Best dog food for Pugs to nurture their unique needs

Royal Canin Pug Adult Complete Dog Food is specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of Pugs. The kibble is specially shaped for brachycephalic jaws, making it easier for Pugs to pick up and chew. The small size of the kibble is gentle on their short digestive systems, helping to alleviate common symptoms like excess wind and digestive discomfort.

This food contains omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), which are essential for nourishing your Pug's skin and coat. This is particularly important for Pugs, as their skin folds can trap moisture, creating an environment for potential infections. By supporting skin health, this formula helps keep your Pug feeling comfortable and looking their best.

Royal Canin Pug Adult is a complete and balanced dry dog food formulated to promote a healthy weight and maintain lean muscle and heart health. For Pugs who prefer softer textures, you can moisten the kibble with a little water to make it more palatable.

Many reviews highlight the positive effects of this Amazon's Choice recommended food, noting improvements in digestion and overall vitality in their Pugs. While the kibble is tasty and beneficial, it does contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. To ensure optimal nutrition, it's important to follow the feeding guidelines and consider supplementing your dog's diet with fresh, lean protein and vegetables. This way, your Pug can enjoy a well-rounded and satisfying diet that supports their long-term health and happiness.

Forthglade Complete Meal—Brown Rice Mix is an excellent choice for Pugs. It offers a well-rounded, high-protein wet dog food made with 75% meat from turkey, chicken, and lamb. Packed with natural, wholesome ingredients, it provides vital nutrients like B vitamins, iron, manganese, selenium, and magnesium to support your dog’s overall health and vitality.

This food is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain a healthy immune system, shiny coat and nourished skin. Linseed oil is also included to promote skin and coat health further. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, the recipe features brown rice as the carbohydrate source. Brown rice is hypoallergenic, easy to digest and provides fibre to aid digestion, making it gentle on your Pug’s tummy.

Additional functional ingredients like yucca extract help eliminate toxins from the body, while chicory root extract supports gut health. The inclusion of chondroitin and glucosamine ensures joint and bone health, which is especially important for active or ageing dogs.

Customers consistently praise Forthglade for its high quality, noting the benefits it provides to their dogs’ overall wellbeing. However, some varieties of the food are reported to have a stronger smell, which may take getting used to. Overall, Forthglade Complete Meal – Brown Rice Mix stands out as a nutritious and delicious choice for Pugs, offering everything they need to thrive.

AVA Breed Health Pug Dry Dog Food Fish is an ideal choice for Pugs. It features fish as the main ingredient for a tasty, easily digestible protein source. It's hypoallergenic and free from common allergens like wheat, gluten, beef, pork, and soya, making it gentle on sensitive stomachs. The specially shaped kibble is easy for Pugs to pick up and chew.

This food supports overall health with calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth. Uniquely, it contains 'Imuvita', a blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from cranberry, pomegranate and green tea extracts to boost immunity. Beta-glucans further support the immune system, while L-carnitine helps maintain lean muscle mass and healthy weight. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids support skin, coat, heart, kidney, and brain health.

The food also contains MOS and FOS prebiotics to support gut health, yucca to reduce stool odour, and glucosamine and chondroitin for joint mobility. This formula offers a complete, balanced diet to support the health and wellbeing of your Pug. It's exclusively available from Pets At Home.

Give your Pug all the good stuff with this superfood blend. Pooch & Mutt Small Dog Complete is a grain-free, nutritionally dense dry food specially designed for small dogs. The kibble is extra small, making it perfect for smaller mouths and easy for your Pug to chew. This complete superfood diet contains a high meat content from lean chicken and vegetables such as kale, spinach and cranberries, providing a rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that boost immunity and promote overall health.

This formula is enhanced with prebiotics to support healthy digestion and includes a Calm+Care supplement to encourage physical and mental wellbeing. Packed with natural goodness, this food helps keep your dog feeling great inside and out, ensuring they get all the nutrients they need to live their best life. Even the fussiest eaters are quickly won over by the fresh, meaty taste, which is both satisfying and delicious.

Formulated without wheat, corn, rice, beef, soya, or dairy products, Pooch & Mutt Small Dog Complete contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. It's free from grains, cereals, gluten, and non-GM produce, making it a healthy and wholesome choice for your dog. Be sure to follow the feeding guide's recommended portion size, as the food is nutritionally dense and designed to provide optimal health with every bite.

James Wellbeloved Adult Small Breed Lamb & Rice is a hypoallergenic dog food designed specifically for small breeds. The main protein source is lamb, a high-quality, easily digestible protein that provides essential minerals. This makes it an excellent choice for dogs with sensitivities to common allergens. The formula also includes linseed, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain healthy skin and coat.

The kibble features highly digestible brown and white rice, which serves as an energy source for your dog. Chicory extract is included as a prebiotic to promote healthy gut flora, supporting digestive health. Additionally, yucca extract is used as a natural deodoriser to reduce stool odour, ensuring a more pleasant experience for both you and your pet.

