Anyone who has a dog will have noticed that when they buy a maintenance food they have to choose from various types, for example: Small, Small Size, Toy, Medium, Large or Maxi etc… Let’s go and see what they are and why dogs are not all the same nutritionally.

If we consider nutritional requirements we should ideally consider dividing dog breeds into three subgroups based on size. In principle:

  • Small <10Kg
  • Medium 10-30 kgs.
  • Large >30kg

Today we talk about small dogs and the differences and specific nutritional needs they have. Let’s start with the main physiological differences of small dogs compared with other dogs.

  • Greater body surface area in relation to mass
  • Increased heart rate
  • Faster puppy-adult growth times
  • Smaller mouth size and chewing force
  • Predisposition to tartar and halitosis

So, let’s go and see what characteristics a good food for them should have.

A HIGH ENERGY DENSITY FOOD

By analyzing the first two points (larger body surface area proportionally and heart rate), we can see that a small dog has higher metabolism and therefore higher energy requirements than larger dogs. Suffice it to say that a 2kg dog needs about 200kcal daily while a 20kg dog about 1000kcal (only 5 times as much and not 10 times as much as in relation to weight). So if we gave the same food to the two dogs above the Toy dog should ingest more food proportionally than the medium-sized dog. But proportionally, the ingestion capacity of small dogs is equal if not often less than that of large breeds, and they would probably not be able to finish the recommended dose for that food. In addition, a small dog’s appetite is often “fickle” with days of eating less and times of inappetence. This is due not only to genetic traits but also to owners’ mishandling of rewards and snacks, as we will explore later.

The best alternative, therefore, is to give a more energetic food with a higher concentration of nutrients so that it can, to meet its needs, ingest the right amount while avoiding nutrient deficiencies.

When to switch to adult food?

Small dogs actually reach adulthood earlier than medium and large dogs. Then they age more slowly and live longer than large dog breeds. In small dogs you can switch to adult food from 7 to 9 months. Instead in large or giant breeds where bone development can continue up to 12-24months. It is useful to remember that puppy foods must have peculiarities compared with adult foods such as, for example, the calcium/phosphorus ratio and the amount of essential fatty acids.

WATCH OUT FOR TEETH AND CHEWING

The increased incidence of dental disease such as tartar and halitosis leads to the study of foods that reduce this problem such as kibble with specific textures to have, during chewing, a mechanical abrasive action on the tooth surface.

Finally, the size of the kibble should be in proportion to their mouth and chewing ability.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

A common mistake to avoid is underestimating rewards and snacks. Even small bites for us are big for them and the extra cookie in these cases can make all the difference. Therefore, attention should be paid to the calorie intake of snacks and they should be used in the right amounts! The risk is to energize with snacks of low nutritional value and thus make our little friends satiated and disappetent.

By the same principle one should Have even more care with toxic foods! Chocolate, onions, grapes, and nuts-these are all potentially toxic foods for them.

Also, beware in Toy dogs of small stones of fruits such as plums and apricots because if ingested they could get stuck in the small intestinal loops of these individuals.

Dr. Simone Falci

Doctor Vetrinaro Nutritionist

Bibliography

-Relationships between heart rate and age, bodyweight 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