The Rundown
Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Small Dog Food
“Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food contains the right amount of Omegas and glucosamine perfect for the little Morkies’ joints. It comes in three different flavors packed with nutrients and supplements for your pup.”
Best For Morkie Seniors: Blue Buffalo Senior Dog Food
“Blue Buffalo Senior Dog Food comes with the right amounts of protein and fats for the less active senior dogs. It has ingredients that regulate the metabolism, which is important for Morkies that are getting older.”
Best for Active Morkies: ORIJEN Dry Dog Food
“ORIJEN Dry Dog Food is best for your bouncy, playful Morkie that loves long walks. It is made with amino acids and healthy ingredients for a strong immune system, healthy skin, and shiny coat.”
These adorable little toy breeds are a mix of a Yorkie and a Maltese.
Mixed breeds tend to inherit the health problems of both their parent breeds, so it’s essential to start them off with the best dog food for Morkies so they’re as healthy as possible from the beginning.
Here are our choices – only healthy, all-natural foods!
Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- 8 Best Dog Foods For Morkies Of 2020
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dog Food
- ORIJEN High-Protein, Grain-Free, Small Breed Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Basics
- Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
- Wellness Complete Puppy Food
- Canidae Pure Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food
- American Journey Limited Ingredient
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Dry Dog Food
- What To Watch For In The Best Dog Food For Morkies
- Questions & Answers
8 Best Dog Foods For Morkies Of 2020
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Best Overall: Premium Quality Morkie Food
PROS
- Three recipes with varying protein and fat levels
- Contain LifeSource Bits, an immune-boosting supplement
- Small bite kibble to suit little mouths
- Added glucosamine for joint strength
CONS
- This kibble is slightly expensive
Blue Buffalo Small Dog Food is a great dog food for Morkies, active and less active, which makes it our premium choice dry dog food. You’ll find all the necessary nutrients and supplements, in three different flavors so it’s easy to avoid flavors that your little one may be sensitive to.
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dog Food
Best For Morkie Seniors
PROS
- Contains DHA to keep aging eyes and brains sharp
- Added L-carnitine to aid in energy regulation and metabolism
- Contains healthy grains for extra fiber
- Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
CONS
- Seniors who are still very active may find this food has too little protein and fat
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dog Food is the best food for senior small breeds who are slowing down and becoming less active. The protein and fat counts are great for small dogs who are less active and spend more time relaxing.
If your Morkie senior is getting more chilled and enjoys more time on the sofa than chasing after other pets or playing, this dog food could be best.
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ORIJEN High-Protein, Grain-Free, Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Best for Active Morkies
PROS
- High Omega fatty acid content for healthy skin and coat
- Specially made small bite kibble for little mouths and teeth
- Organ meat and freeze-dried liver pieces add extra amino acids
- Contains DHA, EPA, and joint supplements
CONS
- Could be too high in protein and fat for less active Morkies
ORIJEN Dog Food is our best dog food for a Morkie dog who gets a good bit of exercise during their day. If your little fluff gets taken on a daily walk and is generally bouncy and playful, they may do well on this food.
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Blue Buffalo Basics
Best For Tear Stains
PROS
- LifeSource Bits add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Grain-free recipe for easier digestion
- Three flavors to choose from
CONS
- Slightly expensive
Morkies are prone to tear stains, which aren’t dangerous in any way but can be unsightly and may hint at an underlying medical condition. Check with your vet, but the Blue Buffalo Basics is the grain free dry dog food we find best to combat tear stains in small breeds.
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Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Best Value For Money
PROS
- Very affordable for its high quality, at slightly over a dollar per pound of dog food
- Small breed specific dog food formula
- Contains superfood ingredients for an antioxidant boost
- K9 Strain probiotic blend soothes Morkies’ tummies
CONS
- There’s no flavor variations in this dog food
Morkie parents who are on a budget, we recommend the Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food. It’s holistic, made from premium quality ingredients, and is made to boost the immune system.
Morkies of all ages and life stages will benefit from this dog food, as it’s moderate in protein and fats and contains some helpful supplements.
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Wellness Complete Puppy Food
Best For Morkie Puppies
PROS
- Puppy-specific nutrition
- Smaller kibble for toy breed puppies
- High in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
- Higher than average Omegas
CONS
- This dog food is quite pricey
- There’s no variation in flavors
A Morkie puppy would benefit from the nutrient profile of Wellness Complete Puppy Food. It’s created specifically to be the best food for puppies, and contains all the necessary supplements for a little one.
It is lacking in joint supplements, but your little Morkie may not need them so early in life. It’s best to check with your vet if it’s necessary to buy a separate supplement.
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Canidae Pure Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food
Best Wet Food
PROS
- Contains real meat and vegetables and no lower quality fillers
- Doesn’t contain carrageenan, which is a low-quality thickener
- Grain free formula in flavors to suit your pup’s tastes
- Contains chelated minerals to help make digestion easier
CONS
- Slightly high-calorie, be careful not to overfeed your dog
Although we don’t recommend feeding your Morkie only wet food, it’s a good idea to have some in case your dog needs some extra calories or has to be on a wet food diet for a day or two because of a sore mouth or teeth. The Canidae Pure is our best wet food for Morkies!
