Did you know that the first Lhasa Apsos (2) came to the US in the 1930s as a gift from the 13th Dalai Lama to Charles Suydam Cutting, an American traveler?
With origins in Tibet, the Lhasa Apso dog breed was a highly respected watchdog in the monasteries and palaces in the mountainous Tibetan homelands. While they no longer serve as royal home guards, they make very loyal and protective family dogs today.
The Lhasa Apso features a small size and a long flowing coat which makes them appear gentle to most that are unacquainted with the breed. But the truth, however, is that he is lionhearted, intelligent, playful, and self-reliant.
Caring for the Lhasa Apso can be demanding, especially grooming and this means feeding him with foods rich in omega-3 & 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and shiny coat. So, are you looking for the best food for Lhasa Apso that benefits his overall health?
Table of Contents
Nutritional Requirements of Lhasa Apsos
When it comes to buying the best food for your Lhasa Apso, there are certain qualities to look for that nourish his overall health. As such, we have prepared a buyer’s guide to help you in your shopping.
4 ingredients to look for in your Lhasa Apso food:
- Protein
The best dog food should contain 2 or 3 meat proteins (both whole types of meat and meat meals) from identified sources as the first ingredients. Protein helps build lean, strong muscles that support your Lhasa Apso’s movement and should make up 85% of your canine buddy’s diet.
- Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates come in handy in providing your Lhasa Apso with energy. But unlike proteins, carbs should constitute a small fraction of your canine pal’s diet.
- Omega-3 & 6 Fatty Acids
Lhasa Apsos features a long flowing coat that needs to be kept healthy and shiny. Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids are essential ingredients that help keep their skin healthy and coat shiny for ease of clipping and an attractive appearance.
- Antioxidants & Probiotics
On the one hand, antibiotics help support your Lhasa Apso’s liver function, improve his immune system, and at the same time boosting protection against free radical damage.
Probiotics, on the other hand, give and maintain your Lhasa Apso’s healthy digestive system. This is primarily handy in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, thus reduces stomach upsets and loose stools.
Here are the 8 Best Foods for Lhasa Apso:
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Reviews of the 8 Best Foods for Lhasa Apso
American Journey Active Life Formula Chicken Recipe
Our top-best food for Lhasa Apso is the Active Life Formula Chicken Recipe from American Journey. Lhasa Apsos are active canines and full of adventure which is why you should feed them with a healthy meal that fuels their exploratory spirit.
This recipe includes a varied, balanced diet with real deboned chicken as the first ingredient and a great source of proteins. This ensures that your Lhasa Apso has lean, strong muscles that support the movement. Other ingredients in the formula include nutrient-rich veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes, antioxidants for a healthy immune system, and natural fiber from easily digestible wholesome grains like rice.
To support healthy skin and shiny coat, this chicken recipe includes omega-3 & 6 fatty acids and there are no artificial ingredients, wheat, soy, or corn.
Pros:
- High-quality proteins
- Nutrient-rich ingredients
- Easily digestible
- Palatable
Cons:
- May contain barley which is unfit for Lhasa Apsos
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe
Merrick is a reputable name on the market when it comes to pet foods. Our runner’s-up for the best food for Lhasa Apso, Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe is a perfect balance of nutrition and excellent taste.
This recipe has real deboned chicken as the first ingredient which is the palatable source of protein that helps build and maintain your Lhasa Apsos lean muscles. This natural dog food features a healthy blend of grains that help support healthy digestion, including quinoa and ancient grains. To ensure your Lhasa Apso maintains healthy hips & joints, this recipe also contains glucosamine and chondroitin.
Lhasa Apso’s furry coat needs to be kept shiny to retain the attractiveness, which is why this dog food from Merrick includes omega-3 & 6 fatty acids. The food is potato-free with no lentils or peas.
Pros:
- Excellent recipe
- Ideal for small pups
- Great quality
Cons:
- Complaints about quality & small kibbles
- Reported illnesses
Tiki Dog Aloha Petites Chicken Luau
Our third-best food for Lhasa Apso from Tiki Pets is yet another great choice for small dogs. This recipe contains fresh chicken as the first ingredient along with organ meat and chicken liver which are all high-quality protein sources.
The grain-free recipe has whole peas, chicken peas, and lentils as sole sources of carbs to ensure your Lhasa Apso stays energized. Other ingredients in this chicken luau recipe include ground whole flax seeds which are excellent sources of omega fatty acids and salmon oil to support healthy skin and glossy coat.
