Anyone who owns a dog will have noticed that when buying maintenance food, you have to choose between various types, for example: Small, Small Size, Toy, Medium, Large, or Maxi, etc… Let's see what they are and whydogs are not all the same from a nutritional point of view.
If we consider their nutritional needs, we should ideally split dog breeds into three subgroups based on size. Broadly speaking:
- Small <10kg
- Medium 10-30 kg
- Large >30kg
Today we're talking about small breed dogs and their unique nutritional needs and differences. Let's start with the main physiological differences between small dogs and other dogs.
- Greater body surface area relative to mass
- Higher heart rate
- Faster puppy-to-adult growth periods
- Smaller mouth size and lower chewing strength
- Prone to tartar and bad breath
So, let's look atwhat characteristics good food for them should have.
HIGH ENERGY DENSITY FOOD
Analyzing the first two points (proportionally larger body surface area and higher heart rate) it becomes clear thata small breed dog has a faster metabolism and therefore higher energy needs than larger dogsFor example, a 2kg dog needs around 200kcal per day, while a 20kg dog needs around 1000kcal (only 5 times as much, not 10 times their weight). So if we gave the same food to both dogs above, the Toy dog would need to eat proportionally more food than the medium-sized dog. But proportionally, small breed dogs' food intake capacity is the same as, if not often smaller than, that of large breeds, and they probably wouldn't finish the recommended dose for that food. Additionally, a small dog's appetite is often "fussy," with days where they eat less and moments of lack of appetite. This is due not only to genetic traits but also to owners incorrectly managing treats and snacks, which we will discuss later.
The best alternative, then, is togive them more energy-dense food with a higher concentration of nutrients, so that to meet their needs, they eat the right amount and avoid nutritional deficiencies.
When to switch to adult food?
Small breed dogs do reach adulthood earlier than medium and large breed dogs. They then age more slowly and live longer than large breed dogs. For small dogs,you can switch to adult food from 7 to 9 months. Whereas inlarge or giant breeds, where bone development can continue up to 12-24 months. It's important to remember that puppy food must have specific characteristics compared to adult food, such as the calcium/phosphorus ratio and the amount of essential fatty acids.
PAY ATTENTION TO TEETH AND CHEWING
The higher incidence of dental problems like tartar and bad breath means we need to develop foods that reduce this issue, such as kibble with a specific texture that provides a mechanical abrasive action on the tooth surface during chewing.
Finally, kibble size must be proportional to their mouth and their chewing ability.
WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO
A common mistake to avoid is underestimating treats and snacks. Even small bites for us are large for them, and an extra biscuit in these cases can make a difference. So, you need to pay attention to the calorie intake from snacks and use them in the right amounts! The risk is giving energy from low-nutritional-value snacks, which will make our small friends feel full and lose their appetite.
By the same principle, you mustbe even more careful with toxic foods! Chocolate, onions, grapes, and nuts: all are potentially toxic foods for them.
Additionally, be careful withToy dogs also withsmall fruit pitslike plums and apricots, because if swallowed, they could get stuck in the small intestinal loops of these dogs.
Dr. Simone Falci
Veterinary Nutritionist
Bibliography
-Relationships between heart rate and age, body weight, and breed in 10,849 dogs” Hezzell MJ, Humm K, Dennis SG, Agee L, Boswood A. J Small Anim Pract. 2013 Jun;54(6): 318-24.
-Fediaf guideline