Our pups are more than just pets; they’re precious family members, and it’s our responsibility to do what we can to help them live their happiest and healthiest lives. That’s why choosing a high-quality puppy food that fits your fur baby’s needs is so important. After all, we are what we eat, which also goes for your puppy!
Dog nutrition has become significantly more sophisticated since the olden days when the norm was to grab a bag of any old puppy chow from the local corner store. Today, specialty pet retailers in your neighborhood and online are prevalent, offering shelves upon shelves of options.
The decision can be daunting, but your Space Coast Pet Services friends have the scoop to help you choose the right food for your hungry pup. Our guide gives you everything you need to know to make the best decision for your dog! Check it out below!
All About Life Stages
One of the very best resources for determining what will work for your puppy is the label of the product you’re considering purchasing. The label and packaging provide ample information that helps you identify what the food is specifically formulated for.
Right off the bat, you’ll want to check what life stage the food is intended to feed. Most dog food manufacturers sell Puppy, Adult, and Senior at the bare minimum, each with different calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.
Puppy food may sometimes be labeled as a “growth formula” and will often contain higher quantities of each nutrient to support healthy growth and development. Many puppy formulas are fortified with DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid that supports brain development.
For your growing puppy’s unique needs, start by choosing a specially formulated food for puppies.
Breed and Expected Adult Size
Another factor to consider is the breed and expected adult size. Obviously, a Rottweiler pup will have different nutritional needs than a teacup Chihuahua, so we should feed a food that takes that into account.
Many dog food manufactures will offer options including Toy Breed, Small Breed, Large Breed, and even Giant Breed. Not all of them will have the same definition or weight range for these “weight classes,” so to speak, so be sure to peruse the label to see if your pup fits the bill.
Ingredients of Puppy Food
Many pet parents become overwhelmed when reading the list of ingredients. I mean, who really knows what mixed tocopherols are or if they’re safe for their pup?
Well, the good news is mixed tocopherols, a natural preservative containing vitamin E, are totally cool, and we have simple tips to help you decipher the label, too:
- The shorter, the better: There are exceptions to this, but, generally speaking, a shorter list of ingredients of actual food is better than long lists of odd ingredients
- Choose real food: There are some ingredients that you may not know without looking it up (mixed tocopherols, case in point), but you want most of the foods listed to be foods you know (chicken, brown rice, blueberries, flaxseed, etc.)
- Meal is okay: So, what exactly is “chicken meal,” then? Well, chicken meal, and any protein meal for that matter, is a highly concentrated powder that packs plenty of protein. It’s shelf-safe, cost-conscious, and generally as nutritious as the whole protein itself, although some purists denounce the use of meals in pet food. Many premium brands use meal, so we give it a pass.
- No byproduct: Byproduct, on the other hand, is often less wholesome than meal, meaning your poor puppy will be getting less of the good stuff in each bite
Of course, there are things to consider beyond our quick guide here, which is why shopping at a trusted pet retailer where professionals are available to discuss different options and provide professional recommendations can be very important when making your selection.
Consulting the vet is never a bad idea either, as they often have some tried-and-true brands to recommend.
Palatability and Digestibility of Puppy Food
So, we’ve done all our due diligence in grabbing a dog food that fits all the above criteria. We’re heaving a sigh of relief, pouring a fresh bowl of kibble for our new furry best friend, and panicking when they immediately turn up their nose and refuse to eat. All the deliberation, and the dog won’t even eat it?
It sounds like a joke, but this is common. Some pups are pickier than others. It’s more common in smaller breeds who need very few calories to sustain their energy and growth, but big dogs can be divas, too.
Digestibility is essential, too, as the dog may be pleased to eat every last bite but wind up with loose stools, itchy skin, and other issues indicating they may have an allergy or sensitivity to the food you’ve chosen.
Here are a few tips to try if that happens to you:
- Rotate the protein: Switching from chicken to turkey, beef, salmon, whitefish, lamb, or other proteins within the same brand may alleviate the issue
- Choose limited-ingredient diets: These diets contain fewer ingredients, so you are less likely to feed a food trigger to your pup.
- Switch brands: You may have luck switching from one brand to another. Just be sure to make the change gradually over several days to minimize gastric stress.
- Get a panel done: Not all vets offer this, but some will perform testing to determine which ingredients will give your pet trouble. Once you have the vet’s list of no-no ingredients in hand, you can use it to pick something that works.
Remember—the best quality pet food means nothing if your dog won’t or can’t eat it. So, the best pick for your puppy will be high-quality and work well for their specific needs.
Ask a Pro!
We offer many pet services here at Space Coast Pet Services, but we do not offer nutritional counseling.
That said, we are all pet lovers, pet parents, and community members. We have ideas about what might make a good choice for your pup and where to go locally to get the best assistance with your selection (outside of your trusted vet).
We, too, want what’s best for your furry bundle of joy, so don’t be shy to contact us anytime to see how your dog is taking to its puppy foods while you are away!
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