This dog food has been baked to preserve nutrients and palatability.
Pros:
- Palatable
- Good for small dogs
- Excellent overseas product line
Cons:
- Reported expired batches on Amazon
Weruva Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Are you looking to feed your Lhasa Apso with highly delicious dog food? Our fourth-best grain-free canned dog food from Weruva is a fantastic choice. Their most popular paw lickin’ chicken recipe is a 100% complete and balanced diet that features all essential nutrients.
This grain-free recipe features real deboned & skinless chicken as the only source of high-quality protein to give your Lhasa Apso strong muscle tissues. Other recipes include beef, lamb, and fish. It contains no artificial additives or preservatives.
If you want to feed your canine buddy with high-quality, easily digestible dog food, Weruva got you covered.
Pros:
- Excellent taste
- Quality protein source
- Grain-free for sensitive stomachs
Cons:
- Inconsistent quality
- Reported serious illnesses
- High price tag
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Blue Buffalo is another great name in the dog food arena. Our fifth-best food for Lhasa Apso, Chicken & Brown Rice recipe has been specially formulated for small adult breeds. This formula features real chicken meat as the first ingredient, a terrific source of quality protein that ensures your Lhasa Apso gets healthy muscles.
This chicken & brown rice recipe includes garden vegetables and fruits for healthy vitamins and minerals, as well as wholesome grains. Antioxidants in this dog food ensure that your Lhasa Apso has a healthy immune system, while omega fatty acids help maintain healthy skin and lustrous coat.
If you are looking for nutrient-rich dog food for your Lhasa Apso, this is a perfect choice.
Pros:
- Delicious
- Small breed kibble size
- Good for skin & stomach issues
- Nutrients-rich
Cons:
- Inconsistence in batches
I and Love and You Naked Essentials Lamb & Bison Recipe
Our sixth-best food for Lhasa Apso is the naked essentials lamb and bison recipe from I and Love and You. If you are looking for the right-sized kibbles for all life stages, this is a perfect choice.
Their dog foods contain real meat as the first ingredient which is a great source of proteins from meat, fish, or poultry. This lamb and bison recipe offers enough proteins to build and maintain your Lhasa Apso’s muscles to support the movement. Other ingredients include flaxseed, sunflower, and fish oils which are excellent sources of omega-3 & 6 fatty acids. This ensures that your Lhasa Apso’s skin and coat remain healthy and lustrous.
The best thing with this dog food includes prebiotics and probiotics to give your Lhasa Apso a happy tummy and digestive health. There are no by-products, grains, or artificial preservatives.
Pros:
- Protein-rich sources
- Delicious & aromatic
- Promotes gastrointestinal health
- Exceptional ingredients
Cons:
- Unfit for dogs with heart problems
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula
Are you looking for a grain-free formula that offers digestible energy and superb nutrition for your pup? Our seventh-best food for Lhasa Apso is an excellent choice! This dog food is crafted with real roasted meat from bison and venison as the first ingredient.
This protein-rich dog food gives your Lhasa Apso lean strong muscles plus an unmatched taste sensation. Other ingredients include veggies and fruits that offer natural antioxidants for a healthy immune system, as well as DHA for brain and vision health.
It also contains a blend of omega fatty acids that maintain your Lhasa Apso’s healthy skin and a radiant coat. If you want to feed your canine buddy with optimal amino acids a delicious taste of the wild, this dog food is a perfect choice.
Pros:
- Great kibble sizes
- Delicious meal
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Inconsistency in batches
- Distrust with Amazon purchases
Now Fresh Small Breed Senior Weight Management Recipe
Do you have a senior Lhasa Apso and want the best diet specially formulated for him? Our eighth-best food for Lhasa Apso from Now Fresh is a perfect choice! This small breed senior weight management recipe includes turkey, duck, and salmon as protein sources.
To ensure your senior Lhasa Apso maintains a lustrous coat and healthy skin, this recipe includes Omega 3 & 6 fatty oils from canola and coconuts. This grain-free dog food also features wholesome veggies and fruits that offer antioxidants to support a healthy immune system.
Added L-carnitine supports healthy heart function while prebiotics and probiotics help in proper digestive health.
