Why your puppy needs the best puppy food?
Your puppy needs the best puppy food in order
To get essential nutrients
To have healthy digestion
To maintain a healthy weight
To achieve healthy brain development
To build immunity
Now let us discuss this in detail
1. To provide essential nutrients
Puppies have unique nutritional requirements that differ from those of adult dogs. They require higher amounts of essential nutrients like protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins than adult dogs. These nutrients are important for building strong bones, muscles, and tissues and for having a healthy immune system. Besides providing energy for growth and development, the food that you give your puppy determines his growth, development, and immunity. The right food makes them stronger and healthier. Hence, it is very important that you choose the right food for your puppy so that it meets its nutritional needs. Your puppy needs a well-balanced diet for proper growth.
2. To support healthy digestion
Puppies have a sensitive digestive system. Hence puppy food should contain easily digestible ingredients like animal proteins, rice, and sweet potatoes. Foods that contain artificial preservatives and additives should be avoided as they can upset a puppy’s digestive system. Avoid giving a grain-free diet, as the ingredients that go in place of grains may cause issues related to the puppy’s heart
3. To maintain a healthy weight
Obesity is a common problem in dogs. Excess weight will lead to a lot of health issues in dogs. A puppy should be given the right food in order to maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity. The food that we look for in a puppy should contain a balanced ratio of proteins, fat, and carbohydrates. This will support the healthy growth and development of the puppy without gaining excess weight.
4. To achieve healthy brain development
Proper nutrition is essential for puppies to have a fully developed brain as the brain is still developing. So its food contains essential fatty acids like DHA and EPA. These are essential for the cognitive development and brain functions of a puppy.
5. To build immunity
Puppies have a developing immune system. Feeding them with right food containing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like vitamin E, selenium, and zinc will help them build a good immune system.
While choosing the best puppy food. the main factors that have to be considered are the puppy’s age, size, breed, level of activity, any known allergies, diseases if any, palatability, and acceptability. Your puppy is put at risk of developmental bone problems if it is overfed. A breed-centered food may contain added nutrients to take care of individual concerns about the breed (ex. Hairy Dog)
THE BEST PUPPY FOOD SHOULD CONTAIN
Protein
Puppies need high-quality protein for the development of their bones, muscles, and tissues. Ideally, puppy food should contain at least 25% of protein.
Fat
Fat acts as an important source of energy for puppies. It also helps in the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Ensure that puppy food contains around 8 -10% of fat.
Carbohydrates
Puppies get energy and fiber from carbohydrates. Hence puppy food Should contain rice or potatoes as a source of carbohydrates. They are easily digestible too.
Vitamins
Puppy needs vitamins for the proper functioning of its body. Vitamins A, D, and E are particularly important for their growth and development.
Minerals
In order to get strong bones, teeth, and overall health, a puppy needs minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and zinc.
Omega 6 and Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Your puppy needs Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids for its brain development and to have a healthy coat and skin.
Homemade Food Vs. Branded Food
Nothing wrong if you choose to give homemade food to your puppy. But the catch is whether the food prepared by you at home meets all the nutritional requirements of your puppy based on the various factors discussed above. On the other hand, commercially made branded food is prepared by taking all factors into consideration. Moreover, they undergo regular rigorous testing and quality control to ensure that they meet all the regulations meant for a particular type of food. When you feed your puppy with branded food, then all its nutritional needs are met.
In case you choose to give homemade food to your puppy, then it is always recommended to consult your veterinarian before starting to ensure that it is balanced and meets all its nutritional needs.
Dry Food Vs. Wet Food Vs. Semi-Moist Food
Branded puppy food comes in 3 types, viz., Dry, Wet, and Semi-Moist food
Dry Puppy Food
It is the most common type of food. It comes mostly in the form of kibbles. Its shelf life is long, and it is easy to store and serve. It comes in wide varieties. They come in affordable price ranges. Dry food helps you to control your puppy’s food intake as it comes in measurable portions. Your puppy’s teeth are getting cleaned as the food has to be chewed. However, some puppies may not like the taste or texture of dry food. It can be less digestible than wet food.
Wet Puppy Food
Wet food consists of 70% to 80% moisture. It comes in cans and pouches. It is more expensive with lesser shorter life once opened. Wet food is the most preferred food for some puppies that are choosy with their food or having dental issues. Wet food is a good choice for your puppy’s stomach ailment, as wet food is easily digestible. Wet food may also lead to dental issues if the food is not a balanced diet.
Semi-Moist Puppy Food
Semi-Moist Food is a combination of dry and wet food. It comes with a moisture content of around 25% to 35%. It is easier to store and serve as it usually comes in small packets or bags. Semi-moist food is more convenient to handle, more palatable, and has longer shelf life when compared to wet food. However, it can be more expensive than dry food. It contains more additives and preservatives.
Dry food, in general, is a good option for most puppies. However, Wet and Semi-Moist food may be suitable for some puppies with special needs and preferences.
How to read a label on Puppy Food
Once you decide to give branded puppy food for your puppy, you must ensure that the food is appropriate and nutritious for your puppy. The label that is printed or pasted over the container will guide you in selecting the right product. Several points have to be considered while reading the label. The main points are:
1. Ingredients:
Ensure that the ingredients are of high quality and easily digestible. It should contain whole meat sources as the first ingredient, like chicken, lamb, or beef, and not by-products or meat meals. It should not contain fillers or artificial preservatives.
2. Nutritional value:
Check whether the food meets the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AFFCO) for puppy nutrition. This will ensure that the food contains an appropriate balance of essential nutrients like fat, protein, and other nutrients for your puppy.
3. Feeding guidelines:
The label should have clear feeding guidelines based on your puppy’s age and weight. This will protect your puppy from being overfed or underfed.
4. Guaranteed Analysis:
The label should have a guaranteed analysis of the food’s nutrient content. This will help us to compare different brands and varieties and to arrive at buying the right product.
The above checks will ensure that your puppy gets the right food in terms of its nutrient values and suitability