Are you looking for the best dry dog food for puppies? We will help you make the right choice and learn more about what foods should puppy avoid! If this is your first time taking care of a puppy, you might not be familiar with the right types of dry food and their benefits. You will learn why food is so important for puppies, as well as what you should look for when choosing the right brand!
What You Need to Know Before Choosing Dry Dog Food
There are hundreds of dry dog food brands on the market as we speak. Each brand offers its formula and pricing, which makes the process of choosing the right food a bit more challenging. Here are the things you need to know before choosing dry dog food for your puppy!
The Importance of Food for Puppies
Food is one of the most important factors that affect your dog’s quality and longevity of life. As a caring dog owner, it is in your best interest to improve the quality of your puppy’s life and enable them to grow into healthy and happy adult dogs. Providing the best food quality is crucial during the first stages of a dog’s life because nutrition plays an important role in developing a healthy immune system and other vital functions.
High-quality food will help the puppy develop healthy muscle, strengthen their bones, as well as give them a nicer and shinier coat. Most importantly, good quality food will provide more energy, which is important for a puppy during the growth process. Puppies that consume healthy food will have fewer skin conditions later in life, less itching, fewer ear infections, and fewer issues with diseases in general.
Therefore, ensuring your puppy eats highest quality food will not only improve their quality of life but also save you a lot of money you would otherwise have to spend on future treatments. Remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog. It also means you will be a happier dog owner and there will be fewer veterinarian bills to take care of. With that said, take a look at the things you should pay attention to when choosing dry dog food!
Things to Look for When Choosing Dry Dog Food
We’ve already established that the quality of food your dog consumes on a regular basis can reduce health risks. It is important to choose foods that contain real meat ingredients. It is well-known that best dry dog food for puppies contains human-grade ingredients with no by-products whatsoever.
Avoid foods that have a high amount of fillers, preservatives, or any types of artificial ingredients. It is recommended to keep the puppy’s grain intake at a minimum. Therefore, make sure to avoid ingredients such as corn, wheat, and soy. These are common ingredients that cause allergies and they’re often used as filler products.
Also, make sure the food you choose contains digestible protein over crude protein. This will make it easier for the puppy to process the food and get the best out of its ingredients. Foods with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are also recommended because of their nutritious values.
Advantages of Dry Food for Puppies
There are several benefits to opting for dry food over wet food for puppies. For starters, dry food can be stored without a fridge and it can last a lot longer on the shelf. This allows you to buy food in bulk to save money without worrying about it going bad. This is one of the main reasons why dry food is the most popular type of dog food.
It is also important to mention that dry food is much cheaper and it’s more suitable for those who travel often. On the other hand, its hard texture helps maintain the dog’s dental hygiene and keeps their gums healthy. Dry dog food is also less messy than wet food so your dog won’t get all smudged up while eating it.
Besides, there are many dry dog food products that are full of healthy carbs and protein for better growth and development. Dry dog food provides more energy for the dog as well. The only disadvantage is that this hard food is difficult for small puppies to chew so you will have to combine it with water or chicken broth in the beginning. As soon as the puppy gets used to eating it, dry food will be their favorite!
Top Five Best Dry Foods for Puppies
1. Weruva Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food
It is a simple and very clean formula with no filler products or any artificial additions. Pumpkin seeds are known for improving the digestive system, which is a positive benefit for small puppies. Besides chicken and pumpkin, another ingredient found in this formula is seaweed, which also helps maintain healthy digestive processes.
It is important to mention that this dry dog food formula features added Taurine that supports a healthy heart in puppies. The food is rich in healthy animal protein yet low in carbs and it contains absolutely no GMO ingredients. The formal is based on 80% of animal protein and made under the strictest standards for food safety.
Let’s not forget that Weruva is a family-owned company that has earned the trust of millions of dog owners. They provide healthy and beneficial dog food for puppies, small dogs, and adult ones as well.
Pros:
- Suitable for picky eaters
- Provides extra energy
- 80% of animal protein
- Controlled for food safety
- Healthy ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, salmon oil, and seaweed
- No GMO ingredients or filler ingredients included
- Extra Taurine for heart health
Cons:
- None
2. Health Extension Little Bites
Thus, this dry dog food is made using organically grown chicken and additional antioxidants that help boost the dog’s immune system. The food in this bag is both anti-hypoglycemic and hypoallergenic, which are positive traits that should be kept in mind when making a purchase.
