Best Dog Food for Older Small Dogs with Few Teeth: Soft, Hydrating Meals

Little dogs have different needs from their medium and larger counterparts, in the same way that senior pups have a different set of nutritional requirements from young puppies. Small breeds usually reach their senior years later than big dogs, and the free Pet Age Pro app shows your dog’s age in human years and life stage based on breed and size.

But just like very young pups, older dogs especially small breed ones require foods that are easier to chew. With this in mind, we have reviewed the best dog food for older small dogs with few teeth.

Our quick take: A small senior dog with few or no teeth needs a soft food that is still complete and balanced: a pâté or mousse, a stew with small shreds, or a gently cooked fresh food. You can also soak your dog’s usual kibble in warm water until it is soft. Our top pick is Nom Nom Beef Mash, and Tiki Dog Senior Mousse is the softest food on our list. Have your vet check your dog’s mouth too, because dental pain can make a dog eat less.

 

Best Dog Food for Older Small Dogs with Few Teeth

If your little senior pup who has few or no teeth left is having trouble chewing her dry dog food, it may be time to switch to softer foods.

We have reviewed the best dog foods in the market that are not only nutritious but are also easy to chew and won’t give your pup a toothache.

1. Nom Nom Beef Mash

Nom Nom Beef Mash is a gently cooked dog food that combines the comfort of a home-cooked meal with the precise nutrition of vet-formulated commercial dog food.

Each meal is tailored to your dog’s specific weight management goals, taking into account their age, weight, and activity level to accurately determine their metabolism and caloric needs.

The high moisture content in this gently cooked food makes it much easier to chew compared to dry kibble. By gently cooking the ingredients, Nom Nom ensures that the flavors and nutritional value are preserved.

Made with real ground beef, this recipe is packed with the red meat flavor that dogs love. Its rich protein content boosts energy levels in older dogs and supports lean muscle mass. Additionally, this food contains no plant-derived proteins like pea protein, wheat gluten, or potato protein.

This recipe has eggs as an additional source of protein. It has russet potatoes, carrots, and peas as its main sources of fiber and carbs. These vitamin-rich veggies also help your pup feel fuller for much longer compared to cheap fillers commonly found in commercial dog food products.

Well, Nom Nom has come out with a Variety Pack that contains all of its recipes. This pack includes 200g each of the Pork Potluck, Turkey Fare, and Beef Mash.. With this convenient pack, you can easily sample each recipe and find out which one your pup loves best. And as bonus, there’s no need to subscribe first to buy this.

Feedback from subscribers to NomNom dog meal plans has been excellent. The majority of dog owners credit NomNom for the significant improvement in their pooches’ health. The dogs have brighter eyes, shiny coats, and renewed energy levels.

Gently-cooked foods are definitely one of the best foods you can feed your pup. They are minimally processed and more natural compared to highly processed dry dog food. They are also pre-portioned according to the ideal calorie intake of your dog.

Make sure that gradual transition is done whenever introducing new food to your dog, especially if your pup is used to dry foods.

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2. Stella & Chewy’s Lil Bites Chicken & Turkey in Broth

This is a wet food formulated specifically for small breed dogs in all life stages. Instead of cans, the perfectly portioned food comes in easy open tubs which is convenient and mess-free.

To make it easier for little dogs to chew, the food is shredded into small bits and soaked in flavorful turkey and chicken bone broths. This hydrating meal is a good way to add more moisture to your small dog’s diet.

The main source of protein in this recipe is real chicken. To add more high-quality sources of amino acids as well as flavor and texture, turkey, salmon oil and sunflower oil is added to the recipe. It is also high in omega fatty acids that help improve heart and cognitive function in dogs both young and old. 

This meal with complete and balanced nutrition also has Taurine and turmeric added. Both are beneficial addition to senior dog food because it supports several vital functions that become increasingly important as dogs age.

As dogs grow older, their heart health can begin to decline, and taurine plays a key role in maintaining proper cardiac function. It helps strengthen heart muscles and can aid in preventing conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy, a potentially serious heart disease. Taurine also supports healthy vision and cognitive function, which can be especially valuable for senior dogs facing age-related decline in these areas.

Turmeric on the other hand is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It helps reduce inflammation, potentially easing joint pain and improving overall movement in senior dogs. It is a natural way to promote better joint function, enhance vitality and support long-term health.

The source of carbs and fiber in this recipe is tapioca. It offers a clean source of energy without common allergens like wheat, corn, or soy, which can sometimes cause sensitivities in older dogs.

Additionally, the fiber content in tapioca helps support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements, which are important for maintaining overall gut health in senior dogs.

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3. Tiki Dog Aloha Petites Senior Mousse Chicken, Beef & Pumpkin in Broth

If your older pup requires food much softer than the usual minced, shredded, or morsels type of wet dog food, then a soft mousse may be the one for her.

This is a wet food formulated specifically for the nutritional needs of mature small breed dogs. Featuring a mousse that is much smoother and softer than the regular pate types of dog food.

