Taking care of puppies is one of the most exciting and heartwarming experiences a pet owner could have. Puppies are precious and active, playful, and curious. They can instantly make your day brighter just by playing with them. As pet owners, our number one priority is to give the best possible care that we can to our young canine friends. And caring for them includes providing them with the best puppy food in the market that we can afford.
The best puppy food for your growing canine friend should contain all the specific nutritional needs that they should get. Puppies have very particular food requirements that are quite different from the diet of fully mature dogs. Since they are still young, puppies grow and develop at an accelerated rate. And this can’t be done without the best puppy food providing all the dietary needs essential for growth and development.
Most puppies need to reach at least a year old before weaning them off of puppy food. By this time, puppies have reached 70–80% of their adult size. Some conditions might require you to stop giving your pet puppy food earlier. At best, you should check with a veterinarian before making drastic changes to your furry friend’s diet.
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Choosing the Best Puppy Food
At an early age, your bundle of fluff is likely to be already active and playful. This nature of theirs is an essential aspect that shapes them in terms of physiology and behavior. It’s crucial to provide proper care and support so they could maintain their level of energy. This makes choosing the best food for them a vital responsibility for all pet owners.
Because your little doggo has a lot of growing to do, protein is a crucial nutrient that should be present in their food. Most experts agree that puppies should get at least 5.5 grams of protein per pound of puppy body weight. The best puppy food contains ingredients that provide enough protein to aid your puppy’s growth. Judy Morgan, DVM, recommends to “Look for brands that specifically name the type of meat, like beef, chicken, or lamb.”
Fat is also an essential nutrient in a young doggo’s life. All that running and fetching burn a lot of energy, after all. Carbohydrates are also a good source of energy, and your little doggo surely needs all the strength they can get.
Top 5 Best Puppy Food for Your Growing Fur Baby
Choosing the best puppy food for your growing pup can be quite daunting, especially for new pet owners. There are many factors to consider and numerous types that are available in the market. For the most part, it is divided into three types: moist, semi-moist, and dry kibble.
Veterinarians and animal experts highly suggest that dry kibble is the best for your growing pup. It is practical, less expensive, easy to digest, as well as easy to store. Also, dry kibble does wonders in keeping your puppy’s teeth healthy and clean. Krista Williams, BSc, DVM and co-author adds that “Kibble is by far the easiest to feed and to portion-manage.” For some, the best option would be to create a combined diet of moist puppy food and dry kibble. It’s up to you to create a variation or the perfect mix for your puppy.
Still intimidated by the wide range of choices you have? “Choosing a diet for your pet can be confusing,” Danielle Conway, DVM, CVA, VSMT, CCRP says. However, we at The Furry Companion has compiled the top five best puppy food for your growing fur baby. Choosing the best is now a lot easier with this article.
(1) Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Dry Dog Food
Today’s frontrunner when it comes to full-package care for puppies is Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Dry Dog Food. It is our top pick when it comes to the best puppy food. It is well-reviewed on Amazon, so we’re confident with our choice. But what makes this perfect for your pup is its high-quality ingredients. Purina doesn’t joke around when it comes to delivering the best that they could offer.
It is made up of the best protein sources in the market, principally chicken. It is available as dry kibble, which is a massive bonus in keeping your pupper’s teeth healthy and clean. Another good thing about it is the omega-rich recipe full of DHAs, ingredients that offer an extra boost in brain development. Your pupper will grow not only extra healthy and active but also smarter than the other doggos around the block. Check out Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Dry Dog Food in Amazon here.
(2) IAMS Proactive Health Dry Puppy Food
If you’re on a slightly stricter budget, IAMS Proactive Health Dry Puppy Food is a good compromise. Each bag that you purchase is filled to the brim, so to speak, of the right amount of nutrients essential for your puppy’s physiological development. Sometimes, lesser quality food is mostly made up of fillers. You’ll be delighted to know that this is composed of real chicken, vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients.
Amazon also offers a good deal with this puppy food. Subscribe and Save for the first 12 months of your growing pupper, and you will never have to worry about running out of food or running to the pet store in the middle of a proper weekend relaxation. Amazon has that covered for you. It comes in seven different packaging sizes, so you have free reign to insert puppy grub into your budget appropriately.
(3) NomNomNow Heartland Beef Mash
If you prefer an alternative protein source for the best puppy food, NomNomNow Heartland Beef Mash is a great alternative. The company claims to have formulated a delicious recipe with beef that is a guaranteed hit with a lot of puppies. Not only is it delicious, but it is also undoubtedly nutritious as well. Other ingredients that make up this healthy doggo grub include potatoes, eggs, peas, and carrots.
Wet food is less-than-ideal when it comes to shelf life, but NomNomNow makes up for it by making sure that their recipe is irresistibly good. It is easy to portion in accordance to your dog’s nutritional needs as well as lifestyle. It is also perfect for puppies of all sizes, shapes, and breeds. The promise of a high-protein recipe is ideal for those who want their little puppers to grow strong in the future.
