8 Tips for Choosing Healthy Dog Food for Puppies

A dog owner must know the importance of the right food for the health and safety of their dog. Good quality food improves their immune system, strengthens their digestive system, and keeps their coats shiny and smooth.

Choosing healthy food is a hassle that almost every dog owner experiences because options are endless, and knowledge is limited. Every brand claims to be the best, making it challenging to select the right food for your puppies.

When pet owners try to buy food for their dog, they frequently come across questions such as, is raw food safe for my puppy? How many carbs are enough? Which brand is best?

After reading the guide below, you will get answers to all these confusing questions. Here we summarized 8 key tips that are essential for choosing healthy dog food;

1.     Know Nutritional Requirements of Your Puppies

Nutritional requirements of dogs change with their age, just like the human body, which demands different nutrition at different stages of life. Puppies require protein-rich foods, while adults require a low in proteins diet.

Puppies need protein-rich food because their body parts require growth and development. The highly active lifestyle of puppies is another reason they require dog food with high protein content. Puppies should contain at least 25% protein in their diet.

Similarly, puppy food should have a considerable amount of fatty acids. Fatty acid DHA is essential for the nervous system of puppies. So Fatty acid DHA should be present in more concentration in puppies than in adults’ food.

Moreover, puppies need soft dog food as their teeth and gums aren’t as strong as adult dogs. Therefore, choose wet food or soft food options for your little pets.

Many brands misguide their customers by saying that their food is “for all ages”. But don’t fall into the trap and read the ingredients mentioned on the pack before buying puppies food.

2.     Go For All Natural Ingredients

Natural food is always best for puppies as they cannot digest food with artificial additives. Artificial ingredients and fillers disturb their stomach and harm their digestive system.

Brands attract customers by using the word “natural”, but before buying, you must thoroughly read all the ingredients in the list of dog food. If all the mentioned ingredients are truly natural, then buy the food.

Otherwise, stick to food prepped at home and avoid going to the market.

3.     Know Puppy Food Allergies

If your puppy has itching, diarrhea, flatulence, and other similar symptoms, it means your pet is having some food allergy. Foods sometimes initiate food allergies in dogs.

In such cases, visit the vet to understand your dog’s food allergy and eliminate the specific ingredients that trigger those allergies. Most experts sometimes recommend an elimination diet as the most effective way to eliminate all the common allergens from the diet.

4.     Choose Food On The Basis Of Puppy Size/Breed

Choosing dog food based on the size of your puppy is a good step. For example, Rottweiler and Chihuahua puppies can not have the same food requirements.

Large breed puppy food requires a specific ratio of phosphorus and calcium so that their bones develop properly to help avoid joint disease. On the contrary, smaller breeds have a fast metabolism which means that they burn calories faster than large breeders. Therefore, select food that contains a high percentage of protein, calories, and fats per gram for small breeders.

5.     Prefer Grain-Free Food

Foods that are very high in carbohydrates sometimes become a hassle for the digestive system of many puppies. Over time, such foods may lead to food allergies, inflammation and other health issues.

Switching to a grain-free diet may lessen the possibility of the diseases and may significantly improve your dog’s health. Another option is to remove grains from your dog’s diet for two weeks and see the results.

If your puppy show enhanced energy and shining coats, then it means you are certainly on the right track.

6.     Prefer Feeding Trial Info

Another helpful tip while picking the best dog food from the vast array of options is to look at the feeding trial info. Foods that have undertaken feeding trials should be preferred.

A food product that has undergone trial and approval is safe for canine consumption. So, choosing the brand with feeding trial info is better than those without such information.