Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing A Dog Food For Your Labrador
Beginning the search for the right dog food for your Lab can be overwhelming. The trick is not to over think it, as there are plenty of excellent quality foods out there, and there isnt a single correct or incorrect choice.
Here are a few things to consider when on the hunt for a food that suits your pooch.
The Cost Of Puppy Food
Some brands of food are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The cheaper brands may contain more fillers in the form of extra carbohydrates, usually made from grain. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem.
You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand.
Good Food Options For Your Puppy Are:
- Hill’s Science Diet has a puppy formula specifically for large breed puppies. This is a great option because this brand is known for including only the highest quality ingredients. It includes the right amount of protein, fiber, and other must-have ingredients for your growing pup.
- Another great dry food option for your puppy is Core Wellness dry food , the puppy formula. The protein content is 38 percent, which deboned chicken contributes to, and it has many vegetables included as well, like carrots and spinach. It has all the essential nutrients your Lab puppy needs, like zinc and iron.
- Blue Wilderness puppy food is a great option if you go the wet food route. It’s packed with meat and is grain-free, and deboned turkey is a key ingredient. Other important nutrients are DHA, which is a crucial fatty acid for Labs, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that contribute to your dog’s shiny coat.
A Lab puppy will reach adult size between the age of a year and 18 months. This is when it’s important to start introducing adult dog food.
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Best Dog Food For Small And Large Breeds
Small breed dogs and large breed dogs have different nutritional needs. Large breed dogs are more prone to musculoskeletal problems than smaller breeds, and so they often require large-breed dog food with different balances of certain nutrients to promote musculoskeletal health, especially as puppies. Small breed dogs, on the other hand, can choke on large-sized kibble and have their own nutritional requirements that can be accommodated with a small-breed dog food. Research your dogs breed to find out if there are any additional nutritional requirements you should be aware of.
Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Dog Food Blend
Brand: Taste of the Wild
Cost/Where To Buy: $48.99 on Chewy
Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Chicken Fat , Egg Product, Roasted Bison, Roasted Venison, Beef, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Potato Protein, Pea Protein, Ocean Fish Meal, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid. Contains A Source of Live , Naturally Occurring Microorganisms.
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Invaluable Puppy Feeding Tips
My best tip whenever you decide to change your dog food, make sure you come back here and read the review. You might be surprised at what trickery goes on with pet food marketing!
You can bookmark with CTRL + D and Alien Key + Alien Key on Macs.
When you read a review, make sure you read the comments too. The proof is in those whove fed a food.
Choosing the best puppy food is more about a little knowledge, and a little thought, so here are some invaluable puppy feeding tips to help you out:
Castor And Pollux Organix Chicken And Oatmeal Recipe
Brand: Castor and Pollux
Cost/Where To Buy: $73/18-lb. bag. Available from Chewy, Amazon, and PetCo.
Ingredients: Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Meal, Organic Oatmeal, Organic Barley, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Peas, Organic Chicken Fat, Organic Sunflower Seed Meal, Organic Sweet Potatoes, Organic Pea Protein, Natural Flavor, Organic Flaxseed, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Blueberries, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins , Choline Chloride, Minerals , Taurine, Organic Amarath, Mixed Tocopherols.
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Kibble And Labrador Puppies
Kibble is the most convenient puppy food that you can find.
This comes ready-made in a packet in form of food pellets. They store really well and you dont really need to worry about them going bad for a long time.
Even though there are a lot many options, this is probably the one thatd be recommended by most of the vets and dog owners.
Best Puppy Food Of 2022
You wouldnt choose a collar, bed or squeak toys for your puppy that are meant for a much larger adult dog, right? Your dog food shouldnt be formulated for adult dogs either.
Puppy foods were formulated to ensure that puppies ranging from diminutive Dachshunds to giant Great Danes receive the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to grow from small, wriggling puppies into healthy adults.
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Feeding Your Labrador Puppy On Kibble
In most parts of the world, you can buy ready-made puppy food made into pellets. Kibble stores well provided that you dont get the food become damp. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality.
Most vets and breeders believe that kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador puppy. As a result, you are likely to get plenty of support from your vet if you decide to feed your puppy on dry food.
A good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. It will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems.
What happens if you choose feeding your Labrador puppy dry food? Can you give it other types as well?