(4) Organix Organic Puppy Recipe
For pet owners concerned with the source of their pupper’s food, Organix Organic Puppy Recipe is the answer to all your concerns. It boasts a legitimately organic product, and it even has a USDA certification, so you’re sure of what you’re buying. In terms of actual ingredients, it offers dry kibble without unnecessary fillers like corn, soy, or wheatmeal.
Instead, it is mostly made up of free-range chicken as its primary source of protein. It also contains a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, which are great for your pupper’s digestive needs. It has one flavor, puppy formula, which has brown rice and flaxseed to provide a more nutritional boost to your little doggo’s diet. See what customers say about Organix Organic Puppy Recipe here.
(5) Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Puppy Food
Customers dub this as the “diet of your doggo’s ancestors” because of the ingredients incorporated in Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Puppy Food. Rich in lean protein sourced from real live chicken, it simulates the type of diet that your pupper’s wilder cousins and ancestors tend to eat. It promises zero by-products, which lesser brands or variants use to cheat on quantity over quality.
Blue Buffalo is one of the top-rated dog food brands on Amazon, and it’s there for a reason. It also contains ingredients such as peas, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and cranberries—food items that are well and available in the wild. Blue Buffalo calls the ingredients present in their product as “Lifesource Bits,” in reference to the nutritional needs of growing puppies. You can purchase Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Puppy Food in Amazon here.
Bonus: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Puppy Food
Blue Buffalo is a top-tier dog food brand in the world, and it never fails to prove why. For pet owners who want to introduce “real food” to their puppers without the hassle, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Puppy Food is the answer. It promises (and delivers!) real chicken, fish, or lamb in every bag, and you get to add whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to every bowl.
It’s the perfect compromise for those who want to introduce variety to their puppies without taking up too much time.
Final Thoughts
Having a pet dog, particularly a puppy, is a huge responsibility. Puppies have particular needs that you, as a pet owner, need to meet, especially when its mother is not around to nurse from anymore. For the most part, dog and puppy nutrition are not complicated. The best part about buying the best puppy food in the market is the certainty that those needs are met.
You do not need to worry about individual food items that provide specific nutrients to your pup. They’re all already formulated with your puppy in mind. As a pet owner, reading food labels and doing your research are the most significant responsibilities that rest on your shoulders. No one else knows better what your fur baby needs at a particular point in its life than you, the fur parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dog food for puppies?
As pet owners, we want to provide the best nutrition for the puppies. Since they are growing, they need the best nutrition that they can get. The best dog food to get for puppies are Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy, Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy Food, Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy, Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy, and Wellness Complete Health Puppy Food.
What puppy food do vets recommend?
Since we want the best nutrition for our puppies, we may find more confidence in recommendations by those we trust the most, the vets. Brands recommended by veterinarians are Blue Buffalo Puppy Food, IAMS Dry Puppy Food, Earthborn Holistic Vantage Puppy Food, Premium Protection Puppy Food, and IAMS Proactive Health.
What is the best dry food for puppies?
The best puppy dry foods are Wellness Complete Health Dry Puppy Food, Orijen Dry Puppy Food, Go! Carnivore Dry Puppy Food, Instinct Raw Boost Dry Puppy Food, and Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Dry Puppy Formula. If you prefer to get dry food for your puppies, it is important to take note of the importance of buying the right kind of dry food for the breed size of your dog.
What is the best puppy food for an 8 week old canine?
Most puppies stop from latching at around 6-8 weeks. To make sure that your puppy is getting the right amount of nutrition from solid food, choose among the following food that is best for puppies: Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy, Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dog and Puppy, Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate, Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food, and Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy.
What are the worst dog foods?
Avoid dog foods that contain fillers which are unnecessary for your dog’s nutrition. The dog foods you should look out for are Kibbles N Bits, Beneful by Purina, Muenster Natural Adult Dog Food, and Ol Roy by WalMart.
Should puppies drink milk or water?
Young puppies get hydrated with their mother’s milk. But as they begin to wean, they would be needing water to hydrate themselves. Ideally, puppies can drink a half a cup of water in two hours. So make sure to always refill their bowl.
Can puppies eat bananas?
In general, dogs can eat bananas. Bananas can be very high in potassium and can have low levels of sodium. They can also contain very high sugar content which is not an essential part of your pup’s diet. In giving your puppy this low-calorie treat, you should integrate the nutritional requirements required for your growing pup.
What should I not feed my puppy?
There are several foods that are might seem harmless but are dangerous for puppies. If you have puppies at home, ensure that dangerous foods should be out of their reach. These foods include chocolate, avocado, caffeine, raisins, macadamia nuts, grapes, and the list goes on. You can look it up for yourselves for a more extensive list.
What is the healthiest puppy food?
To get the best puppy food, it must contain the required nutrition for puppies. Puppy foods that contain the best nutrition include The Farmer’s Dog Pet Food, Organix Organic Puppy Recipe, Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Puppy Food, Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Dry Dog Food, and IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Puppy Dry Dog Food.
Should I mix kibble with wet food?