Is your small dog missing one or two teeth…or maybe…all of them? Teeth loss in small dogs can be quite common due to either injuries, poor dental hygiene, or simply getting older. It’s important to adjust your dog’s diet so they can still enjoy tasty food and treats without the risk of choking or damaging their gums. In this article, we take a look at the best dog food for small dogs with no teeth.

Losing teeth can affect your small dog’s ability to chew their food properly. A couple of missing teeth doesn’t usually cause too much of a problem, but if tooth loss progresses, you need to ensure your dog’s usual diet isn’t becoming too much of a challenge for them at mealtimes.

A switch away from hard kibble to a diet with softer food can help your small dog continue to enjoy their food in comfort, but it’s important that they’re still getting the nutrients they need to thrive, and the care they need to keep their gums and remaining teeth in top shape.

The best dog food for small dogs with no teeth

If your small dog is having trouble chewing their food, kibble may no longer be the best choice for them. It can be a choking hazard, as they will just swallow the pieces whole. Likewise, foods with large or tough chunks can be difficult to chew, and hard to digest if your small dog has to swallow them without chewing properly.

Wet dog food – canned or packets

Wet dog food in cans or pouches are specially formulated to ensure your small dog is getting all the nutrition they need at mealtimes. This is the obvious option for small dogs with no teeth – and if your pup already has wet food as part of their diet, there’s no need to change this once you notice tooth loss occurring.

Here are some of our top picks:

Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Paté Adult & Senior Wet Dog Food 

This wet food is specially formulated for older dogs, and is our top pick for best dog foods for small dogs with no teeth. As it’s designed specifically with senior dogs in mind, it has no large chunks and is perfect for dogs who might be struggling to chew their usual food.

It’s grain free and high in proteins, with no GMO ingredients, corn, wheat, soy, or additives. So if your dog has grain sensitivities, this is a great option to cover all their nutrition bases.

Purina Beneful Prepared Meals wet dog food

The Purina Beneful Prepared Meals range come in a variety of flavors to keep your dog happy. With real, soft meat chunks, vegetables contained in a rich gravy, plus vitamins and minerals – these meals give your small toothless friend everything he needs to power their day.

Prepared Meals are the ideal option if you’re looking for a soft, wet food for your small dog. They come in resealable containers so you don’t need to feed it all to your dog at once.

Blue Buffalo Delights – Small Breed Wet Dog Food Cups – Pate Style

Blue Buffalo Delights are well known for their quality meat and vegetable ingredients. This is a pate-style wet food with no chunks. Everything is soft and smooth, and perfect for small dogs that are lacking in the dental department.

These pate-style cups come in a variety of flavors to keep your small dog interested, and are easy and relatively tidy to serve, compared to some of the other runny wet food mixtures out there.

Home made dog food

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for small dogs with no teeth, another option is to simply make your dog’s food at home.

If you have the time, simply choose your dog’s favorite protein, vegetables such as butternut squash, green beans, spinach, sweet potato, and zucchini (or any other dog-safe veges) and cook them slowly in water or broth (or a mix of both) until the meats and veges are soft. You can also add rice for some extra filler.

Once everything is cooked, pop the mixture in your blender until it’s a good, smooth consistency for your dog to eat. Add some extra water to the mix if it looks too stiff. Make sure you serve your homemade food to your dog slightly warmed so it’s soothing on their gums.

It’s always best to check with your vet to see whether your recipe has enough daily nutrients for your dog, or whether you might need to add a vitamin supplement to ensure your dog is getting enough goodness.

Check out these websites for some healthy homemade recipe ideas for your small dog

• The Dog Bakery – 20 Healthy Homemade Recipes
• Natural Pets HQ – 4 Vet-Approved Recipes For Small Dogs

Dog kibble

As we mentioned earlier, kibble isn’t the best choice as a dog food for small dogs with no teeth, as it can be a potential choking hazard and be hard to digest for your dog if the kibble pieces are swallowed without chewing.

However, if your dog absolutely loves their kibble – you can soak and soften this to enable your dog to eat it safely.

Add warm broth or water to their kibble and let it soften for a few minutes, then crush the kibble with a fork to ensure there aren’t any large chunks that can irritate your dog’s gums. Serve the kibble at room temperature, or slightly warmed for your dog to enjoy.

