Pet owners want to guarantee that their puppies have a good start, which involves training, regular checkups, and high-quality food. However, standard adult dog food is not suitable for our young and developing furry companions.
In order to support their development, puppies require quality nutrition as they go through various changes. Fatty acids such as DHA are crucial for the development of a puppy’s brain, while high protein and fat content in their food is necessary to fuel their growing bodies.
Regrettably, there is a lack of uniformity among puppy foods, making it challenging to determine the best option from the wide range available in the market.
If you’re unsure about what to feed your puppy, this is the perfect guide for you. We will cover what to consider and what to avoid when selecting puppy foods, as well as provide a list of our recommended brands. It’s important to remember that there is no universal pet food that suits every dog, as each dog has its own distinct nutritional needs and sensitivities. Therefore, the best dog food for your pet should fulfill their specific dietary requirements while also accommodating your budget.
Nom Nom
If you’re looking for top-quality dog food for your beloved pet, consider checking out Nom Nom. It is among the healthiest dog foods available and can be conveniently delivered to your home.
This dog food subscription plan, developed by vets, utilizes an uncomplicated survey to establish a personalized nutrition plan for their canine clientele. By providing your pet’s age, weight, breed, and nutrition objectives, you can ascertain the most suitable food plan for them. Although a bit costly, Nom Nom also provides half-portion subscriptions to enhance your pet’s regular diet and multi-pet discounts to assist in saving money.
Nom Nom’s website states that the price of the plans vary based on your dog’s age, weight, and activity level, with prices starting from $1.57 per meal. Each plan is customized to cater to your dog’s specific health requirements.
In order to estimate the cost, we set up a profile for a 65-pound Labrador. The least expensive option, chicken cuisine, came out to be $220.62 for a two-week supply of complete meals. Additionally, we generated a simulated profile for a 14-pound Pomeranian, which resulted in a cost of $76.04 for two weeks’ worth of full meals.
- Flexible plans can be tailored to help your pet gain or lose weight
- Suitable for all life stages
- Money-back guarantee
Raised Right Puppy Growth Recipe
In 2019, Raised Right, a human-grade fresh food brand, was awarded the Innovation Award for Nutrition due to its vet-developed, limited-ingredient, home-style recipes that provide premium nutrition for both puppies and adult dogs. Additionally, this brand adheres to AAFCO nutrition guidelines without utilizing synthetic vitamins or minerals.
This food contains cod liver oil, which naturally provides omega-3 fatty acids essential for brain development. It also includes muscle and organ meats to enhance protein and mineral content. Additionally, the website provides a 4-pound sample pack for you to test prior to purchasing.
This brand is personally recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, a member of Wag!”s licensed veterinary team. She suggests Raised Right because they provide dog food made of whole foods without any fillers or synthetic additives like vitamin and mineral powders. Additionally, their ingredients can be traced back to the source and each batch undergoes safety testing.
Raised Right dog food flavors
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Beef
- Available online and in select physical pet stores
- Certified as plastic- and carbon-neutral
- Lower carb formula
Farmina N&D Puppy Food
Developed according to the nutrition guidelines set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), Farmina N& D puppy food is a kibble with a low glycemic index.
Farmina easily secures its spot on our list of the top 5 best puppy foods due to the fact that real meat is consistently the foremost ingredient in its formula, and it does not include empty-calorie fillers, artificial preservatives, or dyes.
Farmina N&D puppy food flavors
Farmina N&D puppy food is available in different flavors and options to cater to the needs of puppies of various sizes and dietary requirements. It offers wet and dry foods in 5 product lines, which include recipes specifically designed for small and large dogs.
VetLife is a specialized line designed for puppies with specific health conditions, which can only be obtained with a prescription.
Prime is a range of Farmina products that puts emphasis on high-quality ingredients and animal protein in various recipes, while also being grain-free.
Pumpkin: A collection of recipes without grains, rich in fiber, and highlighting a good amount of animal protein, while also including pumpkin as the key ingredient, as implied by the name.
Quinoa is an ancient grain that is gluten-free and has antioxidant properties. It is used as the main ingredient in a line of recipes that are low-glycemic and protein-based.
Ancestral Grain is produced by combining animal proteins with ancient grains, such as spelt and oats, to formulate a low-glycemic index formula that ensures pets stay satiated and invigorated.
Farmina’s foods include various protein sources such as cod, chicken, and lamb. Certain foods consist of grains like oats and spelt, which may be more gentle on your pup’s sensitive stomach. Additionally, pumpkin, blueberries, and pomegranate are included in many of Farmina’s foods. These ingredients aid in digestion and provide the necessary nutrients for your fur-baby to develop into a healthy and strong individual.
- Limited ingredient lists with no artificial flavors, dyes, or preservatives
- Low glycemic index formula
- Available in select pet stores
Orijen Amazing Grains Dry Puppy Food
The human-grade ingredients and pet-approved flavor of Orijen puppy food have received numerous glowing 5-star reviews from customers.
