Puppy Food- What’s The Best?
Your four-legged friend is a charming and playful companion that cheers up your mood every time by wagging its tail. Life is all excellent with a puppy. Unless you realize you are trapped in a puppy food-choosing dilemma. What is the best puppy food for my dog? This is the question new dog parents ask themselves as they are unaware of what their dog needs and which product will fulfill that need of its.
Pet Food Processing revealed there are over 630 dog food brands available in the United States of America alone. Every brand is competing in the race to win the most sales; for that, they apply every possible marketing tactic. How to find the best dog food product for your pooch? A dog has distinct needs from other dogs. Hence, choosing the ideal product that satisfies all its needs is what we are looking for!
Let’s talk about how we can locate the best puppy food. We have even listed our best picks of puppy foods from renowned brands.
How to Find the Best Puppy Food for Your Dog?
Identify Your Dog’s Needs
This has to be the number one factor when choosing the best puppy food for your dog. Every dog is discrete and carries specific requirements. The best practice is to consult an expert vet and get your dog diagnosed. Dogs contain specific allergies to foods such as grains and meats. Once you know what fits your dog, you can hunt down the best puppy food determined for it. Furthermore, there are many more factors, including personal preferences, that a dog has. These preferences also shape what food your dog will like.
Opt for AAFCO Certified Products
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a non-profit organization that regulates pet food. AAFCO certifies a particular pet product based on specific criteria. For example, the product should not contain any deficiencies, and a pet should not encounter any unwanted effects from consuming the product. More tests are conducted based on which a product is deemed certified and is issued an AAFCO label. Since countless dog food products are available, the AAFCO label makes searching for the best puppy food much more straightforward.
Get the Highest Quality Ingredients’ Product
Quality can be associated with pricing, but not always. The product that costs the most does not ensure the highest quality. By high quality, we mean that all ingredients used in dog food are high standard and regulated. It is recommended that you should always stay away from the least expensive option.
Puppies require a balanced diet that contains essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Food sources that derive these nutrients should be of the highest quality, ensuring your dog’s health remains at the top level and grows naturally. Best puppy food is a product that contains all of the essential ingredients of the highest quality.
Large Breed or Small Breed?
Large breed puppies have different dietary requirements than small breeds. Large breed puppies need food that fills the stomach and comprises fewer calories. Secondly, large breed dogs need foods that have a specific amount of calcium and phosphorus to strengthen bones and skeletal structure. Also, large breed dogs have more enormous mouths. Hence, the kibble size is kept prominent so they can chew on the food and strengthen their teeth.
Small breed puppies need food that helps them get through the day energetic and active. For that, they need dog food that contains fiber, carbohydrates, and protein in more significant amounts. They require specifically calorie-intensive foods. Small breed dogs have smaller mouths that’s why the kibble chunks are kept small.
Wet Food or Dry Food?
Whether to feed your dog wet or dry food is a personal decision. However, a dog that does not drink enough water throughout the day to consummate its daily requirements is better off with wet food. The wet food completes the dog’s daily water consumption requirements. Moreover, wet food is also beneficial for puppies for digestion.
Dry food, however, works great for developing your dog’s teeth. The crunchy kibble strengthens bones and gums. Similarly, firm dog stool is produced with dry food.
Our Top Picks for the Best Puppy Foods
Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food
It won’t be false to say that Royal Canin has been the leader in producing premium quality dog food for all breeds. The best small-breed dog food contains all essential nutrients to channel your dog’s health towards betterment. The product contains the perfect blend of antioxidants and minerals that boost the dog’s immune system. High-quality protein from rich sources improves digestion and produces optimal stool quality.
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Dry Puppy Food, Chicken and Rice Formula
Purina Pro Plan has brought the best large-breed dog food that stimulates the health of your canine and acts as a basic formula for its growth. The product contains premium quality chicken and rice, providing a balanced composition of protein and carbs. Purina Pro Plan contains fatty acids that nourish the neurological health of the puppy, developing the brain and vision. Many vets around the globe recommend Purina Pro Plan as a portion of tasty dog food that fulfills all the nutritional requirements of a large breed dog.
Wellness Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food
This protein-intensive dog food significantly boosts muscle growth and aids healthy puppy digestion. The product is manufactured using ingredients of the highest quality that are 100% natural. Wellness Complete Health is a grain-inclusive dog food that allows your pup to gain healthy carbs. Fatty acids nourish the skin and the coat. No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives have been used in producing this product.
Wrapping Up
The best puppy food is indeed a challenging choice to make if you are unsure about what factors to take into concern. All the above factors we discussed will help you choose the best product. Our top picks are recommended highly by vets and nutritionists all around the globe. Make sure to consult a vet to learn if your dog has allergies to certain ingredients before choosing a product.
