When a pet appears in the house, it is immediately surrounded by attention. Whether it is a cat or a dog, the owners try to provide it with everything necessary for full development. Every living creature requires love and care, but this will not be enough without a nutritious diet.
More recently, it was not customary to feed animals with special food; it was believed that food from the owners’ table was quite enough for the growth and life of the pet, but numerous veterinary studies have proven that such nutrition often leads to health problems in cats and dogs, especially purebred and picky ones.
Ideally, a pet should choose an individual diet of high-quality meat products, vegetables and cereals, which are selected in accordance with the requirements of the body in order to meet its needs for proteins, vitamins and other essential substances , but such an approach is time-consuming and in the modern world not everyone a person can afford to prepare and prepare food for his pet. Manufacturers of dry and canned food come to the rescue in such situations with their products.
If you decide to feed your four-legged friend a finished product, then you will definitely be faced with the question, which one should you choose? The modern market offers a lot of different brands from the most economical to the elite, and each manufacturer assures that its food is the most natural and healthy , developed and approved by veterinarians, and it is their products that any pet will choose. The buyer is offered hundreds of flavors that can satisfy even the most picky cats and dogs, but it is not always possible to understand what is hidden behind the bright packaging and promising advertising.
What is the difference between food for small breeds and regular food?
Keeping small and miniature breeds imposes certain nutritional requirements on the dog owner. Specialized food for decorative dogs is created specifically based on the characteristics of their body.
Since the metabolism of such dogs occurs much faster, they need more high-calorie food of high quality. In such feeds it is easy to calculate the daily and one-time consumption rates, which is difficult to do with home-made feed. If a small dog regularly overeats, this can lead to dire consequences.
A decorative dog puppy grows faster and reaches sexual maturity earlier than its relatives of larger breeds. Puppies' food should be more nutritious and high in calories.
Portion volume
If your pet eats dry food, then there are usually no problems with determining the daily serving amount. Many manufacturers of dog food mixtures already indicate the required amount on the packaging - it is indicated in the form of a plate in which the feeding rate is indicated opposite the weight.
To determine the amount of dry food needed, the owner needs to know the weight of the animal. Then the specified amount must be divided by the number of feedings per day. The result is the volume of a single serving.
If the dog eats only natural food, then the calculation is performed completely differently. The daily intake for natural feeding should be about 2-4% of the pet’s total weight. For example, if a dog weighs 8 kilograms, then he should eat an average of 160-320 grams of food per day.
However, the numbers may depend on many factors - the animal’s physical activity, lifestyle, and living conditions. In addition, the nutritional value of prepared dishes can affect the size of portions; for example, porridge with vegetables will be much lower in calorie content than meat.
If a dog eats natural food, its diet should include the following types of food:
- meat. The indicator of this component should be 30-50% of the total volume of food consumed;
- cereals – 25-35%;
- dairy products – 20-30%;
- vegetables – 15-20%;
- fish;
- fruits.
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Composition of food for small breeds of dogs
Feeds for small breeds vary in the quality of raw materials. The most affordable, but not very useful, are in the economy class line. Frequent consumption of such foods can harm the dog. They include bone meal, offal, various meat production waste, grain and other low-quality components. To ensure that dogs eat it, various flavorings and additives are included.
High-quality food includes only natural products that humans eat. This is natural poultry and animal meat, fish meat, vegetables, herbs, fruits, and sometimes cereals. Such food should not contain GMOs, dyes or other chemicals.
Holistic food has the highest class. These are the best quality and most expensive feeds. They consist of 100% natural products. They are produced using selected poultry meat, beef or dietary lamb with a small addition of eggs, vegetables, fruits and cereals. They can contain up to 80% meat products. They contain no waste, by-products or dietary supplements. For small dogs this is very important.
Next come super-premium and premium food. They contain at least 50% meat, no meat production waste (tails, bones, heads, etc.), or harmful additives. Such food is completely balanced, natural, safe and suitable for feeding all year round. You can easily adjust the serving size. Small granules promote rapid absorption of food.
Food for small dogs can include any high-quality lean meat (except pork), sea fish, vegetables, eggs, rice, oats, herbs, berries, fruits, etc.
Types of food for decorative dogs
As a rule, a manufacturer of high-quality food divides its line for small breeds into different types, depending on age, health status and preference.
