Best Puppy Food For Medium Breeds

Best Wet Dog Food For Seniors

Wet foods offer a tasty option for senior dogs to continue receiving complete and balanced nutrition in their golden years and have several specific benefits for this age group. For example, senior dogs with advanced dental disease will have an easier time chewing and swallowing wet food than kibble.

Wet food’s high moisture content is good for senior dogs with urinary stones. “If a senior dog has recurring urinary stones, maximizing water intake by soaking kibble or replacing kibble with wet food may be ideal,” says Dr. Shepherd. The extra water intake will encourage urination, which helps reduce the risk of stone formation.

Wet food’s strong flavor and aroma can stimulate appetite in senior dogs that may feel lousy from a chronic illness, such as chronic kidney disease.

Shepherd advises dog owners to consider calorie count when feeding wet food to senior dogs. One cup of wet food has fewer calories than one cup of kibble, meaning that your dog would need to eat more wet food to maintain the proper calorie and nutrient intake. Fat content is also worth considering. “Compared with dry food, canned food tends to be higher in fat,” she adds. Not all senior dogs can tolerate a high-fat diet.

You may see various age designations on senior dog wet food labels, such as “mature adult,” “adult 7+,” or “senior.” As long as the food meets the AAFCO standards for maintenance , it will be nutritionally appropriate for your senior dog.

Our picks for senior wet dog food:

How To Set Healthy Food Habits For Your Pup

When it comes to food shopping for your puppy, opt for a high-quality commercial kibble thats specifically designed for its growing needs. Most brands list puppy breeds and size details on the packaging, making it easier to narrow down your options. But before you add your pups food to your cart, scan the back of the bag, box or can for an AAFCO seal of approval, which means it has been thoroughly researched and tested for nutritional adequacy. Large, commercial-grade companies employ full-time veterinarians, full-time Ph.D.s, and its their job to make sure their diet meets all your pets needs, says Dr. Fox.

If youre planning on introducing your puppy to table food, Dr. Fox warns its a complete no-no! I wouldnt recommend that as a normal diet, she says. Its not a complete and balanced diet, and its not something that should be used to feed your dog throughout its life because your dog will definitely be deprived of nutrients and vitamins it needs. Table food can also cause gastro-intestinal upsets and pancreatic issues that can inadvertently lead to toxicity over the course of your puppys life, so youre better off sticking with wet and dry food options from large pet food brands.

Which Foods Do Puppies Like Best

Your protein choices are usually chicken, fish, or beef, though youll also find everything from duck to venison puppy foods on pet store shelves. Does the flavor matter? Your puppy likely isnt too picky, though you can always try a few different kinds to find out what they prefer.

Chicken is often slightly less expensive than other types, while less common protein sources such as duck or bison tend to cost more. Salmon and other seafood flavors may contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil.

Whatever your protein ingredient, look for the protein source to be named specifically. You want real chicken, for instance, or salmon, rather than generic meat or meat by-products.

A note about protein meals: meat meal sometimes gets a bad rap among pet owners, conflated with unsavory byproducts.. However, a named protein meal is a high-quality, concentrated source of protein. Many of the best puppy foods include chicken meal or fish meal in their recipes.

Also Check: What To Do When Your Dog Won’t Eat Dog Food

Final Thoughts On 25 Best Puppy Dog Foods In 2022

Now that you know the best puppy foods on the market, it’s time to make a decision for your furry friend. Keep in mind that puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, so it’s important to find a food that is specifically tailored for their growing bodies.

If you’re still not sure which food is right for your puppy, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you choose a food that will meet your pup’s unique needs.

I Care What You Thing Feedback Please

The best puppy food recommendations depend on your ongoing feedback.

Many people contact me daily with feedback or consumer issues, and I do my best to keep track of that data.

This feedback is valuable to providing decent, reliable information on this website, and in turn help other pet owners like us.

Your feedback helps me adjust ratings on the reviews accordingly, and they do change over time.

In the past, sadly, highly rated brands have suffered formula changes, ingredient changes, or manufacturer changes, and shown a change in quality.

If youre aware of any problems let me know.

All reviews are independent and unbiased by myself. Im a qualified pet nutritionist, but given there are no qualifications in pet food marketing per se, most reviews simply analyse the ingredients and composition, often in reference to pet food standards.

Hopefully the reviews give you a good idea of what the ingredients really mean, and what they really say based on Australian Pet Food Standards AS 5812 and pet food marketing regulations.

Or in other words, tell you what the pet food companies dont tell you.

Pet Food Reviews is a free resource to you as a pet owner, but it takes up a great deal of time huge amounts over the past 10 or so years! If you decide to buy one of the best puppy foods based on the information on this page, then Id be super grateful if you use one of the affiliate links or Where to buy recommendations thank you!

