One of the most important parts of a dog’s life is the puppy phase. Their health as a puppy can set the stage for great health as an adult and can help them avoid some common health concerns. But to keep them healthy at this stage, it’s important to choose the right puppy food. Puppies have unique nutritional needs based on their age, breed, and how big they will get as an adult. At Earth Pets of Florida, we often recommend Fromm dog food for puppies – but why? Here are some things to consider about puppy food.
Breed Considerations
The first thing to consider for choosing quality puppy food is to consider the characteristics of their breed. For example, puppies that will grow into very large dogs, such as Great Danes, Labradors, Wolfhounds, and so on, should be fed dog food that is made for large breeds. This is because puppies of these breeds often need additional support for their joints and bones, because they have so much growing to do, and large breed puppy food is formulated with that in mind. Fromm dog food does feature a large breed puppy food in addition to a standard puppy food for medium and small dogs.
Weight Considerations
The next thing to keep in mind is that puppies should be fed only the calories they need, and nothing more. It isn’t good for puppies to carry extra weight, because it means they are more likely to be overweight as adults. Your puppy doesn’t need to be on a diet, and most puppy foods are higher in calories to meet a growing puppy’s needs for more energy. However, it’s best to choose a puppy food that you can feed your dog without exceeding 30 to 40 calories per pounds of their current weight every day. For example, the standard puppy version of Fromm dog food has 417 calories per cup, meaning that a full cup every day works great for a puppy between 10 and 13 pounds. A smaller dog should be fed a smaller amount.
What to Look for on the Label
Finally, be sure to look for food that is primarily made up of real meat protein, healthy fats, fiber, and vegetables. This is one of the reasons we love Fromm dog food – the first five ingredients are real meat, healthy fiber sources, and healthy sources of fatty acids for growing puppies.
Stop by our store in Gainesville to find the best food for your puppy.