog Food for Small Dogs
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Review Highlights:
“… I have never seen her fur as shiny as it is now!!! I’ve never before seen a food product for our dogs make such a difference!!! I am beyond thankful!! …”
“… As I opened the bag, they were hooked. I noticed [my dogs] were not as enthusiastic about meal time as before. I saw a big difference in my Dogs energy level immediately within the very first week! …”
“… every time it is poured in the bowl the dogs go wild. They are healthy and happy and it is a great product. My vet also gives it high praise. Wonderful product …”
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This food is a great all-around pick. It uses real protein as the first (and second!) ingredients. They specially formulated this food for the high energy requirements of small breed dogs.
Feature Highlights:
- Real chicken is the first ingredient.
- First two ingredients are protein sources.
- Contains high protein and carbohydrate for your small breed’s energy levels.
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is a great choice because it contains healthy whole grains and real proteins. Tailored to small breeds, this food has a high protein and carbohydrate content to fuel your small breed dog’s high energy and growth needs.
Another great feature of this product is everything that it doesn’t contain. You aren’t feeding your dog any by-products, fillers, artifical preservatives or flavors, wheat, corn, or soy. Recommended for: Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Yorkies, Toy Poodles, and more.
Best All-Natural Food for Small Breeds
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Review Highlights:
“… My dogs love it and I love it because it is a healthy choice for them… after all these years they still gobble it up! …”
“… [My dog] loves this food. The bits are just the right size for his little dog mouth… It has some quality ingredients and my dog has been really healthy …”
“… [My dogs] have different needs and food issues. They both are doing very well and their coats are shiny and thick. I highly recommend this product. …”
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This food is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for an all-natural dog food. Wellness uses only natural and wholesome ingredients to fuel your small breed dog.
Feature Highlights:
- Small bites for your small breed to easily chew and swallow.
- Made with turkey, oatmeal, and salmon.
- Provides complete and balanced nutrition for your small breed.
The ingredients just don’t lie. The first three ingredients of this dog food are turkey, chicken meal, and salmon meal. This provides your dog with high levels of protein, as well as essential vitamins and nutrients.
This food also contains a number of other ingredients to ensure your dog is getting many beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Overall, it is a great all-natural choice for your pet. Recommended for: Dachshunds, Yorkies, Maltese, Toy Poodles, Shetland Sheepdogs, and more.
Best Value Small Dog Food
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Review Highlights:
“… Our little female Poodle is the pickiest eater ever. We would regularly cut her food into tiny little pieces, this is the first dog food that I’ve seen this small. And she will eat this food regularly …”
“… My dog has been on this brand since she was a pup! The smell was very fragrant when I opened up the bag for the first time. Overall, great product and I will continue to purchase again …”
“… This is an excellent and highly nutritious dog food! My dogs love it and it doesn’t contain any artificial preservatives or colors …”
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You simply cannot find better value dog food than Diamond Naturals. This food packs a whopping amount of protein and carbs into a low-cost package for your small breed dog.
Feature Highlights:
- Special formula for small breed dogs.
- Real lamb is the first (and second) ingredient.
- Probiotics support your dog’s digestive tract.
This food is an awesome choice for its combination of value and high-quality ingredients. You get the same (or even better) wholesome ingredients, high protein and carbohydrate levels, and real protein sources, all at a better price than the competitors.
For the quality, you simply cannot beat this food. In addition to all the basic nutrients your small breed needs, this food also contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for your pet’s overall health. Recommended for: Maltese, Chihuahuas, Shih-Tzus, Schnauzers, and more.
Best Diet for Small Breeds with Allergies
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Review Highlights:
“… THIS is IT!! I LOVE the small pieces… they come running to eat it!! We are ALL SO very happy with this brand (and size) of food!! …”
“… He loves it! I’ve never seen him so in love with his food. I’ve noticed him scratching less too… Hands down this is the best thing I’ve ever fed my little friend. …”
“… My dachshund mix loves this food. In addition, it seems to help with her ongoing skin issues. All in all, I would recommend this to others. …”
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Does your dog itch and scratch like there’s no tomorrow? Are you constantly battling to keep your pup’s hot spots in check? If so, this food might help alleviate your dog’s allergies.
Feature Highlights:
- Bite-sized kibble is perfect for small breeds.
- Formulated specifically for small breed dogs with high energy needs.
- Made with California avocados for healthy skin and coat.
This food is a fantastic choice for small breed dogs who have skin allergies. It uses natural California avocados to help bolster your dog’s skin and coat.
To even better avoid allergic reaction, this food does not contain any soy, corn, or wheat. It also leaves out irritating by-products and artificial preservatives. Recommended for: Chihuahuas, Shih-Tzus, Maltese, Toy Poodles, and more.
Best Food for Small Breed Puppies
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Review Highlights:
“… The kibble bit size is just the right size. It’s all natural so they’re getting the nutrients that are needed… their coats are soft and shiny… we would highly recommend it to any dog owner …”
“… I was pleased to see that it received five stars from Dog Food Advisor, an independent analyst of dog food quality… the vet is very pleased with [my dog’s] muscle tone and overall health …”
“… so far [my dog] really likes it and digests it really well. It is made with high quality ingredients and very small kibbles. I feel good about feeding him this food and I will keep him on this food as it is quite affordable …”
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A good diet is one of the most important parts of puppyhood. Small breed dogs grow very quickly, and they need calorically dense food to fuel their growth and development. This product is a great choice for that process!
Feature Highlights:
- Made with real chicken.
- Formulated with high protein and amino acids for lean muscle growth.
- Contains probiotics and DHA for digestive health and brain development.
With this dog food, your small breed puppy gets well-rounded nutrition at an affordable cost. Diamond Naturals tailors the food specifically for the high-energy needs of small breed dogs, and the unique vitamins and minerals a growing puppy must have.
With high levels of proteins and carbohydrates, you can rest easy knowing that this food will both help your small breed puppy fuel their daily antics, and ensure they grow healthy and strong. Recommended for: Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Maltese, Yorkies, and more.
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