Best Puppy Food
How to Choose the Best Puppy Food
Feeding your new pet the very best puppy food available is important to their health. It gives your puppy a good start to a long, active life.
Start by learning to read the labels on all of the dog food you consider. There are certain ingredients you want to be sure are included and others that you will want to avoid. What is tolerable for an older dog could be harmful for your puppy.
You want to choose a puppy food that has an excellent source of protein in its ingredients list, preferably within the top five. Chicken meal is the choicest source, better even then chicken itself as the meal doesn’t contain any water. A second and still good choice is catfish, which also has essential oils. Protein is needed for your puppy to develop muscles and grow strong.
Steer clear of food that contains corn, gluten, soy or dairy. These are difficult for your puppy to digest and may cause them to develop allergies. Even if a food claims to be natural, pass it by if it contains any of those ingredients. They may be natural, but they can also be harmful.
The best puppy food never contains chemicals or preservatives. They are just as toxic to the canine body as they are to humans. Insist on no BHA, BHT or ethoxoquin for your puppy. Look for a food that has natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols, which help to extend shelf life but won’t shorten the life of your pet.
Commercial dog foods often contain by-products as well. These can be pretty much anything that originated from the named product. Such as chicken by-product might be any part of the chicken, including skin, lips, heads or intestines. It can also mean that it came from a diseased or dying chicken. That’s certainly not what you want to be feeding your puppy.
Some nutrients that you may want to check for are antioxidants and Omega 3 and 6 oils. Some dry puppy foods contain fruit as an antioxidant source and catfish, flaxseeds and eggs as a good source of Omega fats. Calcium and phosphorus are helpful to develop strong bones and teeth, while the inclusion of dietary fiber helps with your puppy’s digestive system.
Size and shape can also be a factor in choosing the best puppy food. When looking at dry food, choose one that is easy to handle, bite sized and small. You may want to moisten the food at first until your puppy can manage it completely dry. Always be sure to offer plenty of fresh water.
Pay attention to the manufacturing process that is behind your puppy food. Be sure there is good quality control in the company’s plant. Watch for any product recalls and be especially wary of those companies. Also be sure to check the expiry date on your bag. The food should be more than two weeks before the date, as a minimum. Fresher food often holds more nutrients. And brands with shorter expiry periods usually contain fewer preservatives.
Check the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for their nutritional profiles useful for dogs of all ages. Match your puppy food with those profiles from the very beginning and continue to do so for their entire lives. Be aware that the AAFCO doesn’t condemn the use of BHT, BHA and ethoxoquin, but you still don’t want any of them in your puppy food.
Be sure to take the time and investigate the best puppy food to feed your pet. This will lay the foundation for their growth and development and you don’t want to begin on the wrong foot. Check the ingredients, investigate the manufacturer and ensure the size and shape are manageable. Your puppy will thank you with love and affection for feeding them only the best.