Labrador Retriever Homemade Food Recipes
We have compiled our favorite homemade dog food recipes for labrador retrievers to share with you. We also threw in a yummy homemade treat for your Labrador because why not!
Weve also added a special treat recipe for Cavaliers that is not only delightful and tasty, but its packed with awesome health benefits. We kid you not this recipe can do a lot for your pups health and wellness. It has our favorite secret ingredient, dog CBD oil.
Note: Please consult with your pets veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your dogs diet. The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and health of your dog. A common recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.
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Pedigree Complete Nutrition Puppy Dog Food
The PEDIGREE Complete Nutrition Puppy Dry Dog Food is made to help your puppy keep up with the other, older dogs. It contains DHA for strong and healthy bones and teeth and healthy brain development. Your dog will love the chicken and vegetable flavor.
It is also crunchy, which is another reason why dogs love it. If your puppy finds the chunks a little too hard, you can drizzle some water over it to make it more manageable in texture for your puppy.
Aside from being able to curb stomach and digestive system problems, this dog food is increasingly popular because of its ideal pricing. While sold at between $25 $27 in stores, it is sold for around $20 online, which makes it a more economical choice for Lab puppy owners.
The PEDIGREE Complete Nutrition Puppy Dry Dog Food contains all the nutrition that your Lab puppy needs, so all you need to give him to complement his diet is water. Other than that, all vitamins, minerals, and nutrients are provided within this dry dog food.
It has been said to help many puppies get their immune and digestive systems back again. Puppies that are prone to diarrhea can eat this puppy food and regain a better consistency of stools and also enjoy an increasingly better immune system.
| split over 2 meals |
Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Formula
This recipe from Taste of the Wild is ideal if you want to mix up your dogs diet and give them some novel proteins. It contains buffalo as its first ingredient, and then it has its protein levels topped up with lamb meal, chicken meal, chicken fat roasted bison, roasted venison, and beef.
While this adds a lot of great variation to your dogs diet and results in a recipe high in protein and also full of healthy fats, it wont help if you are trying to avoid giving your dog chicken to avoid them picking up an allergy. We think one of the few things that could have made the recipe better would have been to skip the chicken.
This great recipe is a grain-free formula and contains lots of added vitamins and antioxidants to ensure your pups health. A proprietary K9 strain probiotic blend to support digestive health is also included.
Despite how much goodness there is in this recipe, it is calorie efficient and relatively affordable, making it a great choice for both your dog and your wallet.
Pros:
- Contains chicken
Add some variation to your dogs diet with this affordable novel protein food from Taste of the Wild.
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Why Kibble Over Other Foods
In the previous section, I told you that there are a few puppy food alternatives available. Now, Ill talk about the reasons why people like to choose kibble over them all.
Lets go over that, shall we?
Kibble contains the correct amount of nutrients and the right balance of them all, which is something that you cant find in other foods
If you stick to the right brand and read the labels right, Kibble contains good quality ingredients
Another advantage of picking kibble is that it helps keep your doggys teeth strong and also has a cleaning effect on them!
The owners love the fact that kibble is easier to store as opposed to wet dog food. All you need to do is to put it in an airtight container and youre good to go!
Kibble isnt very perishable like wet and canned foods are and in comparison lasts longer than them
Finally, dog owners feel that kibble is more cost-efficient than canned food
So, the choice is yours.
But, I do recommend kibble as well
Best Dog Foods For Labradors
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Owning a Labrador means paying close attention to the health and happiness of your dog. A big part of comprehensive care for dogs is ensuring they have a well-balanced diet. It’s hard to know which type of food to purchase with all the options out there, and differing opinions exist on whether to feed your Lab dry food, wet food, grain-free food, etc.
One key point to consider when looking for Lab food is the food quality. In addition to meat, dogs also need vegetables, grains, and fruits in their diet to receive all necessary vitamins and minerals. Often, buying dog food at a pet store will give you many more high-quality options than buying it at a supermarket. Look at the food label for detailed information about where the food comes from, the name of the product, its weight, the ingredients list, and the feeding guidelines.
Buying the right food for your dog starts by honing in on the Labrador’s specific needs as a breed. The good news is that dog food manufacturers make food specifically for different sizes and breeds of dogs,making your job a little simpler. Always be on the lookout for foods that are specific to large dog breeds.
