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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear is a tiny island companion built on cuddles, not calories — 8 to 15 pounds of clown-like charm with a famous cotton-soft white coat. At that size, every bite counts, and a few extra treats add up fast.

Here is exactly how to feed a Coton on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that keeps that signature coat soft, protects small knees, and avoids the slow weight creep little dogs are prone to.

  • Adult weight8–15 lb
  • SizeSmall
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan15–19 years
  • CoatLong, soft, cotton-like — low shedding
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A healthy Coton de Tulear
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Coton de Tulear's body needs

Every Coton de Tulear trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Small size, easy weight creep

    Needs: Tiny, precise, calorie-honest portions

    Freeze-dried raw is measured by weight in ounces, so it is easy to feed a Coton exactly what they need and no more — the single best lever for a long, healthy life in a small dog.

  • Signature soft white coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, helping keep that cotton-ball coat soft, glossy and less prone to dryness — no fish-oil afterthought required.

  • Luxating patella risk

    Needs: Lean weight + natural joint support

    Keeping a Coton lean takes load off those small knees, while real bone and cartilage supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint comfort.

  • Long 15–19 year lifespan

    Needs: Clean, whole-food nutrition for the long haul

    Cotons often live into their late teens, so minimally processed real food — not carb fillers — gives the steady, high-quality nutrition to feel good across a very long life.

  • Tear-stain-prone white face

    Needs: Low-filler, low-additive diet

    A clean whole-food diet free of artificial dyes and starchy fillers is one less thing contributing to the tear staining that shows so easily on a white coat.

How much to feed a Coton de Tulear

Quick answer: a healthy adult Coton de Tulear (8–15 lb) needs about 1.2–2.3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
8 lb 1.2 oz 0.6 oz
10 lb 1.5 oz 0.8 oz
12 lb typical Coton de Tulear 1.8 oz 0.9 oz
14 lb 2.1 oz 1.1 oz
15 lb 2.3 oz 1.1 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Coton de Tulear

For a Coton de Tulear we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a high-value topper while you transition. The small, lightweight morsels rehydrate easily and are ideal for a little mouth.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod are gentle on sensitive tummies, while Salmon adds extra omega-3s for that cotton-ball coat. Just add water and serve a measured amount twice a day.

Recipes for Coton de Tulears

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Daily support for Coton de Tulears

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Treats Coton de Tulears love

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Feeding a Coton de Tulear by life stage

  • Puppy: Coton puppies are tiny and need to eat little and often — 3 to 4 small meals a day on a steady schedule to keep blood sugar stable. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight and adjust as they grow.
  • Adult: Feed an adult Coton to a lean, fluff-hidden waist, split across two meals — morning and evening. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Older Cotons slow down but stay food-motivated. Trim portions to match lower activity, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for aging knees and hips.

Common Coton de Tulear concerns — and the diet connection

  • Luxating patellaCommon in small breeds; keeping your Coton lean reduces strain on the knee, and the natural glucosamine and chondroitin in real bone and cartilage help support healthy joints.
  • Coat & skin healthThat hallmark white coat depends on the skin underneath — an omega-3-rich, whole-food diet supports the skin barrier and helps keep the coat soft and less dry from the inside out.
  • Weight managementA few extra grams matters on an 8–15 lb dog; measured raw feeding makes portion control precise and keeps a Coton lean, which protects joints and overall health.
  • Digestive comfortSmall dogs can have sensitive stomachs; a minimally processed, single-protein raw diet with no fillers is gentle and easy to digest, supporting steady tummies.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Coton de Tulear: what to know

Because a Coton is so small, portions are measured in ounces, not cups — and a single dropped scrap is a bigger share of their day than it would be for a big dog. Weigh meals rather than eyeballing them so a 10-pound Coton stays a lean 10 pounds.

Cotons are people-pleasers who will happily work for food, so it is easy to over-treat them. Feed to body condition — you should feel the ribs easily under that fluff and see a gentle waist from above — and count treats against the daily total.

Coton de Tulear feeding questions

How much should I feed my Coton de Tulear?
A healthy adult Coton (8–15 lb) needs roughly 1.2–2.3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it looks like very little — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Coton's coat?
That cotton-soft coat thrives on omega-3 fatty acids from whole foods. A complete freeze-dried raw diet — especially an omega-rich recipe like Salmon — feeds the skin and coat from the inside, often doing more than a topical product.
How do I switch my Coton to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because Cotons are small and the food is rich, start at the low end of the range and watch the waistline as you go.
Are Cotons de Tulear prone to weight gain?
They can be — at 8–15 lb, even a few treats are a big share of their day. Weighing measured freeze-dried portions and counting treats against the daily total keeps a Coton lean and protects their small knees.
Do Cotons need joint supplements?
Many small dogs are prone to luxating patella, so keeping your Coton lean is the first line of defense. Freeze-dried raw with real bone provides natural glucosamine, and an added joint supplement can support aging knees in senior Cotons.

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  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.