Best Dog Food for Corgis : 15 Healthy Recipes Reviewed by Budget, Diet and Life Stage

The Corgi is a medium-sized breed with short legs, big ears, and a ton of personality. These little dogs actually come in two varieties, though both are often simply referred to as the Corgi.

Though the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi are technically separate breeds, they are not so different that their nutritional needs are very unique.

Both breeds require a high-quality diet rich in protein to sustain lean muscle mass with healthy fats for energy as well as beneficial supplements for digestion and joint support.

Keep reading to learn more about your Corgi’s dietary requirements and to see our top 15 picks for the best dog food for Corgis.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

3 More Top-Rated Dry Dog Foods for Corgis

Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula Dry Food

Designed for dogs of all breeds and life stages, this Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula Dry Food is a great choice for your Corgi if you just want a simple product that offers decent quality. It contains several animal proteins including chicken, turkey, and lamb with plenty of healthy fats and beneficial supplements including probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids.

AvoDerm Natural Triple Protein All Life Stages Formula

Formulated for dogs in all life stages, this AvoDerm Natural Triple Protein All Life Stages Formula provides 26% protein and 13% fat which is an ideal ratio for your Corgi. It features chicken meal as a concentrated source of animal protein and natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin. It is also made with digestible whole grains, nutrient-rich chicken fat, and beneficial supplements.

Whole Earth Farms Adult Recipe Dry Food

If you’re looking for an affordable recipe that offers decent quality, try this Whole Earth Farms Adult Recipe Dry Food. This recipe features chicken meal and turkey meal as the top two ingredients to provide 26% crude protein. It also contains digestible whole-grain carbohydrates like oatmeal, barley, and brown rice with nutrient-rich chicken fat for energy. It also contains probiotics.

Understanding a Corgi’s Diet Requirements

All dogs have the same basic needs for protein and fat in their diets. Protein provides the building blocks for healthy muscle and it is best when it comes from animal sources. Animal proteins like meat, poultry, and fish are complete proteins which means they contain all 10 essential amino acids your dog needs in his diet. Fat provides a concentrated source of energy to fuel your dog’s metabolism.

Dogs don’t have any specific requirements for carbohydrate, but digestible sources like whole grains, starchy vegetables, beans, and legumes are beneficial. These ingredients provide energy, nutrients, and dietary fiber. Look for a recipe that contains digestible sources, not low-quality fillers like corn and wheat ingredients. And make sure the recipe has around 3% to 5% dietary fiber.

• Puppy Corgis Diet – As a puppy, your Corgi needs a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat in his diet to grow strong muscles and to provide energy for that growth. More protein is generally better for his breed but keep the fat content moderate, so your puppy grows muscle instead of fat.
• Adult Corgis Diet – Once your Corgi is full-grown, you can switch to an adult diet that provides a minimum of 18% protein and 5% fat. Again, more protein is good to maintain lean muscle mass but avoid high-fat foods that might encourage unhealthy weight gain.
• Senior Corgis Diet – As your Corgi gets older, his metabolism may slow down so it’s a good idea to switch to a senior recipe that is lower in fat and calories – these recipes also tend to contain higher levels of joint-supporting nutrients which is important for older dogs.

In addition to his basic requirements for protein, fat, and carbohydrates, your Corgi can benefit from fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy supplements. Fresh fruits and veggies provide natural sources for key nutrients in a more biologically valuable form than synthetic supplements. Chelated minerals are mineral supplements bound to protein molecules which increases absorption. Your dog can also benefit from prebiotics, probiotics, and glucosamine and chondroitin.

Special Dietary Considerations for Corgis

Both Corgi breeds have an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years, which is about average for a breed their size. These dogs are generally very healthy, but they are prone to certain health conditions including inherited diseases, eye problems, and musculoskeletal issues.

Here is a quick list of the health problems to which the Corgi may be prone:

• Cataracts
• Cutaneous Asthenia
• Cystinuria
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Epilepsy
• Hip Dysplasia
• Intervertebral Disc Disease
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Retinal Dysplasia

Let’s take a closer look at some of these health problems.

Most of the health problems to which the Corgi is prone can be divided into groups for eye conditions, musculoskeletal issues, and inherited health problems.

When it comes to eye problems, the Corgi is prone to cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and retinal dysplasia. Cataracts are opacities that form in the lens of the eye, causing a partial or total obstruction of vision. Progressive retinal atrophy is a disease characterized by gradual deterioration of the retina which often leads to blindness. Retinal dysplasia occurs when the retina itself develops abnormally and detaches, often causing blindness.

Musculoskeletal issues like hip dysplasia affect large breeds more often than smaller breeds, but the Corgi’s compressed skeletal structure may make him more prone to this and to intervertebral disc disease. Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the thigh bone slips in and out of the hip joint, causing pain and deterioration of the joint. Intervertebral disc disease is due to the breed’s long back and can lead to problems with gait, weakness in the hind legs, and eventual paralysis. Including joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin in your Corgi’s diet may help manage these conditions.

The Corgi is also prone to several inherited health conditions, including hip dysplasia. Others include von Willebrand Disease, degenerative myelopathy, and patent ductus arteriosus. Von Willebrand Disease is bleeding disorder while patent ductus arteriosus is a congenital heart defect. Degenerative myelopathy is a neurological disease that leads to progressive degeneration of the nerves in the spine. Epilepsy can also be an inherited disorder in this breed.

In addition to these health problems, the Corgi is also sometimes prone to bloat or gastric torsion. This condition typically affects deep-chested breeds and it seems to be more common in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi than the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. To prevent this life-threatening condition, avoid feeding your dog very large meals or exercising him too soon after a meal.

Corgi Feeding Chart

When it comes to feeding your Corgi, the amount you feed him will depend on his age, weight, and activity level. For the most part, Corgis eat between ¾ cup and 1 ½ cups of food per day, depending on the calorie content. Check the feeding recommendation for the product you choose according to your dog’s age and weight to determine how much to feed him per day.

Remember, these feeding recommendations are for the entire day, so divide that amount by the desired number of meals. Most Corgis get by with two meals per day – one in the morning and one in the evening. As a puppy, however, your Corgi may need a third meal to help support his growth and development. This may also be the case for very active dogs and for Corgis used for herding – they may need a third meal to account for their high energy expenditure.