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Nothing is more fun than a toy breed. Toy breeds like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, and Teacup Poodles are adorable, furry little balls of joyful energy. If you live in an apartment complex, travel a lot, or just love a pocket pet, these sweet little dogs make wonderful companions. With how much you love your dog, you may be wondering, what are the best dry dog foods for toy breeds?
Toy breeds are really unique dogs, so they require very different nutrition than their larger cousins.
So it is important that you feed them the right food for their tiny little size. Here are some our recommendations for the best dog foods for toy breeds.
The Difference Between Small Breed And Toy Breed Dogs
Choosing The Right Kibble
The first important thing when picking a food for your toy breed is the kibble size. Toy breeds have small mouths so they need a kibble that is appropriately sized so they can grab it from their bowls. Also if the kibble is too large, then they won’t be able to properly chew it which could lead to digestion issues and nutritional deficiencies. Toy breeds are also very prone to dental issues, so it is better to feed them a crunchy kibble that will clean their teeth while they eat. For the primary food for your toy breed, go with a dry dog food in small kibble bits rather than a wet dog food.
Nutritional Needs Of Toy Breeds
Toy breeds have very different dietary needs than larger breeds. This needs to be taken into consideration when searching for the best dog foods for toy breeds. First of all, toy breeds need fewer calories than larger dogs. They are often prone to obesity because people feed them more calories than they actually need. On average, a toy breed will only need 400 kcal a day.
Toy breeds also have faster metabolisms so the best dog foods for toy breeds should include a diet that is balanced with a higher than normal fat levels to provide sustained energy.
They also do not have the muscle mass of larger breeds so they don’t need as much protein to stay in shape. A 25% crude protein rating is more than enough for most toy breeds.
Finally, since toy breeds live much longer than larger dogs, it’s very important their food provides a lot of antioxidants to keep their immune system strong and reduce the chances of chronic illness. These are just general recommendations for finding the best dog foods for toy breeds. For more specific recommendations make sure you talk to your veterinarian to determine the best diet for the unique needs of your dog.
Top 5 Best Dry Dog Foods For Toy Breeds
There are several varieties of dog food on the market that are made specifically for small or toy breeds. However, some fall very short of providing the nutrition toy breeds need. Others are made with dangerous ingredients like meat by-products and chemical preservatives. To avoid feeding your toy breed an unhealthy dog food, we’ve made a list of the top 5 best dog foods for toy breeds:
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Toy Breed
Wellness is a top quality dog food manufacturer. Their toy breed line is made with the same high-quality ingredients they use in their other dog foods, only in easily crunched bite-sized kibble. Complete Health Toy Breed is made with natural protein sources like deboned chicken and peas, whole antioxidant-rich vegetables like carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes, and is fortified with omega-fatty acids for heart, joint, and skin health. It has a 30% crude protein rating with a healthy fat content of 17% to help manage your toy breed’s weight and give them plenty of sustained energy.
Blue Buffalo BLUE Adult Toy Breed
Blue Buffalo BLUE is a natural dog food made grain-free and without artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Their toy formula is made with wholesome deboned chicken, brown rice, and barley to provide the perfect balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for energy. Blue Buffalo BLUE also contains their patented Lifesource Bits that are a blend of fruits and vegetables to provide seven key antioxidants to support the immune system of your toy breed. Plus, the kibble is perfectly designed to fit the jaws of any small breed and shaped to clean their teeth.
NUTRO Toy Breed Adult Dog Food
NUTRO is also a top quality brand made with all natural ingredients like farm-raised, deboned chicken. Their toy breed formula is made with their patented DNADVANTAGE BLEND of antioxidant-rich blend of fruits and vegetables to bolster your tiny dog’s immune system. With a 25% crude protein rating and a 16% crude fat rating, NUTRO’s Toy Breed is made specifically to address the high metabolic rates of toy breeds. Also, the kibble is small in size and extra crunchy to promote dental health.
Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Toy Breed Dry Dog Food
Nature’s Variety Instinct is a grain-free natural dog food that contains nutrient-dense, freeze-dried raw food morsels to give your dog a boost of biologically appropriate nutrition. Their toy breed formula is made with all natural ingredients like chicken, carrots, and cranberries. Nature’s Variety Instinct is highly fortified with loads of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your toy breed’s immune system strong. It also provides 450 kcal per cup so it provides exactly the right caloric value for your dog.
Solid Gold Mighty Mini Holistic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Finally, if you are looking for a holistically-formulated dog food for your toy breed, Solid Gold Mighty Mini is a great choice. Solid Gold Mighty Mini is made without meat by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy, sugar, artificial preservatives or flavors added so it is both easy to digest and trustworthy. It also contains 20 different superfood ingredients to provide all the healthy antioxidants your toy breed needs to have a strong immune system. Solid Gold Mighty Mini has a crude protein rating of 30% and a crude fat rating of 20%, so it is perfect for providing long-term energy for your toy breed.
If you are shopping for the best dog foods for toy breeds, check out thes above five top rated dog foods. They have the perfect balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, along with the important immune system boost of antioxidant blends to keep your little pup healthy, happy, and energized for years to come.
