what is the best senior dog food for small breeds

The best senior dog food of 2024, with advice from veterinarians

What to look for in senior dog food

Our experts say the following criteria are important to consider when shopping for senior dog food:

AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for adult maintenance or all life stages: The AAFCO is a nonprofit organization that recommends nutritional profiles based on an animal's life stage. They don't approve pet foods or establish specific standards for senior dog foods. However, choosing a senior food formulated for adult maintenance or all life stages ensures the recipe fulfills the recommended protein, fat, and nutrient requirements of adult dogs. The best dog foods for senior pups will also contain beneficial extras such as glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and have fewer calories per serving than adult dog foods.

Ingredient list: Labels list ingredients by weight, so the first few ingredients generally make up the majority of the food's weight. "There are no particular ingredients that senior dogs should avoid," says Luisana. However, she recommends grain-inclusive foods over grain-free foods due to the potential link between grain-free dog foods, especially those containing peas, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Guaranteed analysis: Rather than fixating on dog food ingredient lists, our experts say to examine the guaranteed analysis of important nutrients, including protein, fat, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Adult dog food must have a minimum of 18% protein and 5.5% fat to fulfill a dog's nutritional needs. As the AAFCO doesn't set specific standards for senior dog foods, the guaranteed analysis of these foods can vary significantly between recipes. Before selecting a food, our experts recommend asking your vet about the best food for your senior pup.

Healthy extras: The best senior dog food will contain extra ingredients that support their unique needs. For example, Freeman and Welborn highlight the potential benefits of antioxidants in supporting healthy aging. Welborn suggests a diet rich in antioxidants, such as Purina Bright Minds, if your dog experiences cognitive dysfunction. Other healthy extras for seniors include joint-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.

Calorie content: A dog's metabolism typically slows as they age, and many seniors are less active. So, senior dog foods usually contain fewer calories than adult formulations, according to Churchill. Freeman adds that overweight senior dogs are at greater risk of weight-related conditions like arthritis and diabetes. That said, feeding your dog less food could result in a nutritional deficiency. That's why Freeman recommends switching to a low-calorie senior diet or a weight-management diet based on guidance from your vet.

Breed-size formulation: The best food for your senior pup may depend on their size. Our experts say small and large breed seniors have different health risks and may also require different calorie amounts and kibble sizes. Buying food specific to your pup's size helps ensure they get a recipe formulated for their needs.

Feeding-trial tested versus formulated foods: The best senior dog foods have been formulated and in some cases, feeding-trial tested to meet the AAFCO's nutritional standards for adult maintenance or all life stages. If your dog's food has an AAFCO label, you'll know the recipe fulfills the recommended protein, fat, and nutrient requirements for adult dogs. A label indicating feeding trials confirms the food's safety and palatability based on testing with a group of dogs.

Expert formulations: The dog food brands we recommend meet quality control standards. In other words, the brand employs a full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist and potentially a PhD-level animal nutritionist, as recommended in the WSAVA guidelines.

Next-level ingredients: Next-level ingredients refer to those farmed or caught through humane and sustainable farming or harvesting practices. Although these ingredients may not offer extra nutrition to your pet, choosing pet food with ingredients like farmed raised meats, cage-free eggs, and sustainably caught fish helps you support a pet food company that prioritizes both animal welfare and sustainable practices.

Best Dog Food for Small Breeds

Your small breed dog might think he is one of the big dogs, but when it comes to dinnertime his nutritional needs are unique. He needs a diet specially formulated for small dogs to help him feel and act his best. Unfortunately, finding the best dog food for small breeds is not always easy. We have a few tips to help make your search for the perfect canine cuisine easier.

Small Dog Nutrition 101

Small dogs are different in many ways from their larger counterparts, beginning with their nutritional needs. Despite their small size, small and toy breed dogs may actually require more calories per pound than large-breed dogs. Their higher metabolic rates particularly affect their dietary needs in puppyhood, and there are health concerns as they age that diet can help address.

In general, dogs require a wide range of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Dogs, contrary to popular belief, are not strictly carnivores. Domestic dogs rely on grains, fruits, and vegetables, as well as meat, for a complete and balanced diet. For this reason, many people prefer to feed their dogs commercial foods. Most commercial foods are affordable, convenient, and contain all of the nutrients that dogs need to stay healthy, and since few owners are experts in dog nutrition, feeding a dry or canned commercial diet takes the guesswork out of balancing your dogs nutritional needs.

Certain breeds may have their own nutritional concerns. Talk to your vet about your dog to see if there are any nutritional risks you should be aware of based on breed, age, or existing health problems.

Best Food for Small Breed Puppies

The assumption that small breed dogs are low maintenance and easy to feed due to their small size is dangerous. Small breed puppies, especially toy breeds, require careful feeding to prevent a condition called hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is the scientific word for low blood sugar, and small breed puppies are prone to developing this condition as a result of high metabolic rates and low sugar and body fat reserves. This means they need to be fed a calorie-dense, small breed puppy food anywhere from four-to-six times a day and watched closely for symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs:

• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Muscle tremors
• Seizures

Most complete and balanced small breed puppy foods contain the appropriate amount of nutrients for small breed dogs. They also have smaller kibbles, which are easier for small breed puppies to chew and are less of a choking hazard. Talk to your vet about the risks of hypoglycemia and what you can do to prevent it in your small breed puppy. If you suspect your puppy has hypoglycemia, call your veterinarian immediately.

