Best Puppy Dog Food? Tips on How to Find the Best Puppy Dog Food!
Looking for the best puppy dog food? Well, here are a few tips to help you find the best!
1. Getting your puppy off to a good start nutritionally is very important so you need a food that has a good quality protein source. Look at the label and make sure that somewhere in the first 5 ingredients you can identify a protein like chicken meal or catfish meal. A protein meal is much more concentrated than just a plain protein like chicken. So choose a protein meal if at all possible.
2. DON’T buy a food that contains corn, wheat, glutens, dairy or soy. These are added to a food because they are cheap to produce and are an easy filler but, these are NOT good for your puppy.The truth is that they can cause allergies in your puppy and set them up for future health problems down the road.
3. As long as a dog food is high quality you do not need to feed a food specifically for puppies. The best puppy dog food is formulated according to the nutritional profiles of AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) for ALL stages of life.
4. Puppies need vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in their food just like we do. Good nutrition is essential to a puppy and what they receive in their first year can set the stage for their entire life. Ideally, it is wise to feed a quality dog food along with a nutritional supplement. Many dog food companies have nutritional systems or puppy starter kits that have everything you need to get your puppy off to a great start.
5. By products are something you should NOT feed your puppy! The best puppy dog food will contain NO by products. By products include things like chicken feet, intestines, etc. This is yucky stuff that you wouldn’t eat yourself so please make sure your puppy doesn’t! Dog food companies add this because it is a very cheap protein source. These by products can be very difficult for your puppy to digest, so read your labels carefully!
6. NO chemical preservatives! Please don’t give your puppy chemical preservatives. They are actually a “toxin” to the body. Foods with BHA, BHT and ethoxoquin should especially be avoided.
You owe it to your puppy to make sure you are giving them the best food possible. Remember, they are counting on you to make the best decision for them concerning their health and well being.
Did you know that puppies fed a high quality dog food live on average 5 or more years longer than puppies fed lesser-quality food?
Written by Candice Lee
