Summary: Small-breed dogs have unique dietary needs. What their owners feed them is important, which is why we recommend Nextrition cold-pressed dog food. It is everything little stomachs need and so much more.
You love your little dog. But as a small-breed owner, you know your canine companion has some special needs. Perhaps some of those needs are dietary. For instance, does your tiny terrier have a sensitive stomach? Do you find it difficult to find food that your small dog enjoys to eat and meets its unique nutritional needs?
Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is a great option for small breeds. It is a healthy dog food choice for small-breed owners looking for the maximum amount of nutrition packed into every bite. And because it is non-kibble dog food, Nextrition doesn't behave like kibble in your dog's stomach. That is why it works so well for the most sensitive of all canine stomachs.
Small Breeds Need Special Attention
The appeal of Nextrition's healthy dog food for small breeds begins with understanding that smaller dogs need special attention. There are three key physiological factors for which small breeds are known:
- Higher Metabolism – Smaller breeds burn energy faster because they have higher metabolisms. That makes a difference at feeding time.
- Smaller Stomachs – Compared to bigger breeds like German shepherds and Labrador retrievers, small breeds have smaller stomachs. They need more nutrition in each bite because their stomachs hold so much less. They also need their food to be easily digestible.
- Dental Concerns – For reasons we will not get into here, many small breeds are known for being prone to dental issues. Once again, what they eat makes a difference.
The healthy, non-kibble dog food Nextrition is known for is perfectly suited to optimizing a smaller dog's digestion and overall health. We believe it is a much better option than traditional kibble.
The Challenges of Traditional Kibble
Smaller breeds can struggle with kibble for several reasons. First is digestibility. Traditional kibble is cooked at high temperatures, resulting in nutrient breakdown and starch gelatinization. This process creates a kibble that will bloat in the stomach before it starts to breakdown, making it more difficult to digest. But that's not all.
Smaller stomachs fill up more quickly. And because kibble is a low density and highly processed food, the smaller dog needs to eat more to get all the necessary nutrients. Rather than getting dense nutrition in every bite, your dog is getting unnecessary air inside each piece of kibble as a result of the manufacturing process.
Every bite needs to count for your smaller dog's tiny stomach. Every bite of dog food should be a bite of healthy dog food densely packed with nutrition and flavor. Cold-pressed dog food from Nextrition is the ticket.
Why Nextrition Is Ideal for Small Breeds
Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is ideal for small breeds because we do things differently. At the core of the cold-pressed philosophy is what we consider the substantial difference: low and slow. What does that mean?
For starters, our dog food is manufactured by gently pressing ingredients together without high heat or steam. This helps preserve nutrients, enzymes, and protein integrity. Your dog benefits in two ways:
- High Digestibility – Nextrition cold-pressed food will break down in the stomach quickly. Nutrients are released and absorbed much more easily than with traditional kibble dog food. This is exactly what a smaller breed with a high metabolism needs.
- Less Bloat – The dense nature of the food mitigates the expansion and bloat that kibble is known for. Extruded kibble expands in the stomach, increasing gas, while Nextrition easily breaks down in the stomach so that the necessary nutrients can be absorbed.
Our cold-pressing process better preserves the nutrients found in each ingredient. With Nextrition cold-pressed dog food, your small breed dog gets more caloric and nutritional value with each and every bite. It is exactly what you need for a dog with a smaller stomach.
Practical Advantages for Small Breeds
The nutritional and digestibility benefits of cold-pressed dog food are pretty clear. But there are some practical advantages to feeding Nextrition to a smaller breed dog. For example, consider the size of the food your dog is looking at every time he stares into the food bowl. We designed the shape and density of our food specifically to make it easy to pick up and chew, even for smaller breed dogs.
Nextrition dog food is also less likely to promote the 'sugar dips' commonly associated with a faster metabolism. Because our food retains more of the healthy fats and proteins, it provides slow-release, stable energy throughout the day. Your dog doesn't get a quick energy rush followed by a crash.
Here are two more practical advantages:
- Appealing Flavor – Some small breeds are known to be fussy about their food. The same cold-pressing process that preserves nutrition also helps preserve flavor and aroma. Some of the fussiest dogs warm up to Nextrition cold-pressed dog food.
- Coat Health – The health of a dog's coat depends heavily on essential fatty acid retention. Nextrition cold-pressed dog food lends itself very well to higher retention of fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6. The result is healthy skin and a glossy coat.
Making the Transition to Nextrition
Are you ready to make the transition to Nextrition cold-pressed dog food? If so, remember that Nextrition is a dry, non-kibble dog food that your canine companion's digestive system might need time to adapt to. Use the common 7-10 day plan to transition from their old food to Nextrition gradually.
As for how much to feed your dog once the transition is complete, we provide a free custom feeding plan tailored for your dog that takes 1-2 minutes by clicking here. If you don’t want the custom feeding plan, we also provide a general feeding guide. It will tell you how much to feed based on your dog's weight. You may have to modify our recommendations slightly to find the sweet spot for your dog. We typically recommend starting on the lower end and working your way up if your dog is starting to lose weight. Overfeeding a nutrient dense food like Nextrition can cause some weight gain and digestive issues.
If you are worried about underfeeding your dog, there's no need to panic. With Nextrition, you can feed up to 30% less than traditional kibble because you are getting a more nutritionally dense food that is packed with nutrition – not fillers and additives. You are getting food that is ideally suited to small-breed dogs with smaller stomachs.
FAQs
Does cold-pressed dog food help prevent gassiness?
Preventing bloating and gassiness is one of the big advantages of switching to cold-pressed dog food. By limiting bloat, our food also reduces the chances that your dog will develop gas.
How does Nextrition help dogs with sensitive stomachs?
The combination of natural ingredients and our cold-pressing process makes our food easily digested. We also add digestive friendly ingredients in all of our recipes such as pumpkin, pre, post and probiotics to help dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Is cold-pressed dog food better than a raw diet?
Cold-pressed dog food offers similar nutritional benefits as a raw diet but with the convenience of a shelf-stable, dry food. We think it is the best balance of both worlds.
Should I use Nextrition exclusively or as a supplement?
It can be used for either. Each of the Nextrition recipes are formulated to be complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages. Nextrition is usually more expensive than traditional kibble so some pet parents choose to use it as a topper for an extra boost of nutrition.
Do you also make dog treats?
In addition to our high-quality cold-pressed dog food, we also make treats known as Tummy Treats. They offer the same dense nutrition, full flavor, and easy digestion. Your dog will love them.