Best Dog Food for Small Breed Adults

Finding the best food for small breed adults is tricky. There are a lot of options claiming to offer your dog the best nutritional package in a variety of price ranges. You can narrow your search by asking your veterinarian what brands he or she recommends. Veterinarians have access to the latest research on dog nutrition as well as pet food recalls, which makes them a valuable resource during this decision-making process. Depending on your dogs health, your vet might recommend a specific food or several brands that he or she feels offer the best food for small breeds.

Small breed adult dogs require more calories-per-pound than large dogs, and they also need smaller kibbles, which is why diets especially formulated for small breeds are usually best. However, while small dogs might need more calories per pound than larger dogs, that does not mean that owners should overfeed them. One of the biggest concerns regarding dog nutrition is obesity. Obese dogs are more prone to a variety of health issues, and it is estimated that obesity takes as many as two years off of our dogs lives.

Diseases associated with obesity in dogs:

Best Food for Small Breed Senior Dogs

Small breed dogs typically live longer than large breed dogs. This means that your small breed dog could be eating the same food from the time she graduates from puppy food for more than 15 years. A diet rich in antioxidants could help prevent free radical damage over her long lifespan, so ask your veterinarian about the best foods for small breeds that contain plenty of antioxidants.

Both adult and all other life-stage formulas are appropriate for senior dogs. Currently, there is no senior, geriatric, or mature dog food nutrient profile recognized by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Dog foods that cater to seniors do not have to meet specific senior nutrient requirements, and they may not have undergone any clinical trials to test their effectiveness. This does not necessarily mean that senior dog foods for small breeds are a bad choice for your senior pet, but it is a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about a senior diet before you buy, in order to make sure you get an effective formula.

Senior small breed dogs may develop health problems that require special dietary restrictions or prescription diets. Prescription senior diets, unlike commercial diets, are specially formulated and clinically proven to help treat certain conditions. Your vet may recommend a prescription diet for your senior pet if he or she feels it is necessary.

How to Read a Dog Food Label

One of the first things conscientious owners look at is the label on a bag of food. While this is a good practice, the reality is that dog food labels can be very misleading and hard to interpret. There are a few things to keep in mind as you look at a label:

• Look for the statement complete and balanced
• Check the life stages (ie. puppy, adult, all life stages)
• Examine the ingredients for any allergens your pet may have

Complete and balanced dog foods contain at least the minimum amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients considered necessary for dogs, helping ensure that your pet does not suffer from a nutrient deficiency. Choosing the appropriate life stage also helps keep your pet nutritionally satisfied, and avoiding allergens prevents your dog from suffering from an allergic reaction.

The ingredient list is a good way to see what the primary ingredients in the dog food are, but it will not tell you very much about the quality of the ingredients. The best way to determine if the food is made from good quality ingredients such as meats, grains, vegetables, and fruits is to contact the manufacturer or consult your veterinarian.

The manufacturer should be able to give you a complete nutritional analysis of the product, which you can present to your vet, and can also verify whether or not there is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist on its staff. Most manufacturers have this information available on their websites, and if not, you should feel free to call their customer service representative with your questions. Other questions to ask are:

• Do they follow AAFCO feeding trials?
• Have they participated in clinical studies about their products?
• Do they manufacture their foods in-house where they have control over all aspects of development, or do they outsource?
• Where do they source their ingredients?
• How many calories are in their servings?

Cost of Small Breed Dog Food

Once you have sorted through the various dog food brands and found one that you and your vet think will best benefit your dog, you need to decide how much you are willing to spend. A good rule of thumb to follow for commercial dog food diets is to stay away from the cheapest option. Your dogs food is a vital part of his preventative healthcare, and so you want to invest in it as much as possible. When it comes to dog food, you usually get what you pay for.

On the other hand, an expensive dog food is not a guarantee of quality, either. By talking with your veterinarian and comparing brands of dog food in a variety of price ranges, you should be able to find the best dog food for small dogs that also matches your budget.

Specialty Diets for Small Breed Dogs

There are quite a few new pet food trends going around right now, including raw diets, grain-free diets, and home-cooked pet meals. If you are considering feeding a non-traditional diet to your small breed dog, talk with your veterinarian. There are serious concerns associated with some of these trends, especially raw diets, that pet owners need to be aware of in order to keep both their pets and their families safe.

Some small dogs have allergies to certain ingredients. If your dog has a food allergy or sensitivity, talk to your vet about the best type of food for your dog and what ingredients to avoid.

How Much Should I Feed My Small Breed Dog?

Finding the best dog food for small dogs is the first step toward helping your pet live a long and healthy life. Figuring out how much to feed them is the second. In general, the guidelines on the back of the food bag are a good place to start. Measure out each meal and monitor your pets weight closely to see if he gains or loses weight when you follow the manufacturers instructions, and dont hesitate to talk with your veterinarian to help you determine the best weight for your dog.

Unfortunately for small breed dog owners, breeders, and enthusiasts, there is no single best dog food for small breeds. Following these guidelines and consulting with your veterinarian are good ways to find a dog food that works for your wallet and your dog. With a little research, you can feel safe knowing that your dog is getting the best possible nutrition to help her live a long and healthy life.