What is the best puppy food?
Just bought a puppy and wondering what is the best puppy food to give to your new pup? Is it better to feed my young puppy dry puppy food, raw meat, or moist meat? No matter what you decide, you should at least continue to feed your puppy the same food your breeder was giving them before you picked them up. In the next 3-4 days, you can begin introducing your new food to them.
To keep your dog healthy and happy, it is important to choose a food that is tailored to its specific breed. With so many different types of dog food on the market, it can be tricky to know which one is right for your pet. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the best wet puppy food in the UK. Keep reading to find the perfect food for your four-legged friend!
There are a few key things that you should understand about the food you intend to buy for your new puppy. These will help you to make the best decision, as well as give you some important information about the health and well-being of your puppy.
Nutrients. In comparison to an adult dog, puppies require twice as many calories per day. As well, they require a greater amount of calcium, protein, fat, and phosphorus. Each amount should be carefully balanced, as too much or too little can have adverse effects.
Ingredients. The British Veterinary Association's advice is that any commercially manufactured pet food in the UK that meets PFMA (Pet Food Manufacturing Association) guidelines would have complete nutritional requirements for pets. However, manufacturers don't have to use human-grade ingredients in their recipes. It is important to specify the meat content as things like chicken breast instead of meat derivatives. The meat is more nutritious and of higher quality as a result.
Wheat and grains can cause stomach upsets and bloat in some puppies, so some people feed their puppies wheat-free diets. Something to keep in mind when choosing your food.
Size. Dog food should be chosen based on the breed and size of your puppy. To combat things such as rapid growth, dog food for specific sizes of puppies is tailored to accommodate the nutritional requirements. Since large breeds can grow too fast, resulting in weaker bones and joints, the levels of nutrients in dog food are adjusted for the size of the dog and breed.
Wet or Dry? It's a personal choice, and this review focuses on wet food. It is beneficial for puppies to eat dry (kibble) food as it is good for their oral health. Our personal preference for our dogs is kibble mixed with a small amount of wet dog food to provide them with a balanced diet.
The easiest and most convenient choice is dry food in the form of kibble. In the early weeks, you can mix water with dry food to make a porridge-like mix that younger puppies prefer. Make sure to feed good quality food regardless of what you do.
Below are six brands that we have reviewed and are highly recommended for your puppy, we even fed our puppy one of them for over 6 months before moving on to adult food.
Read our review on the Best dry puppy food if you intend to add or prefer dry puppy food.
If your dog is coming up to 12 months of age, then read our Best Dog Food article.
Best Wet Puppy Food UK - Overview
Ratings # | Product Name | Key Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|  | |
 |
| | |
 |
| | |
 |
| | |
 |
| | |
 |
| |
Top 6 Best Wet Puppy Food
Founded over 50 years ago, Forthglade is proud to be a Devonshire-based company. Turkey is the number one ingredient in Forthglade's puppy recipe, which accounts for 75% of it.
Like many other brands in the last 12 months, Forthglade has tweaked the recipe and the nutritional value has dropped down to 82%. We rate this above Natures Harvest has Forthglade has a higher meat content. This nutrient-packed blend of ingredients is sure to please your four-legged friend, as it is wholesome, nourishing, and easy to digest. Gently steamed to retain the natural goodness of the ingredients, the turkey recipe is naturally low in fat and provides your puppy with everything they need to stay happy and healthy.
Protein-rich turkey is an easy-to-digest and highly palatable source of protein. It is 100% natural and packed with goodness, nutritionally balanced, and free from junk or fillers. In addition to the vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants found in the vegetables, the rest of the product contains vegetables.
There is also brown rice added, which is common in puppy food as a source of fibre. Among its natural nutrients are three B vitamins, iron, manganese, selenium, magnesium, and omega-3 oils. Supporting immunity and promoting healthy skin and coat are two benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
Added botanicals and herbs support the body's natural defences. A mineral supplement is added to improve nutrient absorption, while prebiotics support the growth of 'good' bacteria in the gut.
