When you bring home a new puppy, the first and most daunting task is figuring out what to feed them. The best kibble for puppies can be a difficult winner to choose. Not all dogs are alike, much like humans they prefer different things and on occasion can have allergies to certain ingredients. Hopefully, these things will help you when you are trying to decide what is the best kibble for puppies.
Best Kibble for Puppies
Consistency
One main thing to focus on when choosing the best kibble for puppies is consistency. Try and maintain the same food or at least stick to the same food “family” or brand when you are feeding a puppy. Chances are your new puppy has not been eating solid food for very long so if your breeder or shelter has been feeding your pup a quality kibble that you are comfortable with, continue feeding the same food whenever possible. After you do some research and choose the best kibble for your puppy try and stick with it unless they are having reactions or problems with the food. A lot of switching foods can be hard for puppies to adjust to and can even make them sick. As your puppy grows into an adult dog it can also be a good idea to stick with the same type of kibble and just transition them to the adult formula!
Grain Free vs. Non-Grain Free Formulas
There is a lot of research out there that supports both sides of this standard argument. Often when trying to decide what is the best kibble for puppies you will run into this dilemma; should I feed my puppy a grain free formula kibble? It can be a matter of choice for most pets. They are able to digest grain, it’s not the same process for dogs as it is for humans so that can be a common area of confusion. On the other hand, some pet owners believe that a non-grain formula will have more protein and healthy fats that support muscle health and growth. If you have a puppy who is allergic to grain this choice may already be made for you!
Related: High Quality Kibble: Grain Free, Gluten Free or Neither?
Quality
More than anything else it is important to feed your puppy a quality kibble. It can be tempting to feed them a cheaper kibble and think “well it is all pretty much the same” but that is not always true of less expensive kibble brands. Make sure you know where your puppy’s kibble is coming from; if it is coming from a country that does not regulate or monitor the production of such products it could have any kind of ingredients the manufacturer wants to put in, regardless of what is written on the bag. There is not a lot of monitoring of dog foods. Humans have all kinds of organizations looking out for them and protecting them from companies putting harmful substances in the food, dogs only have their owners. Be a protective pet owner and feed them only the kinds of kibble you trust and feel safe providing them.
Size
The last thing I will mention is that certain kibble is made specifically for certain sizes of dogs. Keep this in mind when choosing the best kibble for your dog. It can be a great benefit to feed your dog a kibble for large breeds if they fit in that category. Their growth and dietary needs are different from that of small dogs and feeding them a kibble to suit those needs can be a very smart move.
Always remember it is a very good idea to talk to your puppy’s veterinarian about kibble needs. They will be able to recommend a brand that they trust but they will also be able to help you identify specific nutritional needs for your puppy and their particular size.
I hope these tips help you to select the best kibble for puppies. Bringing home a new puppy can be exciting and exhausting but keeping these things in mind can help make choosing their food an easy process.