Many luxury food manufacturers create diets:
- for decorative dog puppies;
- for active small dogs;
- for small older dogs;
- for sterilized animals;
- for animals suffering from various diseases and allergies.
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Foods are also divided into dry and wet.
The best holistic diets
By-products are not included in such feed. For some manufacturers, the meat component reaches 80%. Such feed contains an optimal balance of substances and is consumed very economically.
Savarra for small breeds
Compound:
The menu of this brand of food may include large quantities of poultry meat (turkey, duck), beef, various vegetables, vitamins and minerals.
Pros:
It does not contain chicken, wheat, or corn. The food is considered hypoallergenic. Its high energy value allows for minimizing feed consumption.
Minuses:
The percentage of ingredients is not indicated. High price.
Grandorf
Compound:
The food contains more than 60% meat ingredients (poultry, veal, lamb, rabbit), sea fish. Various fruit and vegetable inclusions. Contains up to 18% fat.
Pros:
Made from high-quality natural products (wheat grain and chicken, sugar and other harmful inclusions are excluded). Does not cause allergies. Very nutritious. Suitable for active dogs.
Minuses:
Old and sedentary dogs gain weight quickly.
Now fresh
Compound:
Poultry (except chicken), salmon, fresh fruits, berries and vegetables (peas, lentils, pumpkin, seaweed, carrots), vitamins and microelements
Pros:
This food contains the optimal balance of all trace elements. Suitable for all small dogs, incl. elderly and prone to obesity. Does not contain grains. Contains iodine, vitamins, Omega acids and other microelements.
Minuses:
No
Go!
Compound:
Selected poultry (except chicken), beef, salmon, various fruits and vegetables, healthy herbs, minerals and vitamins.
Pros:
It is perfectly digestible and does not cause digestive problems. A large amount of vitamins. Suitable for small animals of any age.
Minuses:
Price.
Pro plan Duo Delice series
Compound:
50% - natural meat (mainly duck), 36% - fruits and vegetables; 14% - herbs, spices, fats, vitamins and minerals.
Pros:
Excellent hypoallergenic balanced food, does not cause digestive problems. Small granule size.
Minuses:
No.
Belcando series FINEST CROC
Compound:
28% - dry poultry meat (duck); 17% - rice or oats; duck fat, flour 5% ocean herring flour; 4% - duck liver, as well as brewer's yeast, egg powder; herbs (nettle, centaury, gentian root, chamomile, fennel, yucca extract, etc.
Pros:
Does not contain wheat or soy. Helps strengthen bones and improves immunity. Small dogs and their puppies eating this food are healthier and more susceptible to disease.
Minuses:
Small assortment.
Landor
Compound:
Lamb, duck fat, rice, salmon, vegetables, brewer's yeast, vitamins and minerals.
Pros:
The balanced menu is suitable for both active young and older small dogs, as well as animals in need of a diet. The menu was created with cancer prevention in mind. Good price.
Minuses:
Small assortment.
Wolfsblut
Compound:
Turkey, pumpkin, turkey fat, parsnips, peas, tomatoes, aromatic herbs, berries, elderberries, chokeberries, medicinal herbs (nettle, dandelion, hawthorn, ginseng and Yucca extracts).
Pros:
Does not contain grains, genetically modified plants, does not cause allergies, improves immunity. Small granules.
Minuses:
High percentage of protein (30%) and fat (17%), although the food is considered optimally balanced with a low fat content.
ONE&ONLY
Compound:
Dietary rabbit or turkey meat (65%), rice, oats, vegetables, herbs, minerals, vitamins and trace elements.
Pros:
Excellent food for small dogs of all ages, does not cause digestive problems.
Minuses:
No
What does a cat need?
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet consists primarily of meat. Pets need animal proteins and amino acids more than carbohydrates. They need connections not only to obtain energy, but also to ensure the correct functioning of all organs and systems.
In their natural environment, animals hunt small game: rodents, birds, etc. From the stomachs of the victims, cats obtain a small amount of cereals, vegetables and fruits. Products in the gastrointestinal tract of birds and rodents are subject to primary processing with enzymes. In this form, they are relatively well absorbed by the cat’s body, but most of the beneficial substances still leave the intestines unchanged. The resulting plant food helps satisfy the daily need for those microelements that are not found in meat.
