Food

One of the biggest challenges with homemade dog food is the inconsistency of nutrient content in raw ingredients. Ingredients such as meats, vegetables, and grains can vary widely in nutrient content depending on their growing conditions, seasonality, source, storage conditions, and processing methods.

There may be some benefits to feeding your little dog a diet specifically formulated to target many of the issues small breeds face. When looking at labels for healthy dog foods for small dogs, consider these elements:

The safest chew bones for dogs are made of digestible materials. This means that the ingredients are easy for dogs to digest and won’t cause stomach upset or potential blockages. Rawhide is a type of chew that isn’t always easily digestible because of how it’s processed. Large pieces of rawhide that are swallowed could be a potential intestinal obstruction risk.

A gradual switch in dog food is usually recommended by veterinarians regardless of why you’re changing the food. Plan to go slowly to avoid gastrointestinal upset like diarrhea. If this is done properly, your dog is unlikely to have any problems.

We’re excited to now present information about every single one of the dry dog foods made by the companies on our “Approved Foods” list, including their complete ingredients lists. This feature is available only to our paid subscribers. Even more exciting: This is a searchable database. You can use filters to find foods that meet many specific needs for different dogs.

For 2025, we’ve named the dry dog foods we like best in a number of categories, such as best adult maintenance food, best puppy food, best budget food, best lower-fat food, and more. But keep in mind that the most important selection criteria is not whether a food is one of our favorites, but whether a food works for your dog.

People have been giving raw meaty bones to dogs ever since the two species teamed up as hunters and companions. However, there’s disagreement on whether it’s safe or beneficial to give raw bones to dogs. Veterinarians generally recommend against them, having treated dogs with broken teeth, obstructions or intestinal perforations related to chewing or ingesting bones. Most owners who give them cite dental and mental benefits.

Rawhide chews are potentially dangerous because they can be a choking hazard or cause gastrointestinal obstructions. However, most dogs love to chew on these hide chews to relax and clean their teeth.

Increasing your dog’s fiber intake is an effective way to manage anal-gland problems.

Grain-free dog food has become a popular choice among pet owners in recent years. While grain-free diets may offer certain benefits to some dogs, they may not be the right choice for every dog, and not all grain free dog foods are created equally.

Pig ears can serve as a natural chew to promote dental health. Chewing on pig ears helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup from the teeth via the mechanical action of the chew abrading against the teeth. The tough texture of the ear acts as a natural toothbrush, promoting healthier teeth and gums. They are also protein rich. However, there is a risk of choking, and pig ears can carry salmonella.

Yeast thrives in warm, moist environments. In dogs, this often manifests as ear infections, dermatitis, and digestive upset. When the body’s natural balance is disturbed, yeast can proliferate uncontrollably, leading to infection.