Hill's Report Details Small Dog Health Needs
Hill's Pet Nutrition released its World of the Small Dog Report 2026, outlining distinct nutrition and preventive care needs for dogs under 25 pounds.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Pet Health
Live Poll
Do you schedule regular vet checkups specifically for your small dog's health needs?
Hill's Pet Nutrition released its World of the Small Dog Report 2026, an evidence-based guide to how veterinary teams and pet owners can understand and care for small dogs. Small dogs, defined as dogs weighing less than 25 pounds, make up more than 52% of the global canine population.
Why it matters
The report argues small dogs have distinct anatomical, metabolic and behavioral profiles that call for targeted nutrition and preventive care rather than general canine guidance. Small dogs also live significantly longer than large or giant breeds, which raises their lifetime risk of conditions such as canine cognitive dysfunction.
Small and mini dogs accounted for 71% of urinary stones in an analysis of about 388,000 canine cases from 2019 to 2024 at the Minnesota Urolith Center, while 97% of veterinarians identified dental care as the primary health need for small dogs. The analysis covers only cases submitted to one diagnostic center, so it may not represent all small dogs.
The players
Hill's Pet Nutrition
Hill's Pet Nutrition is a pet food and veterinary nutrition company that operates research facilities focused on companion animal health.
Small Paws Innovation Center
The Small Paws Innovation Center is a Topeka, Kansas research facility that is the only U.S. center dedicated exclusively to small dog biology and nutrition.
The details
Hill's first presented the report on October 20 at the fifth anniversary of its Small Paws Innovation Center in Topeka, Kansas, the only U.S. facility dedicated exclusively to small dog biology and nutrition. The company also held the first meeting of its Small & Mini Advocacy Advisory Panel, whose members are affiliated with institutions including LMU Munich, the University of California, Davis, Cornell University and Louisiana State University.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Hill's first presented the report at the Small Paws Innovation Center anniversary in Topeka, Kansas.
2019 to 2024: Period covered by the urinary stone case analysis.
Health Landscape
The report extends five years of research at Hill's Small Paws Innovation Center, the only U.S. facility focused exclusively on small dog biology, into guidance aimed at clinicians. It shifts attention toward a population that makes up more than 52% of the global canine population but has historically been studied within broader canine categories.
Owners of dogs under 25 pounds may want to discuss dental care and calorie needs with their veterinarian, since small dogs need more calories per kilogram and face higher periodontal disease risk. Attention to urinary health is also relevant, as small and mini dogs accounted for 71% of urinary stones in the analyzed cases.
The takeaway
Small dogs benefit from care tailored to their size, particularly dental checkups and attention to diet and urinary health. Owners can ask their veterinarian whether their dog's nutrition and preventive plan reflects small-breed needs.
Further reading
Explore more in the Pet Health section for ongoing coverage of care and nutrition.
More information
Read the complete World of the Small Dog Report 2026 from Hill's Pet Nutrition.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Petfood Industry Community.
Live Poll
Do you schedule regular vet checkups specifically for your small dog's health needs?