When eating natural products, 75–80% of the menu is meat, 10–15% is allocated to offal and 10% is reserved for fermented milk products and vegetables
Like all living beings, a cat needs water, so it is advisable to give it not only dry, but also wet food. The granulated product contains practically no liquid, which can become an additional risk factor if the drinking regime is not followed. Dehydration can lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, cardiovascular system and other organs. In some cases, wet food is the only acceptable option. For example, my cat has very sensitive digestion: after eating granules, she has blood in her stool. After the examination, the veterinarian said that this is an individual feature, in general the animal is healthy, but it is better to switch to pouches and pates. Hard granules damage the delicate internal lining, which can later cause inflammation and infection. The cat does not have such a reaction to wet food.
The best super-premium food
Such diets include up to 50-60% high quality meat products. This can be poultry, lean lamb, beef, sea fish, and eggs. Cereals must be of high quality without GMOs. For small popular breeds it is the best option.
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Advance
Compound:
26% meat ingredients (including 17% lamb), beets, corn, animal and fish oil.
Pros:
Nutritionally balanced for all ages of small animals.
Minuses:
Contains corn.
Brit
Compound:
50% boneless chicken meat, chicken fat, cereals, apples, herbs, vitamins and microelements.
Pros:
The food is made exclusively from natural and easily digestible ingredients. No soy used. Does not cause allergies. Small granules.
Minuses:
No
1st Choice
Compound:
Contains 30% chicken meat, brown rice, green tea extract, chicory, yeast, vitamins and microelements.
Pros:
Does not cause allergies, does not contain soy or chemical additives. There are various menu options.
Minuses:
No
Farmina ND
Compound:
26% natural and 25% or more dry lamb meat, powdered eggs, potatoes, herring, dried vegetables (carrots, peas), vitamins and microelements, dried blueberries and apples, brewer's yeast and medicinal herbs (calendula).
Pros:
Prevents the development of diabetes, does not cause allergies, as it does not contain cereals, chicken and soy. Small granules. Contains medicinal herbs that promote immunity stability. Does not cause obesity in sedentary dogs.
Minuses:
No
Now fresh
Compound:
Fresh turkey, salmon, duck, vegetable oil, fresh fruits and berries, pumpkin, spinach, peas, kelp, carrots, lentils.
Pros:
Harmless, optimally balanced food. It contains boneless poultry pulp and salmon fillet. Without hormones and preservatives, does not contain grain. Does not cause allergies. Reasonable price. Ideal for mini dogs, since the granules do not exceed 7 mm.
Minuses:
No
Acana
Compound:
60% chicken and flounder, fresh eggs, 40% fruits, herbs and vegetables, does not contain grains or potatoes.
Pros:
An optimal balance of natural high-quality products is suitable for dogs of all ages, does not cause allergies, affordable pricing. Convenient multi-weight packaging.
Minuses:
No
Bosch
Compound:
25% chicken, 5% lamb, millet, powdered eggs, corn, poultry meal, chicken and fish oil, peas, yeast, trace elements and vitamins.
Pros:
Large selection of menus for different breeds and ages. Decent price. Small granules are easy to digest.
Minuses:
No
Purina proplan
Compound:
The food is based on chicken and rice. There is corn, beets, fish and chicken fat, and chicory.
Pros:
Large selection of menus for different breeds and ages. Optimal combination of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Minuses:
No
Monge
Compound:
High percentage (up to 30) of natural meat, vitamins, microelements.
Pros:
Availability of a line for different ages of dogs.
Minuses:
There is no specificity in the composition of the products, which raises questions about the class of food. Rarely found in stores. High price.
Eukanuba
Compound:
Chicken and turkey meat (32%), sorghum, poultry fat, wheat, rice, sugar beets, eggs, fish oil, flax seed, etc.
Pros:
Availability of a separate menu for different breeds, high-calorie food, easy to digest. Does not cause digestive problems. Small granules. Suitable for daily feeding.
Minuses:
High percentages of protein and fat can cause problems in miniature dogs and dogs with low activity levels.
Fest choice
Compound:
30% - flour from dried chicken or lamb, chicken and fish oil, vegetables (beets, dried tomatoes), chicken liver, flaxseed.
Pros:
Optimally balanced food. Does not cause allergies. Suitable for all mini and small breeds, recommended for dogs with low activity.
Minuses:
No
Orijen Adult
Compound:
30% boneless chicken, meat meal, chicken liver, herring (4%), turkey (4%), vegetables and herbs.
Pros:
High quality composition, good price.