Recommended Reading: When Do Puppies Start Eating Regular Dog Food

How Often And How Much To Feed

After weaning, and up until their first three months, puppies should eat four times a day. After that, and all the way until they reach six months of age, when they usually end their rapid growth phase, they should eat three times a day. From there, up to switching to an adult formula, they should eat twice a day.

How much to feed them depends on their breed and the caloric value of their food. If youre feeding a smaller breed with formulas that contain higher caloric densities, they may need less food in their bowl. The best way to be sure is to monitor their activity levels and weight, and if you notice changes, adjust the amount of food they get.

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food

Image courtesy Diamond Naturals

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food is made with real chicken as the first ingredient, and it’s enriched with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

This food also has a high protein content to help your puppy build lean muscle mass, and it’s made with ingredients that are easy to digest.

Recommended Reading: Corn Gluten Meal In Dog Food

How Much Should I Feed My Dog

Dog obesity is a growing concern in the veterinary community and has been linked to many health problems in dogs. Luckily for our pets, we are usually more disciplined about controlling their diets than we are about controlling our own. Knowing how much to feed your dog and what healthy dog weight looks like can be tricky. Many owners accidentally overfeed their pets, which is why it is important to take your dog in for regular checkups and to talk with your vet about appropriate portions. The guidelines on the back of the bag are just that guidelines. Some dogs may require more than the recommended amount, whereas others require much less. Activity level, time of year, nursing, illness, and more factors can all impact how much a dog needs to eat. Dog people will often advise that you should feed the dog thats in front of you instead of strictly adhering to dog food serving size guidelines that may or may not be exactly what your dog needs.

Different Styles Of Puppy Food

There are many styles of puppy food, from commercial dry foods to all out raw feeding. In this section well look at the different styles, with pros and cons.

Lets start with some handy bullet points:

• If feeding a dry or wet food, only feed a Puppy Formula or All Life Stages formula. If neither of these are on the packaging then the food will not contain the nutrition required for the puppy phase.
• Avoid cheap dry puppy food brands. The puppy phase is critical for the long term health of your dog. If you feed them a cheap food now it will likely cost you tenfold in years to come.
• Avoid anything with Wheat, Cereals, or Cereal By-Products. If a food is formulated with these ingredients then theyre not very healthy for your pup.
• Feed a variety! This is often overlooked as many continue to feed whatever the breeder suggested, or worse whatever the shelter fed the puppy. Feeding the same product continuously is never a good idea, although this is what most people believe is correct.
• Do not feed your puppy any of the foods listed further down on this page.

Recommended Reading: Why Do Dogs Like Dog Food

Best Puppy Food For Medium Breed The Winners

But these three has some more compitions too, Check out below List of Top 10 best puppy food for medium breed.

If you are ready to choose a new puppy food for medium breed, check out our recommendations for the best puppy food for medium breed. But if youd like to learn more about the various types of puppy food for medium breed available and how to choose the right one for you, read on.

Best Large Breed Puppy Food

In addition to meat, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, the recipe contains LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat. A balance of calcium and phosphorus also helps large breed puppies achieve optimal growth and development.

Highlights

• Made with deboned chicken and whole grains.
• Formulated for healthy muscle growth and bone development in large breed puppies.
• No corn, wheat or soy no poultry byproducts.
• Available in 15-and 30-pound bags.

Things to Consider

• One formula with chicken as the main ingredient.
• Its not grain-free.

Sample buyer review: I was using another high end dog food for my 3 fur babies and they liked it. My sisters dog passed away and she gave me his food, this Blue Buffalo. I gave it to my dogs and they loved it! Even my 17-year-old picky eater pounded it down. I highly recommend this. I have happy kids now.

Read Also: What Brand Of Dog Food Is Killing Dogs

When Is It Time To Switch A Large Breed Puppy To An Adult Food

Large breed puppies have a longer growth curve than their smaller canine counterparts, and therefore should remain on a growth-appropriate puppy diet for longer.

Depending on the breed, it is wise to keep your large breed puppy on a large breed puppy diet until they are approximately 18 months of age, while giant breeds can benefit from a large breed diet until upwards of 24 months of age.

When it comes to large and giant breed puppies, providing optimal nutrition and controlling growth are two of the most important considerations. By feeding your large breed puppy a quality diet specifically designed to support their unique nutritional needs, you can ensure they will be living their best life for the present and for the future.

About Brandon Forder

Brandon holds multiple certifications in pet nutrition and canine psychology. He has more than twenty-five years experience specializing in pet nutrition, behaviour, and healthy pet lifestyles. Brandon has a lifelong passion for helping people become great pet parents. He has written hundreds of informative pet-related articles for newspapers, magazines, web, and radio.