The recipe is easily digestible and a good source of dietary fibre which is important in maintaining intestinal health.
Key Ingredients - Turkey (75%), Sweet Potato (4%), Carrots (2%), Peas (2%), Minerals, Linseed Oil (0.5%), Herbs 0.12% (Camomile, Parsley, Rosemary, Nettle), Fructo-Oligosaccharide (0.05%), Glucosamine (50mg/kg), Chondroitin (50mg/kg), Yucca Extract (0.005%)
Type - Wheat free.
Suitable For - All breed sizes, from weaning to 12 months old
British-made Nature’s Harvest Original Puppy food recipe uses only the best, human-grade chicken which equates to a total of 65% of the recipe and is high in protein, vitamins and ‘good’ fats, cooked in a simple formula that won’t upset a puppy’s delicate and growing stomach. As well as brown rice for fibre, the recipe also contains naturally sourced supplements such as glucosamine & chondroitin for healthy bones & joints, vitamin C for cell growth, and yeast extract for immune support.
Chicken & brown rice is ideal for owners who want to provide their puppies with the best start in life. Those puppies with a dietary sensitivity to other meats or fish may also benefit from this recipe. It contains glucosamine & chondroitin to support proper joint function, as well as naturally rubbed herbs and vitamin C for antioxidant properties and yeast extract for supporting the immune system of young animals. Nature's Harvest Original Puppy contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Skin and coat health can also be enhanced by omega-3 and 6 fats.
All of the ingredients are then gently steamed, preserving all the goodness and flavour of the food.
There are no nasties in the recipe, such as fillers, flavourings, colours, or preservatives, which are often found in other pet foods. These can cause allergies in young dogs that lead to unnecessary health problems in later life and with a nutritional value of 82%, this is why we have rated this top of the list.
Key Ingredients -Chicken (65%), Brown Rice (6%), Salmon Oil (2.8%), Dried Carrots (1%), Minerals, Omega 6 (0.71%), Dried Herbs 0.5% (Parsley, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary), Omega 3 (0.05%), Glucosamine (0.004%), Chondroitin (0.002%), Yucca Extract (0.002%), Cranberry Extract (0.002%), Yeast Extract (0.001%)
Type - Wheat free.
Suitable For - All breed sizes from 2 to 12 months old.
Edgard & Copper puppy recipe contains 30% tasty duck, a great source of protein that helps build and maintain muscle mass. In addition, 26% of the ingredients are chicken, which is a lean, healthy meat full of immune-boosting protein. It does not have as high meat content as the first two but still has a nutritional value of 80%
This grain-free recipe is carefully designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies. The high-quality protein in it builds muscles and strengthens the body's immune system. For an extra nutritional boost, they add nutritious offal (like heart and liver) to the meat. Also, the recipe features a healthy mix of fruit and vegetables, plus nutritional herbs and botanicals. To seal in the flavour and goodness, it is gently steamed.
Key Ingredients - duck 30%, chicken 26%, minerals, carrots 2%, broccoli 1%, apples 1%, pumpkin 1%, peas 1%, salmon oil 0.5%, parsley 0.1%, dill 0.1%.
Type - Wheat free.
Suitable For - All breed sizes, from weaning to 12 months old.
Lillys Kitchen Organic trays are gentle, meaty and a complete recipe for your puppy, made from the best organic ingredients.
This naturally nutritious dinner contains a variety of organic meats - chicken, pork, beef - and organic fish to provide protein from a spectrum of sources, which makes a satisfying and nourishing dish for your puppy. The meat content has been reduced in the last 12 months though.
Additionally, the recipe is packed with natural ingredients fresh meat, freshly prepared vegetables and healthy herbs, plus carefully chosen vitamins and minerals.
As expected from Lily's brand, there no meat meal, no bone meal, and no rendered meat are in the recipe and neither are there any cheap fillers like wheat, corn or soya or any nasties. Comes with a nutritional rating of 79%, which is up there with the top 3.
