What is the Best Dry Dog Food for Small Dogs?

Best dry dog food for small dogs are the ones that provide complete nutrition to your dog. The nutritional needs of your pet depend on a lot of factors like age, breed, and underlying health conditions. Not every dog can be fed in the same manner. Many people underestimate the need to consult a vet. You need to be careful while feeding small dogs to prevent a condition called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is related to low blood sugar and small dogs can be exposed to this condition if their nutritional requirements are undermined.

Healthiest Dog Food for Small Dogs

Air-dried food and freeze dried food are undoubtedly the healthiest dry dog food choices but some specially formulated dry dog meals are very helpful to meet the requirements of a small dog. You can just go for them as per the consultation of your vet if you ever wonder about the best dry dog food for puppies. A meal with high-quality proteins, vitamins, and minerals to support the overall health of a pup is supposed to be the healthiest dog food for small dogs. 

Some of the above-mentioned items are even grain-free which means they are best dry dog food for small dogs with allergies. Buffalo Rib Bone With Meat available on PetYupp's online store is also one of the excellent protein-rich dry food items for small dogs.

Different Types of Best Dry Food for Dogs 

Many pet owners may not know this but smaller dogs have high metabolic rates and this is why they can be prone to hyperglycemia. But not to worry! Here we have the list of different types of dry dog foods available in the market or online store.

Freeze Dried Dog Food

Freeze-dried dog food is prepared by a unique preservation process in which raw ingredients are frozen and the moisture is slowly removed by sublimation. Here are the benefits of freeze-dried dog food: 

• You won’t have to worry about food getting spoiled if you travel frequently with your pet. Its minimal necessity for refrigeration makes it very convenient to store anywhere.

• Freeze-dried food has a very long shelf life even without the usage of artificial preservatives.  

• It is very hard to find raw ingredients in processed food nowadays. Many natural nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are missing from the dogs’ diet nowadays but that is not the case with freeze-dried food. The nutritional content in this type of dog food is very high, making it one of the best dry dog foods for small dogs. 

Air Dried Dog Food 

Just like freeze-dried food, air-dried dog food is also one of the healthiest dry dog foods. Cooking at high temperatures and slow dehydration preserves the natural ingredients of this food. The benefits of air dried dog food are very similar to freeze-dried food. Your small dog will get all the natural ingredients because of minimal processing, it is very compact and easy to store, and it is easily digestible. It is also categorized as one of the Best Dog Food for Allergies because it is very beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergy issues. It is the best dry dog food for small dogs. 

Best Dry Dog Food for Small Breed Puppies and Adult Dogs 

Even in small dog breeds, there are different nutritional requirements according to the age of the dog. Here are the steps for feeding the best dry food for dogs that are young, adult, and older: 

Best Dry Dog Food for Small Breed Puppies 

Smaller kibbles are the best dry food for dogs, especially those who are younger. Kibbles are the most popular and common meals for a small-breed puppy because they are easy to chew. Large kibbles are generally not recommended in the case of puppies as they pose a choking hazard. You can just consult your vet about the calorie requirements of your pup for the brand recommendations. 

Best Dry Dog Food for Small Breed Adult Dogs 

When small breed dogs grow up and become adults, taking care of their nutritional requirements becomes more important as they can be subjected to various types of health issues. First, you should consult a vet to know how much you can feed your dog at this stage. It is very important to not feed the dog excessively for the sake of its fast metabolism. Obesity can lead to various life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, and many more. This is why changing the dry food items with increasing age is very important. 

Best Dry Dog Food for Small Breed Senior Dogs

Small breed dogs generally live longer than medium and large breed dogs. Selecting high-quality dry food in the early stages of a pup’s life is critical to deciding how it will spend the later days of its life. Dry food at an early stage of life, adulthood, and after becoming an elder will change from time to time. It is important to adapt to the change to keep your small-breed dog healthy. 

Symptoms of Hyperglycemia in Small Dogs

Small breed dogs have a higher metabolism than larger dogs but this metabolism rate can also create problems for them. One of the common problems that arises in small dogs is hyperglycemia which causes low blood pressure. The symptoms of hyperglycemia include lethargy, weakness, lesser appetite, seizures, or it can even lead to coma. Hyperglycemia can be very dangerous if left untreated, you need to contact your vet immediately if your dog is showing signs of hyperglycemia.