Minuses:
High % protein and low % fiber is only suitable for active and healthy dogs. May cause allergies.
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Premium food
Premium diets include up to 30% meat. This can be poultry, lean lamb, beef, as well as eggs and grains. Some diets add marine commercial fish (flounder, herring, etc.). Such food can be recommended for small mongrel dogs.
Ava
Compound:
Lamb and turkey, rice, peas, corn, fish oil, fish meal, beets, chicory, vitamins and minerals.
Pros:
Large selection of separate menus for different ages (puppies, seniors, adult dogs). The best option among premium foods.
Minuses:
It is not always possible to buy in a store; according to reviews, it is not suitable for dwarf breeds (the granules are too large).
Hills
Compound:
Chicken and turkey meat, vegetables, fish, cereals. Meat - up to 24%, fat - up to 10%, fiber - 12%. The diet includes nutrients and vitamins.
Pros:
Good food, contains quality products. High percentage of fiber. There are options for aging animals, dogs with sensitive digestion, diets for weight control, etc.
Minuses:
Not suitable for dogs with chicken allergies.
Dog chow
Compound:
48% grains, offal, at least 4% chicken, vegetables, chicory, animal fat.
Pros:
An optimal balance of fats, carbohydrates and proteins is declared. The presence of vitamins and minerals.
Minuses:
Fat of unknown origin. The presence of by-products raises questions regarding the feed's relation to the premium class.
What should you pay attention to when choosing dry food for your pet?
Before purchasing food, it is worth analyzing its composition. To maintain the health of your pet, it is better to completely refuse to feed the animal with advertised, but absolutely useless, non-nutritious and even harmful food from the budget series. It is better to refuse to purchase a product if the following components are indicated on the label:
- dye E127 – provokes the occurrence of cancer;
- antioxidants E324, 320 and 321 – negatively affect liver function and can cause seizures and skin neuroses;
- propylen glycol - considered a sweetener, but is an effective deicing agent;
- sugar;
- cellulose.
If by-products are indicated in the description of cheap food, this does not mean that it contains liver, kidneys, etc. This word most often disguises inedible waste from the meat industry, such as hooves and feathers. If the label says “100% meat”, it is better to refuse the purchase. No food can consist exclusively of meat - this means that the manufacturer is hiding the composition and you should not trust it. You can buy dry pellets only if you have a transcript - a detailed list of the types of meat that were used to create them.
If the package contains the inscription “flavor”, you should also refuse to purchase it. It means that the product only “flavors” of chicken, rabbit, salmon, etc.
Instead of real meat, it contains additives that imitate the taste, attract the pet's attention and stimulate appetite, but negatively affect its health. If the label indicates a high daily intake, this is also a reason to think - it means the food is not nutritious enough and does not satiate the animal.
The following inscriptions should indicate the purchase:
product quality mark - the abbreviation AAFCO; vitamins E and C are natural oxidizing agents; taurine is a beneficial amino acid; protein content of at least 25% - it is also important to indicate the type of meat used, ideally there should be at least two.
Economy feed
Foods such as Pedigree, Darling, Chappi are classified as economy class. Cheap dry food will help save money, but will have a detrimental effect on the health and life expectancy of your pet.
Pedigree and mongrel small dogs begin to experience health problems. These feeds contain practically no meat; it is replaced by meat industry waste (by-products). There are vegetable fats and many grains of unknown origin, etc.
Dog feeding standards
If you decide to get a dog for the first time, then it is worth studying the rules and procedures for feeding these animals. Feeding must be balanced, and its norms must comply with certain rules.
It is simply impossible to come up with the necessary dog feeding standards that will be suitable for all animals. Even if dogs are the same breed and body size, they may not always require the same amount of food.
Note! Each animal has individual characteristics of the body; their metabolism can differ greatly. For this reason, if they are given the same amount of feed mixtures, then one may gain excess weight, while the other may always be in perfect shape.
The daily intake of dry dog food depends on various factors. When compiling a diet, it is necessary to take into account the habitat and degree of physical activity of the animal. If the animal is kept outdoors and runs around in the fresh air all day long and sits in a kennel at night, then the norm of dog food should be half as much as the norm for pets who live in an apartment.
