Best Dog Food for Older Small Dogs with Fewer Teeth (or No Teeth)

Everyone wants their furever friend to be happy and healthy. Unfortunately, this gets harder and harder as a dog gets older. One of the problems an owner has to deal with is the loss of teeth (and sometimes allergies) in older dogs. This can greatly affect the way they eat. If they’re unable to eat properly, they lose essential vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy in their old age.

So what food does a dog need to have for them to eat comfortably? Here is a list of some of the best dog food for older small dogs with few teeth so they can live longer by eating a healthy balanced diet specifically made for them.

The Top Ten Picks for Best Dog Food For Older Dogs

1. Nutro Natural Choice Adult & Senior Dry Dog Food for Small & Toy Breeds

This food is made for older dogs 8 years and older. It’s packed with essential nutrients to support an aging dog’s immune system and overall health with healthy natural ingredients. Toy breeds often need different nutritional requirements than larger dogs, so owners can be confident they are getting food designed specifically for smaller dogs. Some bags have been known not to arrive fresh. Other than that, this is a solid product.

Pros:

• Real Chicken is the number 1 ingredient
• Non-GMO
• Extra Calcium
• Has antioxidants and fiber to support the immune system

Cons:

• Need to buy fresh bags
• Improper storage of bags may lead to problems

2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity Senior 7+ Formula Dog Food

Purina is a trusted brand that’s made this specific dog food for senior dogs. This comes in a bundle pack to ensure that the customer’s older dog is getting the proper nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Essential oils such as vegetable and fish oils help with heart problems, a common issue with older dogs. It focuses mostly on heart issues which are popular problems that older dogs face. If a dog has any allergic reactions to products, make sure they stop eating the food and go to a vet.

Pros:

• It contains oils to help with heart problems.
• Non-GMO
• Promotes mental sharpness

Cons:

• Some dogs may have a bad skin reaction
• May not agree with some dogs

3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites

This dog food is specially designed for older small dogs. It comes in small kibble that is easy for an older dog to digest. This brand of food is vet-approved. The brand is also USA-made, so it’s guaranteed to be a quality product. It is made with all-natural ingredients.

Pros:

• Number 1 vet recommended brand
• Made with natural ingredients
• Focuses on heart and kidney health
• Made in the USA
• Small bites

Cons:

• Short Expiration date
• Pricey

4. Cesar Small Breed Dry & Wet Dog Food

This dog food comes in both dry and wet varieties for older dogs to enjoy. It comes in small chunks, so older dogs can easily chew and digest it. It also comes with a resealable zipper to ensure freshness. There are many different flavors, so if a dog doesn’t like a certain flavor, they will certainly like a different one. Make sure you are getting a fresh bag of it.

Pros:

• Made with real beef
• It contains 26 nutrients for small dogs
• It comes in different flavors
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Contains Glycerine
• The company often sends expired dog food to get rid of stock.

5. Canidae PURE Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

This product packs all essential ingredients that an older small dog needs without all the extra filler ingredients like rice that can cause problems in dogs with sensitive stomachs. It contains real meat, so customers know they’re getting the best product for their dog. Be aware that the food from Amazon is significantly different than the ones sold at stores like Petco or Chewy.

Pros:

• Uses real meat
• No rice or filler ingredients
• Contains Omega 6 & 3 fatty acids for healthy coat and skin
• Has antioxidants to support a healthy immune system

Cons:

• Food brand from Amazon is different than in the store
• May receive defective bags due to improper storage

6. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food

This food has its nutrition down to an exact science. This diet formula is for older dogs who need to lose a little more weight. The food still packs all the essential nutrients they need and helps them lose enough weight to be healthy. Hill’s is made in the USA using high-quality ingredients. In addition, tIn addition, the product is made with a focus on heart, kidney, and bladder health. All these issues are common issues among older dogs.

Pros:

• Number 1 vet recommended brand
• Focuses on heart, kidney, and bladder health
• Made with natural ingredients
• Made in the USA
• Made for dogs who need to lose weight

Cons:

• Lack of transparency of meat sources
• Poor storage handling may cause food to go rancid

7. Nutro Hearty Stews Adult Wet Dog Food

Nutro wet food is perfect for dogs with few teeth to eat. Wet ingredients are easier to chew and won’t cause soreness in gums when eaten. It’s high in nutrients and rich in natural ingredients. No filler or by-product meal. This food can be enjoyed by large and small dogs of any age, so it doesn’t have any essential vitamins specific for a small older dog. But however, it is still a healthy choice.

Pros:

• Partners with trusted farms to ensure quality
• All wet dog food
• Made with non-GMO
• Made with all-natural ingredients
• No artificial flavors or preservatives

Cons:

• Not specifically designed for older dogs
• May not agree with all dogs

8. Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food

This dog food contains all the good qualities of Hill’s brand in a wet food that’s easier on the gums of older dogs. Specific ingredients are used to ensure that it is easily digestible for older dogs. This diet food is meant to help dogs lose some weight.

