Puppy food is an essential part of the raising process for a new puppy. You need to make sure that the food you are feeding your pet is nutritionally balanced and has the proper nutrients for their age. After all, you don’t want to overfeed or underfeed your little one.
The best Puppy food helps a puppy grow and develop. The food is designed for small breeds and meets their nutritional needs by providing nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Most puppies grow at an accelerated rate when young. Their bones, teeth, and muscles are growing rapidly. In addition, the emotional development of puppies is also occurring greatly during this time.
There are a number of different types of the best puppy food on the market today, with many formulated specifically for different breeds. You can get dry dog foods, bagged chow, or canned foods. Each has its benefits, but you will have to weigh them out and decide what is best for your little one. To help you figure out what is best for your pet, we’ve put together a list of the best food for your dog, what to look for in each, and a few tips.
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How to Choose the Best Puppy Food
When looking at the different types of puppy food, you should always make sure that they are nutritionally balanced. That means that they have all the nutrients that a growing puppy will need.
Size: You also want to consider the size of the kibble in the food you choose. Small breed dogs often have small mouths and teeth, so their foods are usually smaller. Larger breeds will need more substantial food to chew on. It’s best to avoid large kibble for small dogs and vice versa, as this can cause health issues with your pet.
Protein: Protein is an important part of the best puppy food because it helps your pet develop muscles, bones and teeth. Most puppies need more protein than adult dogs because they are still growing. Pet parents should look for puppy foods that have anywhere from 20-25% protein.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates provide energy for your pooch and help them grow as well. A puppy’s diet should consist of about 16 per cent carbs. Grain-free or grain-added foods are okay, but it is best to avoid corn, soy or wheat if possible because of allergies and other health concerns.
Wet or Dry: There are wet and dry puppy foods on the market today. Wet foods are canned, pouches or bags of food that you feed your dog. Dry foods are kibbled bits that you feed to your pooch with a bowl and water. Both have their pros and cons so it’s best to stick to one or the other once you have a puppy around. Wet foods are great because they stay fresh longer than dry food, but they can be just as messy as wet food is when spilt. Dry foods, on the other hand, are easier to store and carry around if needed to go out with a puppy.
Allergies: Puppies can be prone to food allergies, which can upset their systems and cause skin rashes, digestive problems and more. If you know your pet has allergies to certain foods, it’s best to avoid those ones.
Can puppies eat adult dog food?
You might be wondering if puppies can eat adult dog food. The answer is no. Adult dog food is made for large and small breeds alike. Some brands of the best puppy food are all-in-one, which means that the food has all the nutrients and vitamins necessary for growth and development inside the bag or can. You always want to stick with the best puppy foods so your little one can get everything they need to grow and develop properly.
When to switch to adult dog food?
You should always make sure that you know the right time to switch your puppy to adult dog food. For some dogs, this happens around one year old or after they have stopped growing. Other dogs will be able to eat adult food until about two years of age, though you’ll have to watch their weight because they need more calories than puppies.
It’s also important to note that some adult food may have too much fat and calories. Older dogs are often prone to weight problems, so you don’t want to overfeed them with the wrong foods. Consult with your veterinarian and keep an eye on your pup’s weight.
The Best Puppy Food NZ
1. Royal Canin Maxi Puppy Dry Food
The Royal Canin Maxi Puppy Dry Food is made with a blend of proteins, high-quality protein and prebiotics that provide digestive health as well as the balance of intestinal flora. The food is meant to support the immune system in puppies during their important growth period.
2. Royal Canin Mini Puppy Dry Food
Royal Canin Mini Puppy Dry Food is great dog food because it has a combination of nutrients with high-quality protein and prebiotics to support digestive health and balance intestinal flora. It also meets the energy needs of small breed puppies during their growth period which satisfies their fussy appetites. It is ideal for puppies aged 2-10 months with an adult weight of up to 10kg.
3. Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy Dry Dog Food
This food is great for your dog as it can help with their growth and provide them with a healthy immune system. This food also has ingredients that will help maintain the skin and coat health of your dog. The kibble’s shape, size, texture and formula are adapted to the Golden Retriever puppy. This food is full of nutrients that will help your dog grow while also staying healthy.
4. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dry Food
The Hill’s Science Diet is a reliable and recommended pet food. This food is specifically made for large breeds to provide an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth. The food also uses DHA from fish oil to support healthy brain and eye development in growing dogs since there are high-quality proteins that help your pup build lean muscle.
5. Black Hawk Original Puppy Large Breed Chicken Dry Dog Food
The Black Hawk Original Puppy Large Breed Chicken Dry Dog Food is a great dog food because it contains glucosamine and chondroitin which may aid in joint health, has balanced calcium to phosphorus ratios for healthy skeletal development, and has omega fatty acids from emu oil for skin and coat health. It is great to feed between 18 and 24 months of age puppies.
6. Acana Puppy Large Breed Recipe Dog Food
The Acana Bison and Large Breed Recipe Dog Food is made with a variety of fresh ingredients that are rich in essential nutrients. The ingredients, such as free-run chicken, wild-caught flounder and cage-free eggs, are delivered fresh or raw. You get 70% meat and 30% fruits/vegetables/botanicals thanks to the ACANA key ingredient: whole prey ratios deliver high levels of nutrients. This ensures peak physical conditioning for your dog’s age, breed or life stage by promoting muscle development.
7. Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Dry Food
The Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Dry Food has been specially designed with the requirements of a pup in mind. It is highly digestible, accompanied by a balanced and complete recipe to help your dog grow healthily and give them all the nutrients they need. It is also tailored to overcome digestive sensitivities, as well as being enriched with calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and a shiny coat.
We hope you enjoyed our article on how to find the best puppy food for your pup. It’s no secret that one of the biggest responsibilities will be providing a diet of the best possible food for your dog. We created this blog post to help you shop for the best possible food for your furry friend.