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With the various puppy food brands to choose from and while also taking into consideration the specific needs of each breed or lineage, most owners have met a dilemma as to which food should they buy for their puppy. A lot of essential aspects of feeding and the nutritional needs based on each phase of your puppy’s life also have to be considered before coming into a decision regarding the type of puppy food to give to your new canine friend.
Which food should I buy for my puppy? Here is another clue, puppyhood is the stage in which a puppy undergoes a rapid growth and development and it requires different levels of nutrients. Because they have special needs in nutrition, it is always best that your puppy only receives puppy food until he reaches the age of 1 year. A quality dry food would be, in general, the best food to feed your puppy since it strengthens your puppy’s teeth. However, the breed of your puppy has a great influence with what food is appropriate; each has its own dietary requirements. This is basically why most of the puppy food manufacturers produce a specific formula for certain breeds.
Although puppy food and adult food are not the same, it won’t hurt every once in a while to have adult dog food, but not very often. Different stages in a puppy’s life need different nutrients in order to stay healthy. Although puppy food isn’t considered more nutritious than adult dog food, it often has more calcium and has higher protein content than adult puppy food. Sometimes, the hardness and size of the kibbles would also matter. Other than that, there is no difference.
An ideal dog food mostly consists of ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product, animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), dried beet pulp, soybean oil, dried egg product. Whereas a higher quality dog food contains deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, ground brown rice, tomato pomace, rye flour, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin e), tomatoes, rice bran, deboned whitefish. A chat with a veterinarian, with a little help from the web, will help you understand thoroughly the needs of your puppy and the contents of the dog food of your choice.
When introducing your puppy to his new home for the first few days, it is a very good idea to feed him the same type and brand of dog food and follow same feeding schedule before you got him. When choosing a new brand of dog food, it is advisable to introduce the new dog food gradually by adding it to the previous brand your puppy has been used to. During feedings, it is not recommended to leave the food out so that your puppy can eat his food whenever he wants to. Feed your puppy on a specific time to have your puppy’s entire body on a set schedule. Provide food three times daily when he is under six months, then twice daily after six months. Always remember to also have water available immediately after feeding your puppy because he needs water and drinks in large quantities. A puppy can still survive after losing almost all of his body fat and half of his protein mass; but he would die if he loses 15% of his body water. The most important nutrient of all is water.
Which food should I buy for my puppy? Knowing the contents of the puppy foods you usually find in stores and the exact needs of your pet will help maintain the optimal condition of the new adorable member of your family.
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by Thierry Babinauex