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Nutrition

What do small dogs need in their diet?

Nutrition for toy and small breeds.

A fresh organic dog meal with beef, pumpkin, carrots and herbs

1 min read · Reviewed by the Organic Dog Chef team

01

Fast metabolism

Small dogs burn energy quickly relative to their size and can be prone to low blood sugar if meals are too spread out, so smaller, more frequent meals often suit them better than one or two large ones.

02

Dental care

Small breeds are especially prone to dental problems because their teeth are often crowded relative to jaw size, so regular dental checks and appropriate chews matter throughout their life.

03

Portion precision

Because small dogs need relatively little food, even small measuring errors can have a bigger proportional effect on their weight than they would for a large dog, so it's worth measuring portions carefully rather than estimating.

01

Fast metabolism#

Small dogs burn energy quickly relative to their size and can be prone to low blood sugar if meals are too spread out, so smaller, more frequent meals often suit them better than one or two large ones.

Toy breed puppies in particular benefit from frequent small meals in their first months, since they have very limited energy reserves.

02

Dental care#

Small breeds are especially prone to dental problems because their teeth are often crowded relative to jaw size, so regular dental checks and appropriate chews matter throughout their life.

Softer or smaller-cut foods and treats can also be easier for small mouths to manage comfortably.

03

Portion precision#

Because small dogs need relatively little food, even small measuring errors can have a bigger proportional effect on their weight than they would for a large dog, so it's worth measuring portions carefully rather than estimating.

Treats should be kept especially small for toy breeds, since a treat that seems modest to us can represent a significant portion of their daily calories.

04

How Organic Dog Chef can help#

We stock meals and treats sized appropriately for small and toy breeds, and our team can help you work out precise, suitable portions for your dog's size.

Not sure what to feed your dog?

Try our meal finder for a personal match, or browse the shop.