What’s the Best Puppy Food?
The best and high quality puppy foods can be very expensive, but they certainly provide all the necessary nutrients and vitamins to promote the pup’s health and growth. What’s the best puppy food out there for my furry little best friend?
There are three types of puppy food: canned food, dehydrated food, dry food, or a combination of these. Choosing the type of food will be based on preferences. But choosing the brand of puppy food should have the following qualities: 1. Designed specifically for young pups, 2. Contain the right ingredients for health and growth, and 3., contain natural preservatives only.
1. Designed Specifically for Pups
The food shouldn’t be designed only for dogs, but specifically for pups only. This will ensure that the food has all the nutritional needs for the puppy’s growth and overall health. Some adult dog food also have the necessary supplements for puppy growth, just make sure that you check the product’s nutrition label to see if it is also recommended for puppies.
Pups need more calories, proteins and fats since they need to grow big. The general rule is that pups are of the right weight if there are now visible ribs, but you can feel ribs if you touch them. Large dog breeds are prone to overfeeding and can lead to bone complications such as hip dysplasia. This is why there are different puppy food for different puppy breeds: the food needs to match well with the breed’s right proportion and growth requirements.
2. Contains the Right Ingredients for Pup’s Health and Growth
The puppy food to select should be made of USDA approved human grade food products. Otherwise, the food may be manufactured substandard ingredients that can cause cancerous tumors, defects and illnesses. If possible for your budget, opt for organic puppy food only. Choose foods that are high in meat and low in grain—remember the dog’s diet is a bit different to humans, and they need more meat in their diet.
The best puppy food does not use meat by products, but instead contain only whole meats. Fats in the product label should indicate the source of the fat—for example, if it’s beef or chicken fat. Never buy puppy foods that have soy meal, wheat or corn. These are merely fillers that have no use in value and can even cause allergies in certain dog breeds.
3. Contain Natural Preservatives Only.
Of course, the best puppy food stays away from chemical preservatives and use only natural preservatives. Chemical preservatives are BHT, BHA and ethoxyguin—all are detrimental to young puppies’ health. These preservatives are dangerous and can cause dog cancer and other illnesses. Look at the product label for natural preservatives that are rich in vitamins and nutrients.
Finally, don’t stick to a specific type or brand of puppy food. Variation is always best. Even humans get bored with eating chicken everyday. A varied diet ensures that your four-legged buddy gets all the nutrients from different ingredients. It’s good to have a schedule—maybe chicken on Mondays and Tuesdays, turkey on Wednesdays and Thursdays, beef on Fridays and the weekends, and cycle goes all over again.