Pros:
- Perfect for senior Lhasa Apso
- Protein-rich
- Excellent taste
Cons:
- Complaints about kibble size
Best Dog Food for Lhasa Apso Buying Guide
Lhasa Apso Feeding Chart
Even though the when and how to feed your Lhasa Apso should be as directed by your dog’s veterinary, the frequency of obesity in small dogs requires a feeding chart. This gives you better control over how much your furry friend should consume.
Your Lhasa Apso should have 2-3 meals a day for 20 minutes at most. Here is how you should feed your doggie in different life stages:
- Weaning Age Pups - At this stage, free-feed them until they reach a suitable weight for a structured regimen.
- 3 months to 1 year - Puppies at this stage should be fed with high-quality foods, 3-4 meals a day without synthetic ingredients.
- Adult Lhasa Apso - Dogs aged 1-8 years should consume a consistent diet of high-quality foods 2 meals a day.
- Senior Lhasa Apso - At this stage, they need different nutrition levels. As such, consult with your dog’s vet for the best nutrient-rich diet that supports joint & bone health, as well as digestion health.
5 Common Health Problems with Lhasa Apso
Despite being purebred dog breeds, unscrupulous Lhasa Apso breeding has resulted in many genetic medical conditions. Some health conditions include hereditary eye, ear, and noise issues, as well as physical injury.
- Entropion
This is a genetic eye disorder in which a section of the eyelid turns inward causing the eyelashes and skin of the eyelid to rub against the eyeball. The rubbing can damage the eye’s surface, maybe leading to scratches or cornea damage.
- Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
This is a condition portrayed by abnormalities in the upper airway that block airflow leading to strained breathing. The syndrome is common in small dogs and abnormalities include elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, hypoplastic trachea, and everted laryngeal saccules.
- Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is described by the abnormal hip socket development that can result in enduring pain from arthritis, lameness, and subjective paralysis. This condition can be as a result of inadequate nutrition or too much/little physical activity. Symptoms include obesity.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is a hereditary syndrome portrayed by the degeneration of the retina and can lead to either partial or total blindness in your Lhasa Apso. Symptoms include increased eyeshine or glow in your Lhasa Apso.
- Patellar Luxation
This condition is portrayed by the displacement of the kneecap or patella and results from trauma and a hereditary defect predominant in small dog breeds. Symptoms of this disease include unusual sitting posture with an outward-placed knee, awkward gait, and more.
What to Avoid in Your Lhasa Apso’s Dog Food
Like other dogs, there are some ingredients that should not be included in your Lhasa Apso’s diet, including gluten, corn, soy, barley, rye, and wheat. Others include synthetic ingredients such as white flour, BHT/BHA, Xylitol & Alcohol, STPP, sodium nitrate, and MSG.
Best Dog Food for a Lhasa Apso Puppy
The best dog food for a Lhasa Apso puppy is Canidae Grain-Free Pure Foundations Puppy Formula. This dog food includes chicken and menhaden fish meal as the first ingredients and excellent sources of protein. Other ingredients include peas, lentils, and potatoes.
This limited ingredients formula includes probiotics, vitamins, and minerals and is grain-free which makes it easily digestible. It also antioxidants that support a healthy immune system, as well as omega-3 & 6 fatty acids that promote skin and coat health.
FAQs
What Human Food Can Lhasa Apso Eat?
While not all human foods are safe for Lhasa Apsos, there are some that he can eat, including carrots, little salt & cheese, peanut butter, eggs, salmon, blueberries & blackberries, and popcorn. Other human foods include limited amounts of cashew, almonds, as well as watermelons, and pineapples.
Do Lhasa Apsos Shed?
No, Lhasa Apsos do not shed. Their furry coat, however, requires a lot of maintenance via clipping them into a puppy cut to prevent regular grooming.
What do Lhasa Apsos Die From?
Lhasa Apsos mainly die from cancer, especially in their senior ages. They can live longer compared to other dog breeds which makes them susceptible to cancer during their golden years.
Wrap-Up
Lhasa Apsos are smart and loyal dogs that make a good family pet. And while they have outstanding looks, they are not for people who don’t have time to groom. If you want to live with them longer, just ensure that you feed them with foods having all essential nutrients.
Our Editor’s Choice, American Journey Active Life Formula Chicken Recipe, contains human-grade ingredients for a palatable and nutritious meal that your Lhasa Apso will delight in. Their food recipes include high-protein sources like lamb, chicken, beef, and turkey with zero synthetic ingredients or inessential fillers.
Hopefully, the article was helpful. Adios and all the best with your Lhasa Apso!
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com
