Most of a small-breed puppy's growth occurs in the first six months of its life. At ten months it will be full-grown, having multiplied its birth weight by twenty months. To fuel this rapid growth, a proper ratio of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals must be provided. Compared to their larger brethren, small dogs also have a higher metabolism, the process by which food is converted into energy within the dog's body. To further complicate matters, they lack the energy reserves of their larger counterparts as well.

Regardless of size, all puppies thrive on the same basic nutrients as adult dogs. Because of their speedy growth rate, the smaller breeds crave them in proportionately larger quantities. The energy requirement of a small-breed pup is two to four times that of an adult small dog. Puppies also need more protein and minerals for healthy bones and teeth. During their first six months of life, a small-breed pup gains about twenty grams per day. They may look like tiny toys, but these little tykes are actually the fuel-burning racecars of the canine world! Their speedy metabolism also makes them more prone to dehydration, so having a ready water supply is critical.

Quantity

Small dogs have less room in their stomachs than their medium- and large-breed counterparts. Still, they need to eat large amounts of food in relation to their body weight. To accomplish this, they need small meals, eaten several times a day until they are six months old. These mini-meals need to be high in calories and energy-dense. Growing up that fast takes lots of energy, and small dogs grow proportionately as much during their first year of life as we do in our first seventeen years.

Small dogs that do not eat on a regular schedule are also subject to blood sugar peaks and drops, causing their energy level to fluctuate dramatically. If your small dog has a finicky appetite, leave dry food in its bowl and let it feed whenever it pleases (a method known as free feeding). Canned or raw foods left out for long periods of time will spoil or attract bugs and bacteria, so free feeding works best with dry food. Spoiled food can cause gastroenteritis, resulting in gas, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. At ten months of age, the little tyke can graduate to adult food but will always require two meals a day. Buy smaller bags of dog food. Even with all those mini-meals, small dogs eat much less than larger ones and food left in the bag for a long period can spoil or deteriorate in taste and nutritional quality.

When you first bring that small pup home, follow the breeder's example. Feed the same food on the same schedule to help ease the transition. If you decide to change food, do so gradually, increasing the proportion of the new food over a week's time so that you won't cause any stomach upsets.

For picky eaters, you can make meals more interesting by adding a spoonful of canned dog food to the dry. If you're cooking lean meats or veggies, you may also add a little — repeat, little — bit of your food to the dry. Just avoid feeding the dog from your plate. We love to baby our small dogs, but sharing your own meal from the dinner table leads to constant begging and poor eating habits for your dog.

The amount of food you give your dog depends on its size, weight, and activity level, the same factors that affect our food intake. The suggested amount is always printed on the label of the dry food bag and will increase with the dog's age and size. Note that amounts refer to “per day,” not “per feeding"! Water intake will also depend on the dog's activity level.

Digestion

Small-breed dogs and puppies have a very limited capacity to digest starch. They lack our digestive enzymes and have a much shorter digestive tract. The grains and starches in their dog food turn into glucose, which is sugar. Too much of it can lead to hypoglycemia, hyperactivity, and diabetes. Watch that carb count when you read dog food package labels. A diet consisting of low starch and high meat protein works best for them.

Today's best dry foods have more digestible grains like barley, oatmeal, and brown rice for their carbohydrate base and more fresh fruits and vegetables as well, lowering their starch content. Corn, soy, and white rice are inexpensive grain sources for the dog food manufacturer, but they are not easily processed by the dog's system.

All meat proteins are not the same, either. In addition to the common protein sources of beef, lamb, and poultry, some foods now contain duck, turkey, and fish. Raw foods branch out even further, featuring rabbit, duck, mackerel, salmon, goat, quail, venison, ostrich, buffalo, and kangaroo. This plethora of proteins is offered not only for variety but to quell allergies to common meat sources now on the rise in dogs.

Bite-size pieces make the best dry food for small dogs. Your dog may have difficulty eating chunks that are too large or too hard. To make it easier for the dog to pick them up, the kibble or extruded pellets need to be small enough to fit those milk teeth and small jaws. Some premium dog foods offer special formulations for small dogs, some of which are breed-specific to suit your little dog.

Today's best premium foods offer our dogs much more than the basic meat and grain. They draw upon the nutrients provided by fruits and vegetables and are fortified with vitamins, beta carotene, amino acids, and probiotics, leading to higher absorption rates of vitamins and minerals. Look for brands that do not contain large proportions of by-products, corn meal, corn bran or corn flour, white rice, or rendered animal fats. Look for natural preservatives like vitamin E, rather than chemicals like ethoxiquin, and avoid artificial food colorings.

Another thing to look for is human-grade meat, poultry, and fish protein sources. Your small dog will thrive on a healthy diet of whole foods, but it won't flourish on food stuffed with by-products, fillers, and chemicals.