Key Ingredients - Organic Chicken (28%), Organic Pork (12%) Organic Beef (10%), Organic Fish (7%), Organic Vegetables (Organic Carrots and Organic Peas), Vitamins & Chelated Minerals, Organic Spirulina, Herbs & Botanicals
Type - No dairy, soya or added wheat.
Suitable For - All breed sizes, from weaning to 12 months old.
Skinners Puppy & Junior Chicken & Garden Veg wet puppy dog food recipe is ideal all-round nutrition for puppies and young dogs.
This recipe contains 60% chicken and over 5% vegetables and is grain free to help pups with sensitivities. Additionally, this recipe for good for your dog contains vitamins A & D3, zinc, and iron and comes with a nutritional rating of 74%.
The food is designed with working dogs in mind, and it can complement the dry Skinner's dry working dog food if you have a fussy eater or prefer to add some dry content to the mix.
Key Ingredients - Chicken 60%, Carrot 2%, Potato 2%, Parsnip 1.5%, Dried Egg, Natural Ground Bone, Dried Seaweed
Type - Wheat-free recipe.
Suitable For - From weaning to 18 months
Harringtons puppy is a naturally happy and healthy puppy recipe and has loads of natural ingredients that provide all the wholesome nutrients and goodness to meet the needs of your growing puppy.
Made with 70% freshly prepared human-grade chicken, with salmon oil as a natural source of omega 3 to aid in your pup's cognitive development. The recipe contains no nasties. no surprises. just natural, wholesome goodness.
It's a nutritionally balanced meal for happy, healthy dogs, free from grain, dairy, soya, added wheat, artificial flavours and colours.
Key Ingredients - Chicken (70%), Vegetables 14% (Potato, Peas, Carrot), Vitamins & Minerals, Salmon Oil (0.4%), Dried Tomato (0.15%), Seaweed (0.08%), Green Lipped Mussel (0.05%), Chicory (0.05%), Parsley (0.05%), Basil (0.05%), Green Tea (0.01%), Rosemary (0.01%), Rosehip (0.01%)
Type - Free from grain, dairy, and soya
Suitable For - All breed sizes, from weaning to 12 months old
5 FAQ on Wet Puppy food.
1. What is the best wet puppy food for my specific breed?
The best wet puppy food for your specific breed can vary. It's essential to choose a reputable brand that offers breed-specific formulas or consult your veterinarian for recommendations tailored to your puppy's needs. They can consider factors like your pup's size, age, and any breed-related health concerns.
2. How do I transition my puppy from dry to wet food?
Transitioning your puppy's diet from dry to wet food should be done gradually over about a week. Start by mixing a small amount of wet food with the dry food and slowly increase the ratio of wet to dry food until your puppy is exclusively eating wet food. This gradual transition helps prevent digestive upset.
3. What are the key ingredients I should look for in the best wet puppy food?
Look for wet puppy foods that have a high-quality protein source (like chicken, turkey, or beef) as the first ingredient. Avoid artificial additives and fillers. Nutrient-rich ingredients like whole grains, vegetables, and essential fatty acids are also important for your puppy's growth and development.
4. How often should I feed my puppy with wet food, and what portion sizes are appropriate?
Puppies generally need to eat more frequently than adult dogs. You can start by feeding your puppy three to four meals a day, gradually reducing to two meals as they get older. Portion sizes should be determined based on your puppy's age, size, and activity level. Follow the guidelines on the food packaging or consult your vet for specific recommendations.
5. Are there any specific considerations for puppies with allergies or sensitivities when choosing wet food?
If your puppy has allergies or sensitivities, it's crucial to select a hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient wet puppy food. Avoid common allergens like wheat, soy, and certain protein sources. Discuss your puppy's specific needs with your veterinarian, who can recommend suitable options and monitor your pup's response to the chosen food.
Always keep in mind that individual puppies may have unique dietary requirements, so professional guidance from a veterinarian or a canine nutritionist can be invaluable when selecting the best wet puppy food for your furry friend.
Updated 03.04.2024
Commenti