The best dog food for puppies
To see if your puppy’s breed has a diet tailored just for them, view all breed specific puppy food. Large and giant breed puppy diets are less energy dense to reduce the risk of overfeeding, because an overweight body condition is an important risk factor for the development of orthopaedic disease. These diets typically also have an appropriate balance of calcium and phosphorus with a lower overall calcium content than a regular growth diet. A premium puppy food range that contains optimal levels of energy and minerals to support healthy bone and joint development. Royal Canin is particularly known for it’s breed specific formulas, available for Labradors, German Shepherds, Pugs, Poodles, and many more.
“Do they have veterinarians on staff or, more specifically, do they have veterinary nutritionists who are board-certified in that field? Brands that provide the best diets also invest in research,” said Dr. Brian Roberts, a board-certified veterinarian and regional medical director in the Mid-Atlantic region with VCA Animal Hospitals. One of the best ways to figure out the best dog food for your pup is through the ingredient list — but it doesn’t always give you the whole picture, experts say. With their rapid growth, puppies benefit from a higher protein diet, comprising between percent of their food intake.
If they have gained weight, feed a little less, and if they have lost weight, feed a little more. As long as you are weighing them once a month, you can adjust quantities fed as needed to keep them at their optimal weight. Getting a new puppy is super exciting, but it also comes with a lot of important decisions.
Generally speaking there are two types of puppy foods that most fall under, either wet dog food or dry dog food. Dry puppy food is made into a form of kibble or pellets that can be easily stored in a bag and fed to your pup on a regular basis. Typically, dry puppy food has more carbohydrates than protein, which helps a growing puppy keep their energy needs met. Puppy dry dog food is also convenient as it requires little preparation. Your dog should eat dry puppy food until he has reached the age of maturity and finished growing.
Puppies have specific needs, requiring a blend of protein, fat, and calcium to encourage immune system strength, uniform skeletal development, and optimal growth. Contains highly digestible meat as a small kibble to suit puppies of different ages and provides a balanced and complete vitamin and mineral profile to support growth. No artificial colouring, flavours or preservatives and uses predominantly locally sourced ingredients from Suffolk.
It also has DHA for brain and eye development and prebioticsand probiotics to assist digestive health. Plus, it’s formulated with antioxidants and proper levels of protein and fat to help your puppy grow up strong. Dr. Morici recommends Royal Canin puppy food as one of her favorites because of the specific blend of antioxidants and minerals that help support healthy growth and development.
On the label, the nutrition adequacy — or the AAFCO statement — indicates the species and life stage the food is formulated for and how it’s substantiated, either by formulation or feeding tests. The bag even includes a helpful chart providing month-to-month serving size guidance based on the anticipated adult weight of your puppy. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula is available in 6-, 18-, and 34-pound bags. Purina also offers several variations on the standard puppy food formula, with Purina Pro Plan foods designed for large breeds, toy breeds, and young dogs between the age of one and two. Ollie’s chicken recipe includes chia seeds, carrots, peas, spinach, and blueberries, plus omega fatty acids from fish oil and cod liver oil.
We found the best puppy food with guidance from Shepherd and other veterinary sources, including dry, wet, and snack options, plus food specific to large breeds. While it’s always advisable to check with your veterinarian before starting your puppy on a new diet , our recommendations provide complete nutrition for the first year of your puppy’s life. It’s available in different flavors, too, so that you can add variety to your dog’s diet.
Dr. Morici explained that large breed puppies will require a different diet than small breed puppies, and the food you select should reflect those needs. “Large and giant breed puppies have specific nutrient requirements to reduce their risk of developmental orthopedic disease,” said Dr. Morici. “Diets for large and giant breed puppies should be slightly less calorically dense, contain lower levels of calcium and phosphorus, and have a carefully balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio,” she added. With this guide and some basic information about dogs’ dietary requirements, you’ll be sure to find the perfect dog food for your pup.