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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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 weight	Freeze-dried per day	Per meal (×2)
7 lb	1.1 oz	0.5 oz
9 lb	1.3 oz	0.7 oz
11 lbtypical Pekingese	1.7 oz	0.8 oz
13 lb	2 oz	1 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 pets 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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Chicken Recipe$29.95+

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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“Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He’s leaner, with more energy on our walks.”
— Jenna & Cooper
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— 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.