In order for the feeding rate to be correct, you should pay attention to several important nuances:
- Under no circumstances should you overfeed your dog. Regardless of what the owner feeds his pet - dry food or natural food, the amount of food should be moderate. Overfeeding often leads to obesity in the animal, which entails a number of health problems;
- It is imperative to take into account the pet’s mobility and its lifestyle. For example, an active Yorkie puppy and animals of other breeds should not be fed too much per day;
- on average, the daily intake for adult dogs should be no more than 1 kilogram;
- The amount of feed consumed usually depends on the size and weight of the animal. For example, large animals can easily eat up to 1 kg of food per day, but small ones, such as a Yorkshire terrier, can eat half as much;
- The amount of dry feed mixture also depends on the class of feed. Many types of food (Acana, Proplan, Royal Canin, Now Fresh, Grandorf and others) can be economy, premium, holistic. Accordingly, the higher the class, the higher the nutritional value of the feed mixture;
- When feeding, special attention should be paid to the physical activity and size of the tailed friend. A dog with active physical activity and an average body weight will be able to consume one to one and a half liters of a complete feed mixture at a time. But for a large watchdog, which is raised on bran and potatoes, even one bucket at a time will not be enough.
It is worth noting! A dog may feel hungry at any feeding rate. This may be due to insufficient vitamins, minerals and proteins.
If the dog behaves actively, looks cheerful and cheerful, has healthy skin, a beautiful, shiny coat, and its body weight remains at the same level for a long time, then the food rate has been chosen correctly.
Find out the pros and cons of dry and natural dog food>>>
Veterinarian recommendations
Ivanov P.
I recommend using only high-quality food of at least premium class for feeding dogs of small decorative breeds. Any deviations in the composition of the feed or unsafe inclusions can harm the health of the animal. It is advisable to follow the rules and feeding regime for a small dog. Cheap food should be strictly excluded from the diet.
Samoilova Yu
For toy puppies and small dogs, it is very important to use specialized food. Puppies of such dogs grow very quickly, and they need constant replenishment of the body with vitamins and nutrients. Not every homemade food can provide the necessary substances to the rapidly growing body of a small animal. Therefore, premium grade ready-made food is best suited.
What should be included?
It is equally important to know what must be in high-quality pet food. This will be discussed below
This will be discussed below.
Meat. It can be chicken, beef, rabbit, as well as turkey or fish. This component should be in first place and make up at least 35% of the total mass.
Taurine. This is also an important component. The amino acid ensures good heart function and excellent vision.
The presence of B vitamins and minerals is, of course, a plus.
The second place in the composition should be taken by protein (egg or milk). Its concentration is usually about 20%.
Fiber must be present in the composition
Its quantity is no more than 20% of the total mass. It is also important to pay attention to the type of raw materials used. Cereals, cereals and vegetables are high-quality fiber.
High-quality meat by-products should be contained in an amount of no more than 10%. By-products mean kidneys, liver, heart, lung and other components.
Owner reviews
Marina T.
I feed my dachshund Buddy (now 12 years old) Purina proplan food for older small breed dogs. The dog eats the food with pleasure. We dose the food so that the dog does not overeat and gain weight.
Sergey S.
Our pug started out with economy food. We bought Chappie, but the dog developed a terrible smell from his mouth. Switched to Advance. The dog eats the food with pleasure, does not gain weight, and there is no smell from the mouth. A little expensive, but the dog’s health is more expensive.
Julia K.
I am breeding Yorkshire Terriers. I feed my dogs only high quality food. Savings are inappropriate here. Landor suited my dogs. No complaints. The dogs are active, have beautiful silky fur, and clean their teeth perfectly.
Tatiana S.
I buy Feist Choice for my toy terrier. My Dusya is absolutely happy. He eats the food with pleasure. I buy food on the Internet. The price is reasonable. I haven't found any shortcomings yet.
How to find out the expected weight of an adult dog
Some popular breeds are listed right in the header of the table: for example, the Yorkshire terrier is included in the “miniature and small” weight category (up to five kilograms), and the golden retriever belongs to the medium and large breeds (up to thirty kilograms). You can check information on other breeds with your breeder or on thematic websites on the Internet.
If your puppy is not purebred, take the weight of his parents as a reference point; most likely, the baby will be about the same as an adult. It is more difficult when the pet is taken from the street, and not from friends, and you do not have any data or assumptions about its origin. In this case, seeking advice from a veterinarian will help: an experienced specialist will be able to determine from the teeth, paws, and bones how the puppy will grow up, and select the dosage of dry food.