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American Journey Limited Ingredient
Best Limited Ingredient
PROS
- Limited ingredient should help allergies
- Contains DHA, so it’s suitable for puppies too
- Moderate calorie count
CONS
- Could be slightly low in protein for some
If your Morkie has been recommended a limited ingredient diet by a vet, the American Journey Limited Ingredient is the one we’d suggest choosing. The one we’ve selected is the grain free Lamb & Sweet Potato recipe, but there are various others available, as well as wet food options if you need.
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What To Watch For In The Best Dog Food For Morkies
#1 – Protein Count & Quality
Proteins are filled with amino acids that improve your dog’s immune system and help maintain muscle mass.
As well as maintaining muscle mass and a healthy weight and keeping pups strong, amino acids perform various other functions, including:
- Activating enzymes
- Controlling hormones
- Boosting the immune system
- Repairing cells
- Aiding metabolism
- Developing brain, heart, and eye tissue
Can you see why it’s so important to make sure your Morkie gets enough protein? It’s essential for a healthy little body!
It’s important to choose high-quality proteins as the first ingredient. Plant proteins offer a good amount of nutrition, but they don’t provide the amino acids your dog’s body so desperately needs to stay strong.
We’ve made sure each dog food on this list contains a high-quality animal protein, in the right amounts for your little one!
#2 – Fat Count & Quality
Fat is what dogs utilize to give them energy for their day! For dogs, fats offer almost twice as much energy as carbs or protein do.
Dogs don’t have cholesterol issues like us humans, so there’s no need to reduce their fat count unless they aren’t active enough to burn it off.
They’re also important to nourish and moisturize skin and fur, as well as reducing inflammation. Certain vitamins are also only soluble in fat, so it’s essential that your pup gets enough in order to be able to absorb everything their body needs.
Another thing that fats do that your dog will appreciate is give more taste and flavor to dog food!
#3 – Omega Fatty Acids
Omega fatty acids are slightly different to the crude fat you find on a dog food label. You’ll find them separately on the label, and they perform various functions in your dog’s body.
Omegas are incredibly helpful for reducing inflammation in the body, so they’re fantastic to have in abundance. They’re good for your dog’s skin and coat health, and will nourish them and soften them up, adding a shine.
If you have a puppy, there are a few other Omegas that are especially helpful for the little ones. You’ll have to make sure the label includes DHA and EPA, which are essential for brain and eye development. While they’re highly important to see on a puppy food, they’re also good additions to adult and senior dog foods.
#4 – Small Kibble Size
Morkies are toy breeds and originate from two small dogs, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Maltese. As such, they have tiny mouths! Smaller kibble is obviously the better choice.
Not only will choosing a smaller sized kibble be easier on toy breeds’ mouth and little teeth, it’s also easier going down their throat and ensures that there’s no chance of choking and less chance of blockages.
If your pup is struggling to eat their dog food or you notice them chewing excessively, a too-big kibble may be to blame!
We’ve made sure to take kibble size into consideration when choosing the dog foods for this list.
Questions & Answers
What are the requirements for a Morkie’s diet? (based on age)
Morkies are a relatively new breed, so not much research has been done on what their exact dietary requirements are. These numbers are based upon their two parent breeds’ nutritional needs.
At the very least, you’ll need to stick to AAFCO’s guidelines, but these numbers should be quite accurate.
Males may need more calories than females, but you’ll need to pay attention to your own Morkie to figure it out.
Puppies: Morkie puppies need slightly more fat and protein than adults to facilitate their growth. They’re usually quite active at this stage of life and can burn off the fat in the food fairly easily.
Aim for around 15% fat and 25% protein. Slightly more or less is okay too, but keep an eye on your pooch to make sure he or she is getting enough.
Morkie puppies should get about 50 calories per pound of bodyweight per day.
Adults: An adult dog should get between 12 and 15% fat, depending on their activity level, and between 20 and 25% protein is a good number.
They should eat about 40 calories per pound of body weight per day. Remember this number will need to be split between their meals!
Seniors: Older Morkies, if they’re less active, can drop down to about 35 calories per pound per day. If they’re less active, they can make do with 10 to 12% fat. Keep the protein as high as possible, though!
How often should I feed my Morkie?
A Morkie puppy will need three to four meals a day. You should stick to this carefully, so your puppy’s blood sugar doesn’t drop. If you’re at work during the day, you’ll need to make a plan to get your little one their meals during the day.
Adults should be fed two or three times during the day, depending on what works best for them. Remember, you’ll need to work out their daily calories and split those between how many meals you’re feeding them.
Seniors may need more frequent smaller meals during their day, or they may need to move down from three to two meals a day. You’ll need to keep an eye on your dog to figure out which would be best so they can stay at a healthy weight.
What are bad ingredients for Morkies?
It’s important to stay away from anything artificial. That includes artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial preservatives. These ingredients have the potential to cause both digestive and skin allergies.
There’s no need to go grain free. While gluten-free grains are all right (brown rice, barley, millet, sorghum, quinoa), steer clear of grains containing gluten, especially corn, wheat, soy.
Another thing that’s bad for Morkies (and all dogs!) are by-products. These are the off-cuts of animals, like beaks, teeth, and feet, that are ground up and used as fillers. Although these ingredients do still contain protein, they’re also much more likely to contain bacteria.
By-products aren’t nearly as nutritious as real meat or meat meal, so we advise avoiding dog kibble that contain by-products.