Pros:

• Number 1 vet recommended brand
• Made with high-quality protein
• Made with natural easy to digest ingredients
• Focuses on promoting healthy heart and bones
• Made for dogs who need to lose some weight

Cons:

• Check for high amounts of toxic Vitamin D
• It doesn’t always arrive up to quality standards

9. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog Food

This food is packed with all-natural ingredients designed to give your dog a well-rounded nutritional diet. It contains meats, greens, berries, and grains. The brand focuses on giving its customers a diet that promotes 4 categories of older dogs. Those categories are a shiny coat, energy, digestive health, and immunity. Unfortunately, there was one recall because customers found some turkey bones and grain shells in some of the products.

Pros:

• Turkey is the number 1 ingredient
• It contains glucosamine to help support joint and bone health
• No by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives
• Contains a variety of nutritional ingredients

Cons:

• The company had a recall for turkey bone shards in the product
• Bad bag handling
• May not agree with some dogs

10. Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Shredded Formula

This Purina brand used to be known as SAVOR Shredded Blend Lamb & Rice Formula. It is specifically designed for small dogs, so all the essential nutrients that a small dog need is found in this product. The shredded pieces, along with small kibble, help older dogs eat it better. In addition, it contains lots of calcium to help support bone health. Unfortunately, this is one of the few products on the list that contains some filler. Despite this, even most picky dogs seem to enjoy this food.

Pros:

• Promotes good bone health
• Fortified with live probiotics for digestive and immune health
• Loved by most picky dogs

Cons:

• Contains filler
• May not agree with some dogs

Summary: The Best Dog Food for Old Age

	Name	Rating	Total Ratings	Brand	Item Form	Breed Recommendation	Flavor
	Nutro Natural Choice Adult & Senior Dry Dog Food for Small & Toy Breeds	4.8 out of 5 stars	4,340 ratings	Nutro	Dry	Small Breed	Chicken
	Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity Senior 7+ Formula Dog Food	4.7 out of 5 stars	9,647 ratings	Purina ONE	Blended, Kibble, Crunchy, Morsels	All Breed Sizes	Chicken
	Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food	4.8 out of 5 stars	6,671 ratings	Hill's Science Diet	Dry	All Breed Sizes	Chicken & Barley
	Cesar Small Breed Dry & Wet Dog Food, All Flavors	4.7 out of 5 stars	6,801 ratings	Cesar	Dry	Small Breeds	Chicken
	Canidae PURE Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food, Salmon and Sweet Potato, 24lbs	4.5 out of 5 stars	4,597 ratings	CANIDAE	Dry	All Breed Sizes	Salmon & Sweet Potato
	Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 11+ for Senior Dogs, Small Paws, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe, 4.5 lb Bag	4.7 out of 5 stars	1,774 ratings	Hill's Science Diet	Dry	Small Breeds	Chicken & Barley
	NUTRO Hearty Stews Adult Wet Dog food, 12.5 oz. Cans (Pack of 12)	4.7 out of 5 stars	2,147 ratings	Nutro	Gravy, Wet	Small Breeds	Chicken
	Hill's Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley, 13 oz Cans, 12 Pack	4.6 out of 5 stars	1,743 ratings	Hill's Science Diet	Wet	All Breed Sizes	Chicken & Barley
	Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog Food Small Breed Senior Turkey & Peas	4.7 out of 5 stars	1,537 ratings	Wellness Natural Pet Food	Dry	All Breed Sizes	Small Breed Senior
	Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Shredded Formula Lamb & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food (Packaging May Vary)	4.7 out of 5 stars	514 ratings	Purina Pro Plan	Chunks, Dry	Small Breeds	Lamb & Rice Shredded Blend

FAQ

Complete List of Dog Food Products

• Nutro Natural Choice Adult & Senior Dry Dog Food for Small & Toy Breeds – This product is made from high-quality ingredients. Just check the bag to make sure it’s been properly handled.
• Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity Senior 7+ Formula Dog Food – Specifically designed for aging dogs with many natural oils to help keep them healthy. This product is known to cause some skin conditions in some dogs.
• Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites – These small bites are perfect for smaller dogs with few teeth. This is a number 1 vet recommended brand.
• Cesar Small Breed Dry & Wet Dog Food – This product comes with dry and wet food bags with a zippable seal to help keep freshness.
• Canidae PURE Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food – Very reliable brand made with tons of natural quality ingredients.
• Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food – This food is specifically for older dogs who need a diet.
• Nutro Hearty Stews Adult Wet Dog Food – This is wet dog food only, so it’s easier for dogs with bad teeth to chew on.
• Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food – This dog food is for dogs who need a diet. It comes with easy – to – digest wet chunks.
• Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog Food – Wellness takes its brand seriously with a well – rounded diet for older dogs.
• Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Shredded Formula – This formula used to be SAVO. It is specifically designed to meet the nutritional requirements of small dogs with shredded food mixed with kibble for older dogs to eat easily.