How Do I Know My Puppy Is Getting The Right Nutrition

Dont get too worried about whether your pup is getting a certain amount of, say, Vitamin E, calcium, or antioxidants because commercial pet food is heavily regulated. You can read more from the Pet Food Institute, which explains the complex regulatory process for pet foods. They explain that an ingredient cannot be used in pet food until it has been accepted by FDA and adopted by the Association of American Feed Officials.

If you purchase a pet food with a nutritional adequacy statement by AAFCO just look for that AAFCO logo on the bag! you can rest assured that your fur ball is getting the right vitamins and minerals. A pet food cannot be approved for sale commercially unless its formula includes essential nutrients for dogs.

You should also check for any current recalls. These happen from time to time due to ingredient or formula concerns.

Lets dive into our recommendations now. If youre looking for even more in-depth information on puppy food, have no fear jump ahead past the recommendations and youll find more answers to common questions about puppy nutrition and pet food guidelines.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no additional cost to you. We may earn commissions from Amazon or other vendors through these links. As an Amazon Associate, Pumpkin earns commissions from qualifying purchases.

You May Like: How Much Is Blue Buffalo Dog Food

Do I Need To Feed A Special Diet To My Large Breed Pup

Large breed puppies are more likely to develop joint and skeletal problems, which can worsen due to overfeeding. These dogs require controlled growth and thrive on food with higher calcium, fiber, and phosphorous levels. A large breed puppy should only be feed controlled calories and a balanced diet.

Best Weight Control Dog Food For Medium Breeds

Ideal for: Dogs with a little extra weight around the edges. Smart owners who understand the dangers of obesity in medium sized dog breeds.

Your fears are justified! Overweight dogs face many health problems, and dont live as long. Feeding your dog the right portion based on their needs is thus a big responsibility.

Health issues faced by obese medium sized dogs:

What do you think of the above? Pretty intense, wouldnt you say? Controlling your dogs diet is thus very important. Luckily there are conscientious dog food brands that make this responsibility easier. Heres one of our favorites:

Our Top Pick: Weight Management Gold Fromm Family Foods

Notable ingredients: Chicken, lean turkey liver, pearled barley, duck, lamb, whole egg, real Wisconsin cheese, L-carnitine.

Flavors: Special blend. Packaging: 5 lb, 15 lb, 33 lb.

Value: $2.72/lb

Caloric content: 1,584 | 3,484 | 341

Why we like it: Do you treat your medium dog like a prince or a princess? Is your royal dog evidently living a little too lavishly when it comes to food portions? A royal weight gain deserves an equally royal weight management and weight reduction counter move. In comes the Fromm Family brand . They have formulated a superb premium ingredient product that delivers your overweight medium breed valuable nutrients while assisting you in controlling the caloric intake.

Another great option:Royal Canine Size Health Nutrition Medium Weight Care

Recommended Reading: Can I Feed My Dog Two Different Foods

Top 15 Best Dry Puppy Foods

Dogs are often categorized by their size — small, medium, and large — and each size has its own nutritional needs.

Thats why most manufacturers produce foods that cater to the different physical and metabolic needs required by each dog size.

So in our guide, we have divided the top dry foods by these three sizes to help you find the most appropriate food for your growing pup.

How We Chose The Best Dog Food

In order to find the best dog food among so many options, we took a look at the following factors:

Product lines. We looked at a brands options for different ages, sizes, breeds and health concerns to see if consumers could find what they were looking for, regardless of their dogs circumstances.

Ingredients. We read through the ingredients list, comparing them to label standards set by the FDA and AAFCO, and third-party ingredient analysis.

Recalls. We searched the recalls for each brand during the past decade to gauge not only the quality of the products, but a companys transparency and its approach to solving the issues.

Price. We calculated prices per pound or ounce and compared them with competing products in the same category to determine their value. Naturally, recipes with whole meats versus recipes with meat meals may be costlier, but could offer higher value.

You May Like: Fresh Pet Dog Food Review

Best Puppy Food For Small Breeds

The formula, which includes chicken, kale, pumpkin, blueberries and oranges, was designed to provide the right balance of nutrients for small breed puppies. The nutrient-rich recipe also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin, coat, vision and brain health.

Highlights

• Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient.
• Formulated without corn, wheat, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.
• The combination of soluble and insoluble fibers support healthy digestion.
• Made in the USA by a family-owned company.
• AAFCO-certified as a complete and balanced food for puppies.
• Available in three sizes: 6-,18- and 40-pound bags.

Things to Consider

• Some ingredients are purchased from global sources.
• Its not a non-GMO or grain-free formula.

Sample buyer review:Our puppy is very active and had a rough life before we got him. He was dropping weight and needed something different. We tried 5 different kinds and this was the only one he gobbled down. It has small kibble and honestly even smells good, not like other food. Higher protein and fat content to maintain his weight.