It has more liquid in it to make chewing effortless for senior dogs with no teeth. You may need to squish it a bit before opening the pouch to get the chicken broth and mousse to combine a bit more, or squeeze it all into your dog’s bowl and mix with a spoon.

This Tiki Dog mousse for petite seniors contains green tea extract. According to Dr. Julie Schell of Bow Bottom Veterinary Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, green tea “has dental benefits of decreasing painful inflammations in addition to helping prevent arthritis and gingivitis”. The amount of green tea extract in a pet food is small, so think of it as a bonus rather than a treatment.

Chicken is the first meat ingredient (right after chicken broth), making this a protein-rich, highly digestible soft food that is full of savory flavors. It is quite common to find chicken as the main ingredient in senior dog or puppy food. This is due to its high digestibility and palatability. Beef is also included as an additional source of amino acids.

Pumpkin is also included in this recipe for its many digestive health benefits. This superfood has soluble and insoluble fibers that help food move through the digestive tract. They also improve dogs’ stool quality. 

Feedback for this senior dog food has been stellar. The majority of buyers had dogs with no teeth left or had very few. Some of them had recently undergone teeth extractions and were put on a soft diet.

Not only do dogs and toothless dogs alike love the rich and meaty mousse, but they are able to lick their bowls clean without much effort or discomfort.

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4. Natural Balance L.I.D. Buffalo & Sweet Potatoes Formula

Natural Balance L.I.D. Buffalo & Sweet Potatoes Formula (now known as Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Bison & Sweet Potato) is a pate that is formulated to provide the nutrients that adult dogs of all breeds and sizes need.

Made of a novel protein source and a few carefully selected ingredients, this pate is suitable for sensitive dogs with allergies or digestive issues.

This canned dog food is high in moisture which makes it soft and easy to chew. It adds a healthy amount of hydration to your dog’s diet.

Made with real buffalo/ bison meat, this recipe has a rich red meat flavor that many dogs naturally crave. Buffalo or bison is high in vitamin B2 and niacin which support dogs’ metabolic function and overall brain health.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes are included in this adult dog food as the carb and fiber sources instead of corn, wheat, or soy. Both are easy to digest and provide fiber, vitamins, and even protein. Canola oil and salmon oil provide omega 6 and 3 fatty acids that promote good heart, brain, skin, and coat health in dogs.

Based on comments from dog parents, it appears that many of them purchased this canned food for dogs suffering from allergies.

A good amount of the comments state that this soft pate is gentle on their sensitive pups’ tummies. The dogs’ skin health also improved since being switched to this limited ingredient recipe.

The soft texture of the pate makes it a hit among senior pups. Unlike some pates that need a bit of warm water to soften, this recipe is soft, smooth, and ready to serve.

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5. Hill’s Science Diet Senior Adult 7+ Savory Stew with Beef & Vegetables

This canned food from Hills is a grain-inclusive wet dog food crafted for senior pups of all breeds and sizes. This multi-protein wet food has beef, pork liver and pork plasma, with chicken fat and chicken liver flavor, all in one meal. 

Aside from all the super tasty flavors from the high-quality protein sources, this canned food is made with brown rice and wheat flour, and it contains no corn. Hill’s describes it as made with natural ingredients, though it does contain caramel color.

The healthy grains in this canned food are great for dogs with digestive issues. They are easy to digest and help improve stool quality.

Superfoods like flaxseed, carrots, spinach, and others provide antioxidants and vitamins that strengthen mature dogs’ immune systems. Flaxseeds are naturally high in omega fatty acids. 

Dogs seem to enjoy this super flavorful wet food. They find the beef, pork liver, chicken fat and pork plasma in gravy irresistible.

Palatability is very important in foods for senior dogs as they tend to be pickier with food as they get older. An appetizing meal helps ensure your dog gets all the nutrients she needs to stay healthy.

The meat and vegetables canned dog food is soft and easy to chew even for old dogs who have very few teeth left. This recipe with wholesome grains has also proven itself to be good for sensitive gastrointestinal tracts.

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6. Nutro Ultra Trio Protein Chicken, Lamb & Whitefish Pate 

This is a multi-protein wet food formulated for senior pooches of all breeds and sizes. The conveniently pre-portioned trays make it a great meal on the go for small breed dogs. This wet food has a soft consistency making it easy to chew for dogs with no teeth.

This food has the rich and meaty goodness of real chicken and liver; lamb; and whitefish. All of these meat sources are popular with picky dogs and are easy to digest for sensitive senior tummies.

They are packed with amino acids that dogs need for good overall health. Whitefish is naturally rich in omega 3 fatty acids that support brain, heart, skin, and coat health.

Packed with garden vegetables like carrots, spinach, and tomatoes, as well as superfoods like blueberries, coconut, chia seeds, etc, this food is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that boost the immune system and help protect the body from free radicals. 

It is free from corn, wheat, or soy. It also has no artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives. Only non-GMO nat