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Hill’s Pet Nutrition released its World of the Small Dog Report, outlining biological and health differences it says warrant care tailored to small breeds. The report cites findings on nutrition, dental disease, joint problems, urinary stones and aging; the supplied material does not provide independent review of its claims or the full underlying studies.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition has released its World of the Small Dog Report, a guide that presents small dogs as biologically distinct from larger breeds and argues they need tailored nutrition and preventive care. The company unveiled it at an October 20 event marking five years of its Small Paws Innovation Center in Topeka, Kansas.
The report defines small dogs as those weighing under 25 pounds and says they represent more than 52% of the global canine population. Hill’s says small dogs have different anatomical, metabolic and behavioral profiles, despite historically being treated in clinical settings as smaller versions of larger dogs. The supplied release describes the report as evidence-based, but does not provide a full account of its methods or independent assessment.
Among the report’s findings, Hill’s says small dogs require roughly twice the calories per kilogram of large breeds, citing higher mass-specific metabolic rates and greater heat loss relative to body size. It also reports that small dogs are up to five times more likely to develop periodontal disease than giant breeds, and 12 times more likely to experience medial patellar luxation, or a slipped kneecap. The release says 97% of veterinarians surveyed identified dental care as small dogs’ primary health need; it does not give the survey’s sample size or date.
For urinary health, the report cites analysis of about 388,000 canine cases submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center between 2019 and 2024. According to Hill’s, small and miniature dogs accounted for 71% of urinary stones in those submissions, while calcium oxalate stones represented 53% of stones in mini breeds. Those figures describe cases submitted to the laboratory, not necessarily the prevalence of stones among all dogs. The report also discusses small breeds’ vulnerability to myxomatous mitral valve disease and the implications of longer lifespans for cognitive aging.
Why Small-Breed Care May Differ
The report’s central message is that body size alone may not be enough to guide a dog’s care. If its findings are reflected in veterinary practice, they could influence conversations about feeding, dental prevention, mobility and urinary health for small-breed dogs. The report also directs attention to conditions that may become more relevant over a dog’s longer lifespan, including heart disease and cognitive decline.
For pet owners, the findings are a prompt to discuss breed, age and individual risk with a veterinarian rather than assume that recommendations for a larger dog apply unchanged. The report does not provide individualized diagnoses or replace clinical advice. Its stated findings should be read alongside a veterinarian’s assessment of each animal.
The release also describes the formation of Hill’s Small & Mini Advocacy Advisory Panel, a group of veterinary specialists in areas including dentistry, cardiology, mobility, urinary health and behavior. The panel may bring expertise across disciplines, but the announcement does not specify its independent oversight, research plans or role in evaluating the report’s recommendations.
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Five Years of Small-Dog Research
Hill’s says the report was presented at the fifth anniversary of its Small Paws Innovation Center in Topeka. The company describes the center as a facility dedicated to studying small-dog biology and nutrition. That description and its characterization of the facility as unique in the United States come from Hill’s, the organization that operates it.
The report’s release and the advisory panel’s inaugural meeting were announced together. Hill’s Global Chief Veterinary Officer Karen Shenoy said the work followed the company’s establishment of the center and was part of its ongoing focus on small-breed health. The company says the full World of the Small Dog Report 2026 is available through its veterinary website, with related professional education offered through the Hill’s Veterinary Academy.
Evidence and Methods Still Need Detail
The source material is a company press release and does not include the full report’s research methods, references or limitations. It is not clear which findings come from peer-reviewed studies, internal research or other data, nor whether independent researchers have reviewed the report. The release gives a reference marker for several statistics but does not include the underlying citations.
Some numbers have limited context in the announcement. It does not state the sample size or timing for the figure that 97% of veterinarians named dental care as the leading health need. The urinary-stone figures cover cases submitted to one specialist laboratory; the release does not establish that those submissions represent all dogs or give population-wide rates. The exact year of the October 20 unveiling is also not specified, although the report is titled for 2026.
Report and Panel’s Next Steps
Hill’s says the full 2026 report is available at hillsvet.com/caninehealth and that veterinary professionals can access related education through the Hill’s Veterinary Academy. The company has announced the advisory panel’s inaugural meeting, but the source does not list a publication schedule, research agenda or future meeting dates.
Further clarity will depend on access to the report’s methods and cited studies, as well as any subsequent work by the panel. Until then, the findings are best understood as Hill’s account of emerging evidence and as a basis for discussion with a veterinarian, not as stand-alone guidance for an individual dog.
Key Questions
What is the World of the Small Dog Report?
It is a report released by Hill’s Pet Nutrition describing small dogs’ biology and health risks and arguing for care tailored to dogs under 25 pounds. The company says the full report is available through its veterinary website.
What health risks does the report highlight?
The release discusses dental disease, kneecap problems, urinary stones, heart disease and cognitive aging. The findings are attributed to Hill’s; the supplied announcement does not include the full research methods or all underlying citations.
Does the urinary-stone figure represent all dogs?
No. The cited analysis covers about 388,000 cases submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center from 2019 to 2024. The release says small and miniature dogs accounted for 71% of stones in those submissions, but does not establish a rate for the overall dog population.
What should owners do with the findings?
Owners can discuss their dog’s diet, dental care and individual health risks with a veterinarian. The report is not a substitute for veterinary assessment or personalized medical advice.
Source: petsplusmag.com