Here’s what you need to know about feeding your Lab at different life stages and the best types of food out there.
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How To Choose The Best Puppy Food For Labs
There are a variety of different factors to look at when deciding on the best puppy food for your lab. Some of the main things to look at are the ingredients, dog size listed on the food, breed-specific elements, and price. Every dog is different, and each dog requires a different type of puppy food.
Out of these factors, ingredients are the most important thing to consider. High protein content is a must. Protein will assist in the rapid growth of your puppy and helps them build strong and lean muscle. Other ingredients like healthy fats, carbohydrates, and some vegetables are essential to the growth of your lab puppy. Be sure the formula you choose also contains Chondroitin and Glucosamine.
The size of your dog or dog breed can determine which type of food you choose. If you own a labrador puppy, look for dog foods specifically for large breed puppies or lab puppies. Keep in mind that the more targeted the food you choose is, the more it is likely to cost. Youll need to weigh the pros and cons of buying a lab-specific food over just a large breed formula.
Price can be a determining factor in the puppy food you choose for your lab as well. Although some products reflect the price, others will contain the same ingredients but cost more. Dont let price alone lead your decision but be sure to stay within your budget. We all want only the best for our fur friends, but finances can be limiting.
What To Look For In A Dog Food For Labs
A study featured in the Journal of Nutrition found that labs who were overweight and those who ate high-fat diets were much more likely to develop elbow arthritis.
When looking for a food for your lab, it is important to find one with a lower than average fat content. Labs, especially those with voracious appetites, will do best on a diet with between 5% and 10% fat.
Because labs and other dogs evolved on diets made up of animal protein with some fibrous plant matter, they tend not to do well on high carb diets. Carb-heavy diets can also lead to weight gain.
To assure a healthy carb and starch level, look for foods with higher than average protein amounts. Diets with around 25% protein or more are optimal.
In addition to keeping your dog at a healthy weight, you also want to assure your food has quality ingredients to keep them at their best. Look for foods with animal proteins as the first few ingredients.
Do avoid foods with unnamed animal proteins such as animal digest and animal by-product meal. These ingredients are unfit for human consumption and are often very low in nutrients and can even contain chemicals like pentobarbital.
Because labs are prone to skin and food allergies, you may want to look for foods that are grain free or at least do not contain corn or wheat. Rice and oatmeal are good alternative grains that most dogs can handle well.
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Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy
Large-breed specific puppy foods are a great safeguard to help prevent these issues.
When it comes to recommending the best dog food for Labrador Retrievers that are under 15 months of age, I tell pet parents to look for Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy.
Royal Canin has done all the legwork for us in creating their Labrador retriever-specific puppy food.
Labradors are a more slowly maturing breed, and it is recommended to feed this puppy food until 15 months of age.
The calorie content and mineral balance are optimal for preventing developmental orthopedic diseases.
Labradors also are notorious for not chewing their food properly. In the veterinary field, we call it hoovering.
This Royal Canin kibble is specifically designed for optimal digestion in dogs that dont chew their food.
What Is The Best Dog Food For Labs
While there are many great large breed and weight management formulas out there that are great for labs, we selected Canidae Grain Free Weight Management formula as the best dog food for labs. It outranked all others by having optimal protein and fat content for labs needs and quality ingredients.
We believe this food would do the average labrador retriever well by keeping their weight down and providing quality animal ingredients for health and longevity. It also contains glucosamine to help keep your labs joints healthy and reduce the risk of hip and elbow dysplasia and other joint diseases.
While this food may cost you more than others on the list, it is well worth it. And your lab will certainly thank you for it.
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Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy
- Grain-free formula.
This high protein recipe contains Chicken, Chicken meal and fish meal, so his muscles have all they need to grow lean and strong. This recipe is grain free too, which is perfect for those Labradors with a sensitive stomach or grain intolerances.
Blueberries and cranberries provide him with the antioxidants he needs for a healthy oxidative state, and peas, carrots and sweet potatoes provide him with fiber for a healthy gut and fuller tummy.
We love that this recipe contains Blue Buffalos exclusive LifeSource Bits, which are a precise blend of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that he needs for his fast-growing bones and developing immune system.