The Cavapoo is a popular companion dog that’s a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle. While this dog breed tends to be pretty healthy, it can be challenging to find the right diet for Cavapoos. Many Cavapoos have sensitive stomachs, and they’re also known to be picky eaters. So, most will benefit from a limited-ingredient diet or fresh dog food without artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
These days, you can find tons of brands that produce these types of diets. Therefore, it can still be overwhelming to find dog food that’s both nutritious and palatable for your Cavapoo. Our reviews of some of the best dog food for a Cavapoo will help simplify the search for you.
Ollie Lamb Dish with Cranberries is the best overall dog food for Cavapoos for many reasons. This recipe contains fresh ingredients that have been minimally processed to retain as many nutrients as possible. Each batch is carefully produced and tested for quality control.
This particular recipe also doesn’t contain any common food allergens or artificial flavors. So, you can rest assured that your Cavapoo only eats clean and healthy meals that are easy on the stomach.
Since these meals are fresh, they’re way more flavorful than kibble, but it can take some time to get used to feeding your dog Ollie recipes if you’re transitioning from kibble. This dog food has a much shorter shelf life, so you have to be on top of receiving deliveries and making sure each package of food stays frozen or refrigerated.
Fresh dog food can be a little more inconvenient to feed your dog, but it’s a small price to pay when you know that your dog’s consistently eating nutritious meals.
Pros
Every batch goes through quality control
No common food allergens
No artificial flavors
More flavorful than kibble
Cons
Food has to stay frozen or refrigerated
2. Nutro Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food – Best Value
You don’t have to spend a fortune when looking for high-quality dog food. This Nutro formula is the best dog food for Cavapoos for the money and has a simple ingredient list of just 10 key ingredients.
This recipe is free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and made with non-GMO ingredients. While many of the ingredients are easily digestible, this recipe does include lentils. Lentils contain lectins, which can be difficult for some dogs to digest.
As long as the recipe is cooked properly, the lentils shouldn’t cause a significant issue. However, if you notice your Cavapoo experiencing gassiness or digestive issues, it’s best to move on to different dog food.
Although this JustFoodForDogs recipe is relatively expensive, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. It contains ingredients that most dogs find tasty, such as chicken thighs, rice, carrots, and apples. It also has a simple ingredient list, so you don’t have to worry about food allergies unless your dog is allergic to chicken.
This recipe was formulated by a team of veterinarians, a board-certified nutritionist, toxicologist, and dermatologist. It’s also supported by independent research, so you’re guaranteed to feed your dog a highly nutritious meal.
You can feed this dog food to both puppies and adults, which is extremely convenient if you have a picky pup. The food also has a long shelf life and can be stored for up to 2 years if left unopened.
Pros
Simple ingredient list
Veterinarian-formulated recipe
Nutritious for all life stages
Cons
Can get expensive
4. Diamond Naturals Puppy Formula – Best for Puppies
Chicken, chicken meal, ground white rice, chicken fat
Protein content:
32%
Fat content:
22%
Calories:
453 kcal/cup
Puppies have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs because of growth and development. So, it’s absolutely vital for them to eat a diet specifically formulated for them. This Diamond Naturals recipe is made for small and medium dog breeds, which is perfect for Cavapoo puppies.
The first ingredient in this dog food is cage-free chicken. The kibble also contains delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables, like pumpkin, blueberries, and kale. The formula is rich in probiotics, antioxidants, and prebiotics, which support healthy digestion and the immune system.
Because this food is designed for small and medium dog breeds, the kibble is smaller than the average kibble size. This can work well with Cavapoo puppies on the smaller side, but larger Cavapoo puppies might end up eating this food too quickly without chewing. So, keep monitoring your puppy as it eats to determine if it needs bigger kibble.
Pros
First ingredient is cage-free chicken
Contains delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables
This recipe includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin and coat and joint and mobility health. To further support digestion, the formula has live probiotics and prebiotic fiber.
We love that this recipe has salmon as its first ingredient, but the trade-off is that this kibble has a strong fishy smell that also tends to stay in your dog’s breath. So, there’s a good chance you’ll have to brush your dog’s teeth after meals or provide dental chews.
Chicken, chicken meal, yellow peas, cracked pearl barley
Protein content:
20%
Fat content:
13%
Calories:
394 kcal/cup
If you have a Cavapoo that tends to have difficulty digesting its food, this Hill’s Science Diet recipe is a great option that’s gentle on the stomach. The recipe is highly digestible for optimal nutrient absorption. It also contains prebiotic fiber derived from beet pulp.
The first ingredient in this recipe is chicken. The recipe only contains one source of animal protein, so it’s a safe choice for dogs with food allergies. While chicken is the first ingredient, the protein content of this recipe is on the lower end. So, if protein intake is a special requirement for your dog’s diet, consult with your veterinarian before switching to this dog food.
Pros
First ingredient is chicken
Since source of meat protein
Contains prebiotic fiber
Cons
Low amount of protein
7. Instinct Be Natural Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food
This Instinct dog food contains a delicious recipe that’s poultry-free and great for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The first ingredient is salmon, and the kibble is tumbled and coated with freeze-dried raw fish. So, while it has a pretty strong smell, it’s packed with flavor that dogs will enjoy.
