What is the best puppy food?
Introduction: Discover the optimal choice for your new pup. Is dry puppy food, raw meat, or wet meat the better option? Regardless, ensuring a smooth transition from your breeder's food is crucial. In this comprehensive review, we explore the world of puppy nutrition and reveal the top 5 brands of the best puppy food in the USA. Get ready to make an informed decision that prioritizes your furry friend's well-being. Content: When it comes to feeding your puppy, you have various options. Dry food, commonly known as kibble, stands out as the easiest and most convenient choice. For young puppies, mixing water with dry food to create a porridge-like mix can be appealing. However, remember that feeding good quality food should always be your priority.
Kibble comes in different sizes, with specific brands catering to small, medium, and large breeds. Choosing the correct type of food based on your dog's size is crucial. It's essential to establish regular feeding intervals and follow the manufacturer's guidelines provided on the packaging. If you have any doubts, consult your veterinarian for expert advice.
There are many good brands out there and it can be a minefield, which one to choose for your puppy. Pet food in the US is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but there is no requirement that pet food products have pre-market approval by the FDA. But FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food.
Additionally, there is a non-profit organisation called the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which helps set standards for animal feed and pet foods. Remember to carefully read labels, select food based on your pet's breed, age, and health, and adhere to the manufacturer's feeding guidelines.
Apart from nutritional considerations, convenience also plays a role. Dry food is convenient to store around the home and reduces wastage and costs compared to raw and wet food. When it comes to selecting a brand, you may wonder whether to opt for a big brand, stick with the breeder's recommendation, or explore smaller brands. Dry puppy food can fulfil your puppy's nutritional requirements, and there are several brands with high nutritional ratings. We have highlighted the key ingredients that make these brands stand out.
Below, we present the top 5 brands that we have thoroughly reviewed and highly recommend for your puppy. If your dog is approaching 12 months of age, be sure to read our Best Dog Food article as well. Remember to consider crucial factors such as age, size, and ingredients when choosing the right dog food for your furry companion.
If you decide to switch to a new food, whether it's a different brand or a transition from puppy food to adult food, it's important to do so gradually. Follow this guideline over a period of 7 to 10 days: Day 1-3: Mix 75% old food with 25% new food. Days 4-6: 50/50 mix. Days 7-9: 75% new food, 25% old food. After 10 days, continue with the new food only. This gradual transition helps prevent digestive issues and ensures a smooth change in your puppy's diet.
Best brands of puppy food USA
There is no doubt that Orijen dog foods are among the finest on the market. Our team has liked and recommended this brand for several years, and it's proudly made in the US.
Each Orijen brand always starts with fresh or raw animal ingredients: meat, fish, poultry, whole fish, and organs. The product contains 85% premium animal ingredients and is packed with whole prey nutrition.
The freeze-dried coating provides your puppy with maximum nourishment from ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food. Puppies thrive on a biologically appropriate diet that's packed with protein and fats from a variety of animal sources.
The kibble size and ingredients are ideal for all dog sizes. In terms of quality, this isn't the cheapest puppy food, but it is worth the price.
Key Ingredients - Chicken, Turkey, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Flounder, Whole Mackerel, Eggs, Chicken Liver, Whole Herring, Dehydrated Chicken, Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Mackerel, Dehydrated Chicken Liver, Dehydrated Egg, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Peas, Chicken Fat, Lentil Fiber, Pollock Oil, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Navy Beans, Natural Chicken Flavor, Whole Chickpeas
Type - Wheat free.
Suitable For - All breed sizes.
Wellness Complete Puppy food is made in the USA using only the finest globally sourced ingredients and is chicken and salmon flavours.
Your growing pup will benefit from this natural dry food, which provides complete nutrition for his entire body. In addition to premium proteins and whole grains, it contains omega fatty acids, essential vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, and probiotics.
With this balanced, healthy dry dog food, your dog will have healthy brain development, optimised energy levels, healthy skin and a lustrous coat.
The kibble size is not too large and is suitable for all dog sizes.
Key Ingredients - Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas, Chicken Fat, Salmon Meal, Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Tomatoes, Carrots, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Spinach, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate
Type - Contains no corn, wheat or soy.
Suitable For - Suitable for all puppy bread and sizes
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula was developed and made in the USA to help dogs stay healthy and happy.
LifeSource Bits, a precise blend of nutrients enriched with antioxidants and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, are added to all formulas. These ingredients include real meat, no poultry by-product meals, whole grains and garden vegetables and fruit.
Special "puppy-sized" kibble promotes tartar removal and provides calcium, phosphorus, and essential vitamins for strong bones and teeth.
Due to puppyhood being such a crucial stage, this recipe features ingredients that support healthy growth and development as well as delicious and protein-rich deboned chicken.
Key Ingredients - Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Flaxseed (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Pea Protein, Fish Oil (source of ARA-Arachidonic Acid and DHA- Docosahexaenoic Acid), Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Direct Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Chicory Root, Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots.
Type - Contains no corn, wheat or soy.
Suitable For - Suitable for all puppy bread and sizes
With so much packed into every bite, Purina Pro Plan Brand Puppy Dog Food is made in the US specifically for puppies under one year old.
With wholesome ingredients and 100% complete and balanced nutrition, this Chicken and Rice Formula provides your puppy with the outstanding nutrition they need and the taste they crave.
It provides optimal nutrition delivery and contains no artificial colours or flavours to meet your high expectations. In addition, this chicken and rice dog food is sized just right for their mouth and teeth with its tempting pieces of hard kibble and tender shreds. Fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids nourishes his brain and vision, while antioxidants support the immune system as it develops.
For your puppy's health, the puppy food contains live probiotics to support digestive and immune health, while minerals like phosphorus and calcium help your pup's teeth and bones grow strong.
Key Ingredients - Chicken, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Germ Meal, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Dried Yeast, Glycerin, Fish Meal, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Soybean Oil,
Type - Made using grain
Suitable For - Suitable for all puppy bread and sizes
With Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, your puppy will be nourished with a balanced, grain-free diet nature intended!
The product is made with novel proteins, including roasted bison and venison, and contains a high level of protein (28%), which helps support bones, joints, and lean muscles. Besides providing high-digestible energy, it also contains natural antioxidants from real fruits and vegetables, and dried chicory root for healthy digestion and prebiotic support. For complete and balanced nutrition with a taste of the wild, essential minerals are chelated with amino acids for maximum absorption and benefit.
This product is made in the USA by a family-owned brand that uses quality ingredients from trusted domestic and international sources.
Key Ingredients - Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Product, Pea Protein, Peas, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Roasted Bison, Roasted Venison, Beef, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Ocean Fish Meal, Salmon Oil (A Source Of Dha), Salt, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries
Type - Grain free.
Suitable For - Suitable for all puppy bread and sizes
Now you have found your choice of food, why not store it in a container and keep it dry. This plastic storage container will hold up to 35lb of dry kibble and has a scoop to help you dispense your food.
Updated 30/07/2023
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