If you’re concerned about giving whole kibble, even when it’s soft, you can put the softened kibble in your blender or food processer which will give it a soft, pate-like consistency like a wet food mix. This will be easy for your toothless small dog to eat.

This moistened kibble shouldn’t be left at room temperature for more than half an hour for food safety reasons. Store any uneaten softened kibble in the fridge for later.

Here are our picks for some healthy kibble options:

Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dry Dog Food for Small and Toy Breeds

Nutro Natural Choice is specially formulated for small breeds and seniors, so the kibble pieces are a good size for your dog.

This Natural Choice kibble contains high quality protein plus calcium to keep your dog’s bones and (remaining) teeth in good shape. All ingredients are non-GMO with no corn, wheat, or soy which makes it a great option for sensitive small dogs too.

Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Dog Food For Small Breeds and Senior Dogs – Turkey

Wellness Complete Health is formulated for senior, small breed dogs. It’s a good option if you’re searching for the best dog food for small dogs with no teeth. It contains no weird meat byproducts, fillers, or preservatives so is a great, natural and healthy choice if you’re looking for a good kibble to soften up.

This Complete Health kibble also supports the health needs of smaller and older dogs with glucosamine to promote joint and bone health.

Dehydrated or freeze-dried dog food

If your tooth-free dog loves their high protein, raw diet – dehydrated or freeze-fried foods can be a good option for them.

These commercial options are typically flaked or ground so they have a smooth texture when they’re rehydrated. They have minimal processing, which makes them a great natural and healthy alternative to fresh raw food.

In addition, they’re easy for toothless and senior dogs to digest, and are rich in nutrients and enzymes that promote gut and oral health.

The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Whole Grain Dog Food

Honest Kitchen dehydrated dog food is incredibly popular for dog owners of all kinds. Even though it seems expensive, a little goes a long way once you add water!

This Honest Kitchen dog food contains healthy, high-quality ingredients such as organic flaxseed, oats, proteins, and vegetables, without any of the weird, chemical-laden ingredients, GMOs, and fillers that other dehydrated foods can contain.

Once water is added, this food is perfectly soft and safe for your small toothless dog to eat.

Note: Even though the brand is FDA approved, and boasts “human grade” quality, we don’t recommend you try it out!

Primal Pet Foods Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Primal Nuggets is a great example of quaity, raw freeze-dried food packed with goodness. It’s a fantastic choice for any dog, especially those with dental problems. If you’re concerned about the higher price, rest assured these nugs are worth it for the quality and ingredients.

With 39% protein, your dog will flourish and stay strong – as well as feeling full for a longer period of time.

The high-quality proteins, organic fruits and vegetables, and fancy ingredients like blueberries, kale, cider vinegar, and coconut oil contained in Primal Nuggets, ensure your dog is getting everything they need during the day.

Once rehydrated with water, these nuggets become soft and squishy – a perfect food for small dogs with no teeth!

Treats and chews

Many dog treats and chews are designed to give your dog a bit of a challenge as they eat them. But for a small dog that’s missing some teeth, they’re not so much fun.

But there are many natural chews that are soft enough for even the most toothless small dogs to gum away on happily.

Make sure you keep an eye on your dog while they’re eating to ensure they’re chewing and swallowing their treats safely.

Here’s a few of our picks for best dog treats for small dogs with no teeth:

Blue Buffalo — Blue Bits Savory Salmon Recipe Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats

Blue Buffalo bits are our top choice for best dog foods for small dogs with no teeth in the treats department.

These Blue Buffalo soft training treats contain tasty, real salmon as their primary ingredient. So they’re healthy and your dog will love them. They’re free from corn, wheat, soy, preservatives, and dyes that may be harmful to your dog.

Best of all, these bite-sized treats are small, soft and squishy, so they’re fine for your toothless dog to munch on.

Buddy Biscuits – soft and chewy treats for small dogs

Buddy Biscuits are proudly made in the USA. These soft dog treats are peanut butter flavored, which any dog (regardless of their teeth) can’t wait to get their paws on.