The recipe also includes nutritious and tasty ingredients, like apples, blueberries, and cranberries. It’s fortified with added vitamins and minerals to provide a well-balanced diet for adult dogs. Overall, this dog food is easy to digest, and it promotes healthy skin and coat. It’s also very flavorful and can be an enticing meal for picky dogs.
Pros
Poultry-free
First ingredient is salmon
Easy to digest
Flavorful kibble coated in freeze-dried fish
Cons
Strong fish smell
8. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
Beef lovers will enjoy this Natural Balance dog food. Beef is the first ingredient, and the recipe doesn’t contain any other animal protein, so it’s a great alternative for dogs with poultry allergies.
Although this dog food is a limited-ingredient diet, it contains all the essential nutrients that an adult dog needs to maintain daily functioning. It also includes nutrients that support and help to maintain a healthy immune system.
Just keep in mind that this recipe contains a good amount of rice, which can raise blood sugar levels. So, if your dog needs a weight management diet or is pre-diabetic or diabetic, this recipe may not be a good fit.
Pros
Beef is first ingredient
Poultry-free
Supports healthy immune system
Cons
Contains a lot of rice
9. Canisource Grand Cru Red Meat Dehydrated Dog Food
While you may have to pay premium prices for Canisource Grand Cru Red Meat Dehydrated Dog Food, you’ll be giving your Cavapoo a high-quality meal that’s filled with nutritious ingredients, like apples, rolled oats, and carrots.
Pork and beef are the first ingredients, and the recipe doesn’t contain any by-products or artificial colors and flavors. The formula helps to support the digestive system, immune system, and skin and coat.
This dog food is also very convenient because it’s sustainable for all life stages. Since it’s dehydrated, it’s still packed with flavor, and you don’t have to worry about refrigerating or freezing it.
Stella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Dinner Patties are tasty and nutritious meals for dogs that can be served in two ways. You can serve the patties as they are, or you can rehydrate them with cool or warm water.
The patties are packed with protein, as the first six ingredients are lamb and lamb organs. Keep in mind that the amount of protein is very high. While it’s appropriate for very active and athletic dogs, it may be too much for Cavapoos. So, make sure to check with your veterinarian before switching to this dog food.
The rest of the ingredients are high-quality and nutritious, and the fruits and vegetables are all organic. The formula is also enhanced with probiotics to help with digestion for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Pros
Can be served in two ways
First six ingredients are lamb and lamb organs
All fruits and vegetables are organic
Contains probiotics to aid digestion
Cons
May contain too much protein
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Dog Food for Cavapoos
There are a few factors to keep in mind when shopping for dog food for your Cavapoo. In general, you’ll want to remember to look for food that’s both palatable and easy to digest.
Easily Digestible Ingredients
Many Cavapoos can get frequent upset stomachs. They often become very attached to their families and can experience stress from separation anxiety, which can lead to upset stomachs. So, dog food containing simple ingredient lists with easily digestible food can help immensely.
Rice and pumpkin are ingredients that don’t trigger or exacerbate symptoms of an upset stomach. Sometimes, Cavapoos can have trouble digesting certain meats, so you can try switching to dog food that contains other meats, like lamb or salmon.
If your Cavapoo is consistently getting sick from its food, work with your veterinarian to find a sensitive skin and stomach formula that your Cavapoo can enjoy.
Flavor
As we’ve mentioned before, Cavapoos can be very picky eaters, so it’s important to find food that’s flavorful and has a tasty texture. If your Cavapoo refuses to eat kibble and other forms of dry dog food, you can always switch to wet dog food or fresh dog food, such as Ollie.
Dog food that contains too many ingredients and artificial flavors may be off-putting for Cavapoos. So, it’s best to avoid these types of low-quality dog food recipes.
Kibble Size
If you plan to feed your Cavapoo dry dog food, make sure to find one that has appropriately sized kibble. The sizes of Cavapoos can range from small to medium, so smaller Cavapoos can enjoy dog food for smaller dog breeds, while larger Cavapoos should avoid these types of kibble. They might get in the habit of swallowing the small kibble whole and end up with an upset stomach.
Image Credit: Chris Duan, Pexels
Conclusion
Based on our reviews, Ollie is the best overall dog food for Cavapoos because it uses fresh and easily digestible ingredients. Nutro is the best budget option because it’s affordable and uses high-quality ingredients. JustFoodForDogs is another great premium selection with a healthy recipe that’s backed by science. Puppies will benefit from the Diamond Naturals recipe because of its clean and nutritious ingredient list. Lastly, the Purina Pro Plan dog food is another great option because it’s specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Finding dog food for Cavapoos can be a challenge but taking the time to find the perfect recipe is sure to bring more happy days for you two to share together.
Featured Image Credit: Steven B Gold, Shutterstock
Jessica is a freelance writer who spends most of her day researching and writing while her fluffy Cavapoo, Nora, naps beside her. She loves pets and animals because there’s so much to learn from them, and they do so much for us. As a dog mom, she understands the special connection that pet parents have with their pets. So, she loves sharing helpful information that people can use to better understand their pets. When she isn't writing, you may find her walking dogs, tending to her plant babies, or drinking her nth cup of coffee....Read more
