The Lhasa Apso is a small dog, between 5 kg and 8 kg, with low energy and a long coat. Two things weigh in choosing the food: some lines carry a familial kidney disease, and the breed has a small mouth, which builds up tartar easily. That is why the ideal food controls phosphorus and helps hold back tartar build-up — without overdoing the calories, since the Lhasa spends little energy day to day.
In the current My Pet Magazine analysis, the best food for the Lhasa Apso is Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials (Purina Pro Plan), with a technical score of 91.3/100 (🌟 Superior Quality), calculated with the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI methodology across 49 dog foods reviewed in July 2026. See the full ranking ↓
What to weigh in food for the Lhasa Apso
Two fronts guide the choice of a Lhasa Apso's food, and a third helps keep the weight in check.
Protected kidneys. Some Lhasa Apso lines carry a familial kidney disease, described in the Merck Veterinary Manual. When the kidney is already fragile, excess phosphorus in the food speeds its deterioration — which is why, in dogs with that family history, controlling phosphorus in the food is a preventive measure worth maintaining.
A protected mouth. A small dog has a small mouth, with more tightly packed teeth, which makes tartar build-up easier — the Merck Veterinary Manual lists toy/small breeds as a risk factor for periodontal disease. Kibble with a mechanical cleaning action helps scrape off part of that build-up during chewing, but it does not replace brushing the teeth and going to the veterinarian.
Weight under control. The Lhasa spends little energy, so caloric density that is too high quickly turns into excess weight. A food matched to that low energy expenditure keeps the dog from gaining more weight than he should — and an overweight dog carries more stress on his kidneys and joints.
Criteria scored against the My Pet Magazine nutritional targets (protein, fat, calcium and caloric density ranges by size — see our methodology).
Breed profile and predispositions
The Lhasa Apso has two known hallmarks, and each one calls for different care in the food.
The first is the predisposition, in some lines, to a familial kidney disease — the Merck Veterinary Manual lists the Lhasa Apso among the breeds in which hereditary renal dysplasia has been diagnosed. In dogs with that history, the already reduced kidney deteriorates faster under diets with high phosphorus. That is why controlling phosphorus in the food is a relevant preventive measure for anyone with a Lhasa with that family history.
The second is the greater ease of tartar build-up: the Merck Veterinary Manual lists toy/small breeds as a risk factor for periodontal disease. The reduced space between the teeth favors dental plaque build-up. Kibble with a mechanical cleaning action helps with that control, combined with caloric density matched to the breed's small size and low energy.
Recommended foods for the Lhasa Apso
Ranked by IDNM/IPFI technical score across 49 dog foods — no manual product curation.
- 1
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials · Purina Pro Plan
91.3/100 - 2
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula · Blue Buffalo
90.2/100 - 3
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed · Blue Buffalo
90/100 - 4
Wellness Complete Health Small Breed · Wellness
89.5/100 - 5
Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat All Life Stages · Diamond Naturals
89/100
Frequently asked questions about Lhasa Apso food
- Does the Lhasa Apso need a special food?
- He needs attention to two things: the kidneys and the teeth. Some Lhasa Apso lines carry a familial kidney disease, and the breed's small size favors tartar build-up. A good food for a Lhasa Apso helps on both fronts: controlled phosphorus and kibble that works on cleaning the teeth while chewing.
- Why does phosphorus in the food matter so much for the Lhasa Apso?
- Because the breed has, in some lines, a familial kidney disease described in the Merck Veterinary Manual. When the kidney is already fragile, excess phosphorus in the food speeds its deterioration. If your Lhasa has a family history of kidney problems, it is worth talking to the veterinarian about a food with controlled phosphorus.
- Does the Lhasa Apso tend to have dental problems?
- Yes. He is a small dog, and a small dog has a small mouth with tightly packed teeth — the Merck Veterinary Manual lists toy/small breeds as a risk factor for periodontal disease. Food with kibble that has a mechanical action helps scrape off some of that build-up while chewing, but it does not replace brushing the teeth and taking the dog to the veterinarian for assessment.
- The Lhasa Apso spends little energy — does that change the food?
- It does. The Lhasa is a sedate, low-energy dog, and weighs between 5 kg and 8 kg. Food with many calories per portion is a recipe for excess weight in this dog. It is worth choosing a food matched to his low energy expenditure.
- Does looking after the Lhasa Apso's kidneys also mean looking after the teeth?
- Yes, they are separate care points worth adding together. Controlled phosphorus protects the kidney in predisposed lines; kibble with a mechanical action helps hold back tartar. Neither replaces the other, and neither replaces the visit to the veterinarian.
Methodology
The food ranking on this page is ordered by My Pet Magazine's IDNM/IPFI technical methodology, which evaluates the nutritional density and ingredient purity of each product in the active dataset, with no manual brand curation. For the Lhasa Apso, the score projection uses the small-size profile entered in the quiz, prioritizing the options in the dataset most aligned with the phosphorus control and caloric density appropriate for the breed.
The ranking on this page is a projection of the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI scoring engine over the dog dataset, with no manual product curation. See the full methodology →
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