Last Updated: 20/06/2025
Looking for the best food for your Schnauzer? See our vets selection of premium foods to suit your dog's needs.
Author: Dr Maree Monaghan BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 36 minutes - long read
The Schnauzer is instantly recognisable with its fabulous eyebrows, moustache and beard. This breed comes in three sizes, so the first step in choosing the right food is to select a small, medium or large breed diet depending on the size of your Schnauzer. Miniatures should weigh between 7 and 8 kg as adults and so a small breed diet is appropriate for them. Medium breed diets are suitable for Standards (14 to 20 kg adult weight) and the Giants, averaging 34 to 43 kg as adults, require a large breed diet. There are also diets that are appropriate for all sizes and life stages that you can consider. Schnauzers of all sizes are unfortunately prone to a variety of health conditions that should be addressed. These include obesity, pancreatitis, diabetes, bladder stones and hip dysplasia. Choosing a diet that maintains a healthy weight, supports bone and joint health and increases moisture intake can help decrease the chances of your Schnauzer developing these conditions.
To read more about the traits and qualities of Schnauzers, check out our Schnauzer Breed Guide.
Four reasons why it's important to choose the right food are:
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad comprises 30 vets with over 120 years of collective, independent veterinary expertise. Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.
K9 Natural takes the best sustainably and ethically sourced produce and creates high meat, low carbohydrate meals for dogs. This raw, grain free, freeze-dried recipe contains high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids to support the body's natural anti inflammatory responses along with EPA and DHA for healthy skin and haircoat
What our customers say: "My "little rescue" has always been fussy with food. She recently had 5 teeth pulled and needed "soft" food. My babies have always enjoyed K9 varieties, however, my LR love love loves this variety. Day 4 on medication and she is a new "younger" dog. Will buy again."
What our vets say: "This is a great natural, freeze-dried diet perfect for Schnauzers. Not only is it highly palatable containing 90% meat and fish but it also contains green lipped mussel which is a source of glucosamine and chondroitin beneficial for joint health. Additionally, the omega fatty acids that this diet provides help support a healthy and shiny coat" - Dr. Angie
This wild game recipe is fortified with antioxidants from plant-based superfoods to help bolster immunity and four strains of live probiotics to promote digestive health. It contains guaranteed taurine levels to help maintain heart health and 54% of the protein content is from animal-based sources for improved digestibility
What our customers say: "I don't feed kibble to my pets as a staple food, it's a backup for emergencies and morning topper. They are raw-fed, but I grabbed this brand after checking out the ingredients and details of the product and thought I would give it a go. When it arrived my dogs could smell it in the box and almost ripped the box apart to get to it. I have never seen them sniff so hard like they did with this food. It's only been a few days but they love it and the size of the kibble is so much better than the last brand I tried. Great size and shape for larger dogs like my boxer and bulldog. So far I recommend this product."
Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed to developing bladder stones so this food encourages drinking to produce dilute urine. This helps prevent crystal and stone formation. It also contains optimal levels of targeted amino acids to promote intense, natural coat colour as well as an adapted calorie content to help your Miniature Schnauzer maintain a healthy weight.
What our customers say: "We have been using this product for 6 years! We have 2 very healthy Schnauzers that are consistent in weight, have a great coat and have never had any problems."
What our vets say: "Royal Canin Miniature Schnauzer food is specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of Schnauzers, including their susceptibility to urinary issues, by providing balanced nutrition that supports their overall well-being and urinary tract health"- Dr.Belinda
Open Farm understands that puppies thrive on a diet rich in protein. That's why this recipe contains meat as the first ingredient, and contains zero artificial nasties. With humanely raised chicken and pork, fresh Pacific salmon, and superfoods like coconut oil, this diet is highly nourishing and wholesome for your high-energy pup
What our customers say: "I've struggled getting my puppy to eat dry food without some serious encouragement. Open Farm is the first kibble she will eat by itself! I love that it's more humane as well."
Ziwi Peak uses free range, grass fed beef sourced from ethical farms to produce this single protein wet food. It is perfect for pet's with skin problems, poor coats, digestive upset and those that require strict weight control. With 91% beef meat, organs, bone, and green lipped mussels and no grain or preservatives, it is a convenient raw food alternative
What our customers say: "My dog comes sprinting when she sees me take out a fresh tin, and doesn't get sick of the flavour. Such great stuff, no jelly or slime like other tinned food. Good on the tum as well"
What our vets say: "Ziwi Peak Wet Dog Food Beef is an excellent choice if you're after a natural, preservative and grain free food. Being moisture rich it's great in supporting urinary health as Schnauzer's can be prone to bladder stones. It also has the added bonus of being low in fat (~5.5%) which can help to prevent pancreatitis, another known health problem in the breed" - Dr. Josepha
This premium, nutritionally optimised and highly digestible dry dog food contains supplementary L-carnitine to help boost fat metabolism, maintain strong muscles and reduce hunger between meals to help dogs maintain a healthy weight. It is made in Australia with high-quality ingredients, ensuring a premium and reliable product that is free of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.
What our vets say: "Keeping Schnauzers lean is a really important part of ensuring they stay happy and healthy. This Australian made, all natural dry dog food is high in fibre and protein to keep them feeling fuller for longer, and is also enriched with l-carnitine to help boost fat metabolism" - Dr.Teagan
When looking for a diet for your Schnauzer, regardless of their size, you want to make sure you are meeting their nutritional requirements and energy needs while also providing long term support for their health and wellbeing.
The three different sizes of Schnauzer need the correct balance of nutrients in easily digestible formulations to suit their individual needs.
Look for diets with carefully balanced minerals and weight control ingredients to help support your Schnauzer's urinary tract health.
With their energetic natures, Schnauzers require high-quality, highly digestible nutrients to suit their needs. Premium diets use protein that is easily digested and assimilated into the body, meaning the maximum amount of protein is absorbed and transported to where it's needed as fast as possible.
Small breed dogs like Schnauzers are more prone to dental disease so choosing a food that is designed to reduce dental tartar formation is a great idea
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
How much should you feed your pet?
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Contributing Author, BVSc (Hons)
Dr Jenny cares deeply about the welfare of animals. She's helped Pet Circle pet owners with some great articles and advice!