The first 10 ingredients of this food are animal proteins, such as Atlantic mackerel and deboned turkey, which make it a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Orijen dry puppy food is available in 4.5-pound, 13-pound, and 25-pound bags and is made with grain-free recipes.
Orijen puppy food flavors and variations
- ORIJEN Amazing Grains, Puppy Large
- ORIJEN Amazing Grains, Puppy
- ORIJEN Puppy Large* (grain-free)
- ORIJEN Puppy* (grain-free)
Before offering your puppy a grain-free diet, it is advisable to seek guidance from your veterinarian.
- “Wholeprey” recipes that comprise organ meat, muscle, and bones for maximum vitamin and mineral content
- Natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids
- Made in the USA
Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Puppy Formula
There is a good reason why Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular whole-prey dog foods on the market; the company has successfully combined quality ingredients with affordable prices.
Dr. Jeremiah personally recommends Taste of the Wild, which is another brand. Taste of the Wild provides both wet and dry dog and cat foods suitable for all life stages. These foods include species-specific probiotics, antioxidants obtained from ancient grains, fruits, and seeds, as well as omega fatty acids.
At present, Taste of the Wild only offers grain-free options for puppies, while the majority of their recipes are grain-free. However, they have extended their range to include grain-inclusive formulas for adult dogs, such as the Ancient Grain line.
There are various flavors available, including:
- High Prairie (buffalo, venison, beef, and chicken)
- Pacific Stream (salmon, ocean fish)
- The Pacific Stream flavor is formulated without poultry products making it a safe choice for dogs with poultry allergies. (The High Prairie flavor is NOT poultry-free.)
- Contains probiotics to help with gut health and digestion
- Available at most pet stores
What we’re looking for
Dr. Karie Anne Johnson, a mobile veterinarian and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit, explains that she is often asked about the best food to feed puppies. She and other veterinarians we interviewed all suggest selecting puppy food that has undergone extensive research and testing to ensure it meets the nutritional requirements set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). They all confirm that the puppy food we recommend below not only meets but surpasses AAFCO standards.
If you have other dogs at home, it may seem acceptable to feed both your adult dogs and your puppy the same food. However, Dr. Jamie Richardson, chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary in NYC, states that puppies have different dietary needs compared to adult dogs. They require higher amounts of protein and specific vitamins and minerals. Therefore, Richardson advises feeding them a puppy-specific formulation until they reach skeletal maturity. This typically occurs around one year for small- and medium-breed dogs or between 14 and 18 months for large- and giant-breed dogs. Despite the availability of numerous puppy-specific food brands, Richardson suggests selecting a food that explicitly states it meets the nutritional profiles for growth or all life stages. Additionally, veterinarian Dr. Shelly Zacharias, vice-president of medical affairs for Gallant, notes that all good puppy foods should include some type of grain. This is because grain-free diets have been associated with a higher risk of dilated cardiomyopathy, particularly in large-breed dogs. The dog foods listed below have all been recommended by veterinarians for growing puppies.
Zacharias emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients in pet food. He specifically mentions that the ingredients should specify the exact type of meat used, rather than using vague terms like “meat” or “meat by-products.” Additionally, the ingredients should not contain white flour, preservatives like BHA or BHT, propylene glycol, or rendered fat. If you consider your dog to be a family member rather than just a pet, you may prefer to feed them minimally processed food that resembles your own dinner rather than traditional kibble or wet food. Richardson notes that an increasing number of pet owners are interested in human-grade or fresh pet foods. While the definition may vary slightly depending on the brand, fresh pet food is generally minimally processed, free of preservatives, and gently cooked to retain nutrients and decrease the risk of harmful bacteria often found in raw diets. These foods usually come frozen and require thawing before each meal.
Large- and giant-breed puppies such as malamutes, Great Danes, German shepherds, and Saint Bernards have distinct dietary requirements compared to smaller breeds like Yorkshire terriers or dachshunds. Dr. Leslie Brooks, a veterinarian advisor at Betterpet, recommends that large-breed puppies should consume food specifically designed for their needs, labeled as “large-breed puppies.” This food is formulated to regulate the mineral and calorie content, preventing excessive growth and the development of bone or joint issues as they mature.
In terms of small and toy dog breeds, Richardson states that the primary distinction in their food is that it is manufactured in smaller pieces. This is because small dogs have smaller mouths and teeth, so it is necessary to provide them with something that is easy for them to bite and chew. However, the need for food specifically designed for small-breed puppies is not solely based on this reason. According to Zacharias, small-breed puppy food also contains essential nutrients that are significant for small dogs.
The choice between wet and dry food for dogs is often based on convenience and personal preference for many owners. However, if your puppy doesn’t drink enough water, feeding them wet food can be a clever approach to ensure they stay hydrated. Wet food includes puppy foods in cans as well as fresh and human-grade dog foods that are cooked slightly to preserve the natural moisture of the food.
