Best Food for Havanese: What to Look For

What matters most for a Havanese

The AKC lists the Havanese at 8.5 to 11.5 inches and 7 to 13 pounds, with a life expectancy of 14 to 16 years, and describes the breed as generally healthy, noting possible hip dysplasia, eye disease, kneecap problems and congenital deafness. A long-lived toy dog benefits from staying lean for many years, which protects small knees and hips.

The priorities are a complete and balanced diet, small pieces that are easy to pick up and chew, and precise portions using the calorie figure and a kitchen scale. At this size, a few extra treats a day make a real difference to weight over months. A small slow feeder bowl can pace a Havanese that bolts its measured portion.

How to read the label

Look for the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement saying the food is complete and balanced for growth, adult maintenance or all life stages. The WSAVA's guidelines on selecting pet foods warn that intermittent or supplemental products should be only a small part of the diet, and that unregulated terms such as premium tell you little.

Find the calories per cup, which US labels must show, and use them with your vet's target weight. The WSAVA also suggests asking makers whether they employ a qualified nutritionist and what quality control they run, which tells you more than the picture on the bag.

Kibble size and feeding a toy breed

Small-breed or toy-breed kibble suits a Havanese mouth; large kibble can be awkward. Soft or canned complete foods suit older dogs with dental problems, which are common in small breeds with crowded teeth. A shallow bowl such as this pizza-style slow feeder helps, and keeping the hair around the mouth tidy keeps it out of food.

Havanese puppies are small, and vets often advise several meals a day for young toy-breed puppies, since they have limited energy reserves. Follow your vet's schedule, and call promptly if a tiny puppy is weak or will not eat.

Best format for each Havanese

For a puppy, a small- or toy-breed growth food, or one for all life stages, in several measured meals. For an adult, a complete small-breed adult food or soft food. For a Havanese that gains weight easily, a lower-calorie formula makes portions feel more generous.

For a senior, reduce portions as activity drops or ask your vet about a senior formula, since these vary widely. For a fussy eater, a spoon of complete wet food mixed in, counted in the daily total, often helps more than constant switching.

What to avoid

Avoid free-feeding and large treats; break treats into tiny pieces. Avoid table scraps and fatty foods, which can upset small stomachs. Avoid choosing a food only because it is grain-free; the FDA has investigated a possible link between certain such diets and heart disease.

Change foods gradually over about a week. If your Havanese vomits, has diarrhea for more than a day, stops eating or seems lethargic, call your vet, since small dogs can dehydrate quickly. Bad breath or dropping food can mean dental pain.

Keeping a Havanese lean

The long, silky coat hides the body, so feel rather than look; a gentle dog brush keeps that coat tangle-free. You should feel the ribs easily under a light layer of fat and a waist behind them. Weigh monthly on a kitchen or baby scale; half a pound is significant for a 10-pound dog.

Daily walks and indoor play keep a Havanese fit, and ramps or steps onto furniture protect its knees. Your vet can give a target weight and calorie figure at checkups, which matter more than the bag's feeding chart.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.