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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Pekingese

The Pekingese is a tiny dog wrapped in a lion's mane — a flat-faced companion bred for palace life, which means a sensitive airway, a coat that needs feeding from the inside, and a small frame where every extra ounce counts.

Here is exactly how to feed a Pekingese on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their breathing, their eyes, their teeth, and that famous coat.

  • Adult weight7–14 lb
  • SizeToy
  • EnergyLow to moderate
  • Lifespan12–14 years
  • CoatLong, thick double coat — heavy shedder
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A healthy Pekingese
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Pekingese's body needs

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

  • Brachycephalic (flat-faced) build

    Needs: Lean body weight, easy portions

    Extra weight crowds an already short airway and makes breathing and overheating worse. Measured freeze-dried raw — fed by weight, not by the begging — keeps a Pekingese lean, which is the kindest thing you can do for their breathing.

  • Long, thick lion's-mane double coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, easing dryness and the heavy shedding behind all that coat — and skin folds that stay healthy are less prone to irritation.

  • Small breed, dental-disease prone

    Needs: Whole-food, low-starch diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the sticky, starchy fillers that feed plaque and tartar in a small, crowded mouth — supporting cleaner teeth between brushings.

  • Tiny stomach, big personality

    Needs: Nutrient-dense, calorie-honest meals

    A Pekingese eats very little, so every bite has to count. 83% meat, organs and bone delivers complete nutrition in small, palatable portions a picky toy breed actually wants to eat.

  • Patellar luxation & joint sensitivity

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off small, slip-prone knees.

How much to feed a Pekingese

Quick answer: a healthy adult Pekingese (7–14 lb) needs about 1.1–2.1 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)
7 lb 1.1 oz 0.5 oz
9 lb 1.4 oz 0.7 oz
11 lb typical Pekingese 1.7 oz 0.8 oz
13 lb 2.0 oz 1.0 oz
14 lb 2.1 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 Pekingese

For a Pekingese we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. The rich aroma and soft, rehydrated texture suit small, flat-faced mouths and tempt picky eaters.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod keep calories honest for weight-watchers, while omega-rich Salmon supports the skin and that signature coat. Just add a little water and serve in small, measured meals.

Recipes for Pekingeses

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Daily support for Pekingeses

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Treats Pekingeses love

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Feeding a Pekingese by life stage

  • Puppy: Pekingese puppies have tiny stomachs and are prone to low blood sugar, so feed small portions across 3–4 meals a day on a consistent schedule. Choose a complete diet formulated for puppies or all life stages, and never let a young Peke skip meals.
  • Adult: Feed a measured amount split across two small meals a day, to a lean and visible waist. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition — keeping a flat-faced dog trim protects their breathing.
  • Senior: Older Pekingese slow down but their appetite may not. Trim portions to prevent weight gain, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into omega-3 and joint-supporting nutrition for aging knees and eyes.

Common Pekingese concerns — and the diet connection

  • Brachycephalic airway syndromeTheir flat face leaves little room to breathe, and excess weight makes it worse. Measured raw feeding and a consistently lean body condition are the most direct way diet can support easier breathing and cooler temperatures.
  • Dental diseaseSmall, crowded mouths trap plaque easily. A whole-food, low-starch diet avoids the sticky carbohydrate fillers that feed tartar, supporting oral health alongside regular brushing.
  • Skin folds & coat healthFacial folds and a dense double coat need a strong skin barrier. An omega-rich, whole-food diet supports healthy skin and coat from the inside and helps keep folds calm and comfortable.
  • Patellar luxationSlipping kneecaps are common in toy breeds. Staying lean reduces the load on the joint, while natural glucosamine and omega-3 from real bone and organ support joint comfort.
  • Eye health (dry eye, PRA)Big, exposed eyes benefit from antioxidant- and omega-rich whole-food nutrition, which supports general eye and tissue health — though it cannot prevent inherited conditions.

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

Feeding a Pekingese: what to know

A Pekingese needs surprisingly little food, so the margin for error is small — a few extra treats a day shows up fast on a 10-pound frame. Feed to body condition: you should be able to feel the ribs easily under that thick coat and see a tuck at the waist.

Because the coat hides weight gain, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them, and check the body condition with your hands every couple of weeks. Keeping a flat-faced dog lean directly eases the breathing and joint stress this breed carries.

Pekingese feeding questions

How much should I feed my Pekingese?
A healthy adult Pekingese (7–14 lb) needs roughly 1–2 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two small meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every couple of weeks.
What is the best food for a flat-faced breed like the Pekingese?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean proteins makes portion control easy and keeps your Peke lean — which is the single most important thing you can do for a brachycephalic dog's breathing. The soft, rehydrated texture also suits short, crowded mouths.
How do I switch my Pekingese to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Pekingese can be picky, so the rich aroma of freeze-dried raw often helps — start at the lower end of the range since they need so little.
Will the right diet help my Pekingese's coat?
It can. The omega-3 fatty acids in whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting that thick lion's-mane coat and easing dryness and shedding. Pair it with regular brushing for best results.
My Pekingese is a picky eater — what helps?
Toy breeds eat tiny amounts, so palatability matters. Complete freeze-dried raw is rich and aromatic, and serving it lightly rehydrated in small, warm portions tempts reluctant eaters while still being calorie-honest.

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  • Vet-formulated
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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.