If you're interested in finding the best dog food for small dogs, you'll likely need to spend some time familiarizing yourself with all of the different options available in your area. Because there are dozens of different brands of dog food, all of which contain a number of different formulations, it can be hard to determine exactly which one is right for your small dog. Read on for a few pieces of advice on choosing a dog food that is best for your particular animal's health and happiness over the long term.
Canned vs. Dry Food
There are benefits to both canned and dry foods. Because of this, many small dog owners choose to mix up the two. Dogs are generally not as picky about the food that they eat as cats are, and therefore they're willing to switch between different types of food. However, this will of course depend upon your own dog's preferences.
Canned foods generally tend to contain a higher mixture of different nutrients. The nutrients are better preserved in canned food than they are in the process of cooking and drying the kibble versions. This means that each meal will be better able to deliver the nutrients that your pet needs.
Dry food has the benefit of breaking down plaque on your pet's teeth. This plaque can harden into tartar, which can cause a number of problems for your dog's oral health. Dry food helps to keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy; without healthy teeth and gums, your dog may have a hard time eating food and could become malnourished.
Organic Ingredients
Organic dog foods tend to be more expensive than their standard alternatives. However, they are also generally quite a bit better in terms of the nutrients which they're able to provide to your pet. There are a number of reasons for this. Organic foods contain higher quality ingredients, which in and of themselves have a higher quantity of beneficial nutrients for your pet's health. Additionally, organic foods contain fewer dyes, coloring agents, flavoring additives and preservatives, all of which can harm the intake of beneficial nutrients in your dog's system. Because of the lack of these chemical additives, organic foods tend to also be less likely to cause your pet to develop an allergic reaction to the food.
Special Formulations
You should also consider special formulations of dog food for small dogs. Certain types of dog food are designed to provide different balances of nutrients. Puppy foods, for instance, are meant to give growing puppies all of the nutrients that they'll need in order to develop properly. Formulations for older dogs can help to stave off arthritis, liver damage and more. Ask your vet for additional recommendations of special formulation dog foods to give to your small dog, if you're in doubt about which ones are best.