It is important to mention that this formula was strengthened with the Nutria Drop System, which is the company’s process of adding nutritional value that supports natural healing during the periods of high stress. The Nutria Drop System is especially helpful when it comes to healthy growth in small puppies.
If you’re looking for the best dry dog food for puppy German Shepherd, you might want to look for larger food because this kibble is suitable only for small breeds and small puppies. However, when it comes to nutritional values and health benefits, the Health Extension Little Bites is great dry dog food for puppies.
Pros:
- Tasty chicken and rice recipe
- Holistic approach
- Contains organic chicken and antioxidants
- Nutria Drop System formula included
- Supports natural healing processes
- Hypoallergenic food
- Anti-hypoglycemic formula
Cons:
- Not suitable for large breed puppies
3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Large Breed Dry Dog Food
The formula is made using high quality US farm-raised chicken and other carefully picked ingredients for best flavor and aroma. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives included in the mixture. On top of that, the ingredients are safely cooked under professional control to ensure they meet the strictest standards of dog food quality.
The great combination of nutrients and protein in this formula helps support hip and joint health in large breed dogs. It is also important to mention that the formula is enriched with vitamins B12, D3, and C. Let’s not forget that a portion of sales of the Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food goes to the Rachael Ray Foundation.
This gives you the opportunity to participate in helping dogs across the United States. The Rachael Ray Foundation helps supply stray dogs and shelters with food, medical supplies, and medical treatments.
Pros:
- Real organic chicken and vegetable ingredients
- Made from US Farm-raised chicken
- No preservatives or colors included
- Healthy benefits for hip and joint conditions
- Maintains healthy bones in large breed dogs
- Enriched with necessary vitamins
Cons:
- Plain formula and taste might not satisfy picky puppies
4. Health Extension Grain-Free Buffalo and Whitefish Dry Food
Since this formula is completely grain-free, it makes for a great and healthy choice for your puppy. On top of that, it is completely USDA inspected to ensure safety and quality. The main ingredient of this mixture is de-boned buffalo, which is rich in much-needed proteins and healthy nutrients.
This premium meat is seasoned with pure coconut oil, which further adds to the nutritional value of this formula. This dry dog food is completely free of any filler content or artificial preservatives and colors. As an original US product, it offers great quality and a unique taste that will surprise your dog every once in a while. Other ingredients you will find in this mixture include natural probiotics, turmeric, vinegar, apple cider, and ginger.
Pros:
- Natural ingredients
- Healthy buffalo meat rich in protein
- USDA inspected
- Completely Grain-Free food
- Comes from a trustworthy family-owned company
- Premium meat quality
- Original US product
Cons:
- None
5. VICTOR Purpose Dry Dog Food
Besides being great for puppies, this dry dog food is also suitable for pregnant females because it is rich in proteins and nutritious fibers. The formula is also enriched with a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as necessary fatty acids. Its ingredients make it suitable for dogs prone to all kinds of allergies. The unique taste will satisfy the picky eaters as well.
However, we must not forget the main ingredient of this dry dog food, which is the advanced Victor Core Formula. This formula is scientifically proven to increase the nutritious value of the food and help maintain proper health in puppies and grown dogs. With that said, the VICTOR Purpose dry dog food is definitely one of the healthiest puppy food choices on the market.
Pros:
- High in protein but low in carbs
- Enriched with various vitamins and minerals
- Contains the scientifically advanced Victor Core formula
- Suitable for picky eaters
- Suitable for dogs with allergies
- Promotes a healthy digestive system
- Boosts the immune system
Cons:
- Contains grains
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you learned what it is you should be looking for when choosing the best dry dog foods for puppies. Our list of top five dry dog food products should help you make the right choice in no time. Keep in mind that it is important to provide your puppy with great quality food to ensure healthy growth and avoid diseases and issues later in life.
If you asked us to choose the best one out of the five products we listed above, we would definitely opt for the first product. That is the Weruva Grain-Free natural dry dog food. Besides being grain-free, which is important for dog food formulas, this food is suitable for picky eaters, rich in protein, and contains absolutely no GMO ingredients or artificial preservatives.
With 80% of animal protein inside the bag, the Weruva Grain-Free natural dry dog food is definitely the winner. However, keep in mind that every puppy is different so your puppy might not like the flavor of even the most popular dry dog food out there. Therefore, make sure to test things out first before buying food in bulk. Make sure the dog likes it before you proceed to buy more. As always, feel free to leave us a comment below and let us know if your puppy has tried any of the foods listed above!
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