A new puppy in the home is a beautiful experience. However, pet parents may describe the process as overwhelming, especially if they aren’t adequately prepared. That’s why you must consider what you’ll feed your fur baby before bringing them home.
Puppies need a healthy and balanced diet for healthy growth, development, and overall well-being.
There are numerous options on the market, and having diverse choices is great, but knowing which food is best for your pup can be challenging.
In this post, we’ll go through our top 4 picks for the best vet recommended puppy foods.
1. Purina One Natural, High Protein Dry Puppy Food +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula
This dry recipe contains DHA, an essential nutrient that supports cognitive development and vision.
It’s free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and offers numerous benefits that support your puppy’s growth and development.
Pros
- This formula is a high-protein dog food because its primary ingredient is real chicken. There’s about 30% protein to support muscle growth and development.
- Purina One is renowned for essential vitamins, minerals, and a balance of nutrients that support a puppy’s overall health and growth. There’s also DHA for healthy brain development.
- The dry food formula contains natural ingredients with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.
- The calcium content is enough to encourage healthy joints and puppy growth, while phosphorus supports strong bones and teeth.
- Purina One for puppies contains fiber for enhanced digestive health and healthy digestion.
- The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids provide beneficial nutrients for healthy skin and coat.
Cons
- Contains wheat, which isn’t a necessary nutritional addition for puppies.
- Contains caramel, which is not necessary for dogs.
Purina One Natural, High Protein Dry Puppy Food +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula contains other ingredients like fish oil, rice flour, glycerin, copper sulfate, and calcium pantothenate, among other beneficial nutrients. It’s suitable for puppies between zero to two years.
2. Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Dry Dog Food 2.5 lb
It’s a premium dry diet specifically formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of Yorkshire Terrier puppies.
Pros
- The formula is designed to meet the specific needs of Yorkshire Terrier puppies, like their small size and dental issues, which they are prone to.
- The Royal Canin Breed health nutrition for Yorkshire is a top-quality, moderately priced puppy food for Yorkshires. It is a high-quality source of easily digestible proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, which ensures that your pup gets all the nutrients to grow and develop properly.
- This canine growth formula includes prebiotics, rice flour, chicken fat, corn gluten meal, and trace minerals. There’s also a specially adapted kibble size to help encourage healthy digestion in puppies.
- The kibble size and shape control tartar and plaque and promote oral hygiene. This is designed to keep your puppy’s teeth healthy.
Cons
- Makes your puppy’s poop quite smelly.
- Not ideal for dogs with fish allergies.
- It’s a bit expensive.
3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Brown Rice
The ingredients include wholesome whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, manufactured with the right level of calcium and phosphorus to support strong bones. Blueberries and sweet potatoes supply a blend of antioxidants, which supports a puppy’s overall health. There are also no artificial flavors, preservatives, or flavors.
Pros
- Protein from chicken is the main ingredient in this food. It’s an excellent source of protein for growing puppies and helps them develop strong muscles.
- This classic, grain-inclusive product contains brown rice, barley, and oatmeal. These wholesome grains provide the carbohydrates and fiber that sustain puppy energy.
- This high-protein kibble does not contain any chicken by-product meat, which can contain low-quality protein and other undesirable ingredients.
- Blue Buffalo only uses natural preservatives, like mixed tocopherols, and does not add artificial colors or flavors to its foods.
- Blue Buffalo includes ample amounts of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin A, vitamin E, and calcium, which support pet growth.
Cons
- It easily sells out, making it hard to find sometimes.
- It’s available in only two flavors.
4. Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Indoor Puppy Dry Dog Food
Since small-breed puppies gain weight easily, this dog food has balanced calorie and protein levels to prevent excessive weight gain, maintaining the ideal weight.
Pros
- The crunchy kibble has been formulated for the jaws and teeth of small-breed puppies, so it’s easier for them to chew and eat.
- Royal Canin incorporates a blend of fibers that regulate digestion and encourage a healthy digestive system.
- There are enough antioxidants that encourage a robust immune system – this is especially important during the critical growth period of a puppy’s life.
- Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Indoor Puppy Dry Dog Food comes in a resealable bag that makes it easy to store and helps keep the food fresh.
Cons
- Contains wheat gluten.
- Ideal only for small breed puppies.
The Best Vet Recommended Puppy Foods
Choose the right dog food for your puppy to ensure adequate growth and development. Factors like high-quality ingredients, nutritional value, life stage, and brand reputation should influence your decision.
As a new pet parent, ensuring your furry friend gets the right nutrition is one of your top priorities.
Some of the best options recommended by veterinary nutritionists include:
Wet or Canned Food
Wet or canned food is great for puppies who are picky eaters or who have sensitive stomachs. It offers a moist texture that’s appealing to puppies, and hydrates them adequately to stay healthy.
Wet food often has a higher protein content than dry food, making it an excellent choice for growing puppies who need to build and repair muscle tissue.
Dry Food
Another popular option for puppy owners is dry food, because of the ease and convenience of storage.
It’s a crunchy kibble that keeps your puppy’s teeth clean, and you can leave it out in their bowl to eat throughout the day.
There are different forms of dry food, including kibble, mini-bites, and bites. This offers you access to the best choice for your puppy.
Homemade Diet
You can also make your puppy food at home. This is an excellent option for pet parents who want to have complete control over what their pup is eating.
This way, you can cater to your pup’s food allergies or sensitivities. However, working with your veterinarian ensures the homemade food you’re providing is nutritionally complete and balanced.
Raw Diet
A raw diet, also known as a “BARF” (“Bones and Raw Food,” or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet, is becoming increasingly popular among pet parents.
The diet may include raw meat, bones, and organs, and is intended to mimic the diet of wild dogs and wolves.
This diet also gives pups the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. However, we recommend you talk with an animal nutritionist before starting your pup on a raw food diet, because it may be challenging to ensure your pup gets all the necessary nutrients.
FAQs
1. What makes a dog food “veterinarian recommended”?
A veterinarian recommended dog food means it has been endorsed by a licensed veterinarian based on its ingredients, quality, and nutritional value.
The products must meet AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards for complete and balanced nutrition, and may also include additional nutrients and supplements to support specific health needs.
2. What ingredients should I look for in a vet-recommended dog food?
The ideal ingredients for a vet-recommended dog food are high-quality animal proteins, like chicken, lamb, or fish, and a balanced ratio of carbohydrates, fats, and fiber.
Fruits and vegetables, like sweet potatoes, carrots, and berries, can provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for skin and coat health, while probiotics can support digestive health.
Conclusion
If you want to see your puppy grow, feed it a balanced and nutritionally complete diet that meets its specific needs.
This is why vet recommended puppy foods are your best bet.
You may need to adjust a puppy’s food as it grows and matures. Stay in touch with your veterinarian through the process – a veterinarian can help determine the right type and amount of food to feed your pup after considering its age, breed, and activity level.