Buddy Softies are small, soft-textured treats made of simple ingredients with no soy, salt, yeast, sugar, fillers, or artificial additives. They’re proudly baked and packed in the USA – and a favorite of many dog owners (and their pets!)

Milk Bone soft and chewy dog treats

The Milk Bone brand has been keeping dogs happy since 1908! These Soft & Chewy treats are meaty and tasty for your small dog, and they’re fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals to give your pup some extra pep.

Soft & Chewy are fine for dogs of all sizes, but if your dog has zero teeth, always keep an eye on them while they eat to ensure they don’t get too over-excited about these super meaty treats.

Davie’s Sweet Potato dog treats

Davie’s sweet potato treats are ideal for your tooth-free dog to gnaw on. They’re made from 100% sweet potatoes, so are safe and healthy for your dog.

All natural sweet potato dog treats are a great vege alternative to giving your pet rawhide chews, which can be a safety hazard for choking. Sweet potato is also allergy-friendly and nutrient-rich, with iron and Vitamins A, B, and C which your dog needs as part of a healthy diet.

These treats are grown and bagged by a family farm in North Carolina, so you can support local farming at the same time as treating your dog to these tasty vege snacks

Remember to always stick to soft treats that are the right size for your small dog!

How to safely switch your small dog’s food

Switching your dog to a different food suddenly can cause them to have stomach upsets, and vomiting or diarrhea.

To avoid these potential problems, it’s important to switch to a new, softer food gradually. The American Kennel Club recommends a transition over the space of a week for most dogs, like so:

• Day 1: 25% of the new diet and 75% of their old diet.
• Day 3: 50% of the new diet and 50% of their old diet.
• Day 5: 75% of the new diet and 25% of their old diet.
• Day 7: 100% of the new diet.

However you transition, it’s important to start with a tiny amount of the new food mixed in with your dog’s usual food. This will help your dog get gradually used to their new diet.

If your dog experiences gastrointestinal problems, make sure you consult with your vet for advice.

Dental care for dogs with no teeth

No matter if your dog has lost all their teeth, or just a couple of them – you’ll still need to ensure their remaining teeth and gums are in good shape.

Regular tooth brushing (or gentle gum brushing) is essential to promote good dental hygiene for your pup. Brushing can stimulate your dog’s gums and ensure good blow flow, while removing any plaque, bacteria, and food pieces that can accumulate in your dog’s mouth and cause potential problems over time.

How can I tell if my dog has dental problems?

If you notice your dog losing teeth, it may be that dental problems, periodontal disease (or other health problems), are the cause. See your vet if you’re worried about tooth loss – especially if you notice any of these other symptoms:

• Fish-smelling breath
• Loose teeth
• Redness or swelling in the gums
• Bleeding gums
• Whimpering when eating
• Blood on their toys or chews
• Lumps in the mouth
• Blood-tinged saliva
• Avoidance of crunchy or hard foods
• Avoidance of you giving them head pats or touching their face

General tips for caring for small dogs with no teeth

While it’s sad to see your small furry friend losing their teeth, it doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy life to the fullest!

Rubber chew toys can be perfect to keep your dog entertained, while massaging their gums at the same time.

Our favorite rubber toys are puppy-sized Kongs – our toothless pug loves these with a smear of peanut butter on the inside. It keeps him happy and entertained for ages!

In summary – best dog food for small dogs with no teeth

Small dogs are especially prone to losing their teeth, whether it’s from dental disease or simply growing old. We hope our tips on finding the best dog food for small dogs with no teeth have given you some ideas and inspiration to search out foods that will best suit your pup.

It’s important that you adjust your pet’s diet to accommodate their toothlessness and ensure they’re both enjoying their meals safely – and getting enough nutrients for them to thrive.

There are plenty of foods, treats, and toys on the market that can keep your dog healthy and entertained so they can still enjoy life to the fullest as they navigate life with a few less teeth!

Even if your dog only has a couple of teeth left, it’s important you pay attention to their remaining teeth, brushing their teeth and gums gently and regularly. And if you’re worried about tooth loss at all – make sure you see your vet to get the proper advice and treatment for your furry friend

Related articles

• Can my dog eat Honey Nut Cheerios?
• Is it safe to feed my dog salmon?
• Are limes and lemons safe for my dog?