Author Archive: Sherry Lemke

Finding the Best Puppy Foods

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puppiesFeeding your puppy with a well-balanced food is the best thing that you, as a pet owner, can possible do for the animal. The right food will keep the puppy’s hair coat sleek and shiny, strengthen its digestive system and help keep the puppy’s digestive system in good shape. However, when it comes to choosing the best dog food for puppies, the options seems to be quite endless making finding the best a daunting task. But don’t despair, this article will give you tips on just how to find the best dog food for your puppy.

Always know what is in the puppy food

The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) has established some guidelines on what a dog food company should include in their products. If a food is said to have a single ingredient, then it must contain a minimum of 95% of that ingredient, excluding water.

If the food has phrases like platter, dinner and entrée, then it must have at least 25% of the mentioned ingredient.

Ensure protein sources are very high in the ingredient list.

Go for foods that are rich in meat. Puppies are carnivorous and thrive well on a diet based on meat.

Other protein sources are crucial for your puppy’s health. It is for this reason that you should look for food sources at the top of the ingredient list. Meat and other protein sources should always be identified by species (for example, turkey, chicken or lamp). Avoid any source that uses identified formulas (such as turkey meal or chicken meal).

Look For Adequacy

You should always check the puppy food for a nutritional-adequacy statement. Puppies have different food needs than adult dogs. It is for this reason that you should always look for statements such as “the food is balanced and complete for all life stages” and “this food is balanced and complete for growth”.

Always consider the guaranteed analysis

This analysis lists the amount of fats and proteins by percentage as well as the maximum amount of moisture and fiber also by percentage. This analysis provides you with a measure of nutrients category but does not indicate the digestively or quality of the ingredients.

Always consult your vet for advice

Genetics, age, reproductive status and lifestyle all play a role in the type and amount of food your puppy should have. Ask your vet to perform a body condition evaluation to find out all about the dog.

You may also find that your puppy needs a little more or a little less than what the packaging suggests. This is so because some puppies needs some special foods for them to lose weight. Always ask your vet for a dietary suggestion.

Do your homework

You may not find information on quality or sourcing control during manufacturing on labels. However, you can find such information on the manufacturer’s website. If this is not the case, then you can decide to call the manufacturer’s customer relations

Go for a company that manufactures the foods in its facility rather than outsourcing. This is because such a company has better control and better food for your puppy.

Never leave anything to chance when looking for the best dog food for your puppy. Your efforts will result will be a happy and healthy pup for years to come.

Puppy Food

What is the best dog food for puppies?

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Puppies grow 20 times faster than adult dogs hence need a well-balanced diet for the major growth spurt. Puppy food can be; tinned, homemade, semi moist and dry complete diets.
There are certain growth foods given to puppies to support their constant growth. However, these foods should strictly be given at specific intervals otherwise their little stomachs will overstretch which is harmful to their health. At a tender age of below four months, puppies should be fed four times a day. The number of feeds reduces gradually as they grow.

A puppy requires 37 nutrients for proper growth. These include 10 amino acids, 12 minerals and 11 vitamins. However it is important to note that there are nutrients that you should be extra careful about to avoid putting the puppy in danger. The calcium, phosphorus and magnesium content in the dog food for puppies should neither be too high nor too low. If it is, the puppy is put at risk of developing bone problems.

Trying to check the dog food packages for individual nutrient content might be a daunting task. However, there is an easier way whereby the Association of America Feed Control Officials puts up a nutritional adequacy statement on the packaging for easy identification. This stamp of quality is only present in puppy food that is nutritionally balanced.

Puppies should strictly be fed on puppy food and not ordinary dog food. This is because puppies require certain nutrients in large quantities and others in lesser quantities. Therefore, feeding them with adult dog food might lead to malnutrition.

Before starting your puppy on any specific dog food, it is advisable to ask for advice from its breeder or a vet. If buying ready packed dry food, ensure that the age recommendation indicated on the pack matches your puppy’s age. This way, you are assured that the contents and food servings will give the puppy the necessary nutrients for proper growth and nutrition.

Apart from the dry foods, you can feed the puppy with some natural foods such as raw meat. Diced chunks of fresh lamb is an ideal choice. Never feed the puppy with cooked bones at a tender age as this might bring forth some deficiencies. It is fine for some puppies to feed on bones as long as they are raw. A vet is in a better position to advice on the type of puppies that are allowed to feed on raw bones and which ones aren’t. Human grade fresh raw meats is a better option as packed pet meats include preservatives that might pose danger to the puppy’s health.

Access to fresh grass is also important as puppies might eat them as a source of micro-nutrients and vegetable matter. Water should also be available at all times for the puppy. You might be advised to empty the puppy’s feeding bowl every now and then but there should be a constant supply of water available.

Foods To Avoid include; chocolate, onions, avocado, coffee, macadamia nuts, bread dough, grapes, sultanas, fruit stones, fatty trimmings, green tomatoes, cooked bones, mushrooms and very small piece of raw bones.

Taking the time to research and find the best dog food for puppies is something that will benefit your puppy for many years to come.

Dog Food, Puppy Food