The kibble is specially designed to be smaller, making it easier for small dogs to pick up and chew. James Wellbeloved is also committed to environmental sustainability. The kibble is manufactured in the UK using electricity from renewable sources and ensures that no factory waste goes to landfill.

James Wellbeloved is highly recommended by Amazon’s Choice and offers a well-rounded, healthy option for small-breed dogs. In All About Dog Food, James Wellbeloved Adult Small Breed Lamb & Rice was given a pretty favourable review, albeit it is slightly high in its carb content.

PRO PLAN® Small & Mini Adult Everyday Nutrition Dry Dog Food with Chicken is a highly recommended choice for small breed dogs, praised by Amazon’s Choice. Developed by pet nutritionists and Pro-Plan veterinarians, this formula is based on cutting-edge science, offering a well-balanced combination of ingredients to nurture your dog's body. The specially adapted composition of nutrients supports the fast metabolism of small breed dogs like Pugs, ensuring they get the most from their food.

The food features Optibalance, a blend of specific ingredients that promote overall health. The chicken, the main ingredient, is processed to lock in essential nutrients and deliver a delicious, highly digestible taste. The nutrients are easily absorbed, helping to maintain a beautiful, shiny coat and support dental care.

PRO PLAN® also boosts your dog’s natural defences and long-term health, making it a great option for daily feeding. With high protein content, this food is formulated to provide all the essential nutrients small dogs need. Customer reviews highlight that this kibble offers good value for money and is loved by dogs, with many owners noting that their pets prefer it over other brands.

Butternut Box offers a premium, "human-quality" dog food made with fresh meat and vegetables. Their meals are gently cooked to preserve nutrients, providing simple, tasty and complete meals for your Pug. Each meal is perfectly portioned and delivered directly to your door. This fresh food diet ensures the right balance of vitamins and minerals tailored to your dog’s breed, age and activity level. With ten different recipes to choose from, Butternut Box is ideal for fussy eaters, offering variety to keep mealtime exciting.

Pricing is personalised based on your dog’s specific requirements, and a custom meal plan is created just for them. The meals are delivered in bulk every few weeks and arrive frozen in an insulated box. You can easily store them in your freezer and defrost them in the fridge as needed. Plus, you have the flexibility to change, pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

Customer reviews highlight Butternut Box's positive impact on their dogs, with many reporting improved health and happiness after switching to fresh food. However, it's important to note that this service can be more expensive than traditional dog food, and you’ll need extra freezer space to store the meals. For more information, you can read our full review of Hannah and Waffle's experience with Butternut Box.

Pure Pet Food offers a natural and healthy option for feeding your Pug, delivered in a convenient dehydrated form. To prepare a meal, simply add water, and within 10 seconds, you’ll have a nutritious dish ready to serve. The food is easy to store in your cupboard, eliminating the need for refrigeration, and with prices starting from just 89p a day, it’s an affordable alternative to traditional dog food.

What makes Pure Pet Food particularly convenient is its personalised portion sizes tailored to suit your Pug’s specific needs, ensuring a precise, waste-free feeding experience. Unlike raw feeding, it’s less messy and it's more nutritious than kibble, making it an ideal option for busy pet owners. You can even try out the food alongside your dog’s current meals with a partial plan to see how your Pug responds before committing fully.

Pure Pet Food is delivered directly to your door with a recipe designed specifically for your dog. The company prides itself on using simple and wholesome ingredients, and many dog owners have reported noticeable improvements in their pets' health. Trustpilot reviews highlight success stories, including improved digestion, healthier coats and increased energy. Additionally, the company offers treats as well as meals, making it a versatile option for your Pug’s diet. With 91% of customers reporting overall health improvements, Pure Pet Food provides a nutritious and convenient way to feed and nourish your dog.

Royal Canin Pug Puppy is specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of young Pugs during their critical growth phase. This complete and balanced dry dog food is designed with kibble that is easy for tiny Pug mouths to pick up and chew, so they get the most nutrition from each bite. Aimed at Pugs up to 10 months old, this food supports their growth and development with a blend of essential nutrients.

The formula is enriched with antioxidants, such as vitamin E, to promote healthy skin, while omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA nourish the skin's barrier. Additionally, high-quality protein (L.I.P.) and prebiotics (FOS) support digestive health and contribute to improved stool quality, helping your Pug puppy thrive during their early stages of development.

IAMS Complete Dry Dog Food is an Amazon's Choice recommended option, offering advanced nutrition at great value for money. The food features a blend of antioxidants, including vitamin E, to support a healthy immune system and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. It also contains key nutrients that nourish the body and support a strong heart muscle. A 12kg bag lasting around 72 days provides lasting value. The kibble, measuring 12.5mm in diameter and 6mm thick, is small enough for Pugs, albeit it's not a specialised shape for brachycephalic breeds. All-in-all IAMS is praised by customers for its affordability and for helping dogs maintain good vitality – it's a long-standing favourite pet food amongst the Take A Break Pets team.