Small Breed Diet: Find the Best Dog Food for Small Dogs

Although small breed dogs look nothing like their wolf ancestors, the best dog food for small dogs is still a raw diet. What unique nutritional and energy demands do small dogs have? How can you practice portion control with a raw diet for small dogs? Why is raw the best food for small dogs?

Keep reading to learn all this and more so you can give your little dog the best life possible.

Meeting the Nutritional Demands of Small Dogs

While large dogs need more calories overall than small dogs, small breed dogs actually require more calories per pound of their body weight compared to bigger dogs since they tend to have higher metabolic rates.

Additionally, small breed puppies are extremely prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so they must eat 4-6 small meals per day to maintain their blood sugar levels.

Overall, this means that small dogs require nutritionally dense food so they can pack a relatively high number of calories into a tiny stomach. That’s why a raw diet is such a great option. Every calorie matters with small dogs, so rather than filling their bellies with nutrient-poor filler ingredients commonly found in kibble, fill them up right with nutrient-dense We Feed Raw.

With their small mouths and tiny teeth, small dogs may struggle with a traditional DIY raw diet. We Feed Raw’s patties are nutritionally complete and balanced; are made from muscle meat, organ meat, and bone; and are finely ground, so even small dogs with dental problems can benefit from a raw diet without struggling to chew whole bones, organs, or muscles.

Portion Control for Small Breeds

While small dogs have a high metabolism and need nutrient-dense food, they are also prone to obesity, which can shorten their lives by more than two years. For that reason, portion control and low-carb diets are especially important for small breeds.

While carbohydrates are strongly tied to obesity, you still wouldn’t want to overfeed your small dog, even with We Feed Raw’s naturally carb-free food. That’s why we ask you lots of questions about your dog to determine their perfect daily dose.

Then, we tell you exactly how to cut the patties we deliver to you to feed your dog just the right amount of food every day to keep them at a healthy weight. In a survey, 90% of We Feed Raw customers said their dogs maintained a healthy weight on our food.

Assessing the Quality of Ingredients

Since kibble companies cook their food at such high temperatures (and often include meat meals that have been processed at even higher temperatures), they are allowed to use ingredients that are deemed unfit for human consumption, including animals that died before they reached the slaughterhouse.

You want the best for your little dog, so you want food made from high-quality ingredients. That’s why We Feed Raw uses USDA-inspected meat from human food chains for our dog food rather than cheaper, questionable, feed-grade ingredients.

The Significance of Life Stages in Raw Diet Selection

High-energy puppies, active adult dogs, and lazy senior dogs all have different nutritional requirements and may need different diet formulations.

This tends to be more true for kibble and other foods that are designed to meet the bare minimum requirements for each life stage as opposed to We Feed Raw, which is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of all life stages, including the growth of puppies.

The Best Puppy Food for Small Breeds

A raw diet is the best puppy food for small breeds because it is calorie-dense without containing obesity-causing carbs. We Feed Raw is nutritionally complete and balanced, plus finely ground, making it easy for you to feed and even easier for your tiny puppy to eat.

The Best Senior Dog Food for Small Breeds

The best dog food for small breed senior pups is a raw diet. We Feed Raw is soft enough for even toothless senior dogs to get the amazing benefits of raw dog food. Our patties are also very easy to portion out, ensuring you don’t overfeed your dog and accidentally contribute to the obesity to which small breeds are prone.

Special Diets and Health Considerations

Small dogs have the same number of teeth as big dogs, but they need to fit those teeth into much smaller jaws. As a result of overcrowded teeth, small breeds are more prone to periodontal disease than large breeds and frequently lose many of their teeth before they even reach old age.

Raw dog food is the best diet for dental health because it lacks the carbohydrates that feed oral bacteria, contributing to dental decay. And while chewing on the occasional recreational raw bone provides an added “flossing” action, dogs with missing, damaged, or sensitive teeth can still benefit from a raw diet when it’s finely ground, like We Feed Raw’s patties.

When thawed, our patties are soft enough for even toothless dogs to enjoy, making our meals ideal for small dogs. Even without the ability to chew on whole bones, dogs can get the benefits of finely ground bones, organ meat, and muscle meat in our complete and balanced frozen patties.

The Best Dog Food for Small Breeds Is Raw

As you can see, We Feed Raw is the best dog food for dogs who are small. Young or old, with or without teeth, small dogs can enjoy and benefit from our finely ground raw patties. Start your small dog’s meal plan now!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best puppy food for small breeds?

A complete and balanced raw diet like We Feed Raw is the best puppy food for small breeds. Our food is easy to eat and nutritionally dense, and we also use a cold-pressure process to inactivate pathogens, making it safe for puppy tummies.

What constitutes the best dog food for small breed dogs?

We Feed Raw is the healthiest dog food for small dogs because it’s nutrient-dense, simple to feed, easy to eat, and free of obesity-causing carbs.

How do I find the best dog food for puppies of small breeds?

To find the best dog food for puppies of small breeds, you should look for highly nutritious raw dog food that uses a cold-pressure process to inactivate pathogens and is finely ground so it’s easy to eat. We Feed Raw meets all these criteria.

Can you recommend the best dog food for small breed puppies?

The best dog food for small breed puppies is We Feed Raw because it’s complete and balanced, pathogen-free, simple to feed, and easy to digest.

Why is it important to choose the best dog food for small breeds?

Choosing the best dog food for small breeds gives you the best chance of having a dog who lives a long, healthy, happy life. While nothing guarantees a long life, feeding your dog a highly nutritious diet is the best way to help give them more quality years.

What features should the best dog food for small dogs have?

The best dog food for small dogs should have high-quality ingredients, no fillers, no added carbohydrates, and be easy to eat, even for dogs with dental problems, which small dogs are prone to.

How to determine the best food for small breed dogs?

To determine the best food for small breed dogs, check the ingredients, look to see if a kill-step is used to prevent harmful pathogens from harming your dog, and look for a food that’s complete and balanced. We Feed Raw meets all these criteria and more.

What makes the best food for small dogs?

The best food for small dogs is made from raw muscle meat, organ meat, and bone from high-quality sources. It should also use cold-pressure processing to inactivate potential pathogens.

How do I choose dog food for small breeds?

To choose dog food for small breeds, keep in mind that small dogs are virtually the same inside as their wolf counterparts and should be fed accordingly. Look for a complete and balanced raw dog food, especially one that’s finely ground so it’s easier for small dogs to eat.

Is raw feeding suitable for small dogs with food allergies?

Yes, raw feeding is excellent for small dogs with food allergies. Since raw food has significantly fewer ingredients than kibble, it’s much easier to avoid potential allergens.