Adopting a puppy in your home is one of the surest of spicing up your life. This is because the little canine will keep you busy when you are at home. In fact, bringing a puppy is not much different from adding a new family member. And since a puppy needs to feed to survive, you must first make sure there is enough food in the house even before his arrival. Keep in mind that, the quality of food you will give the puppy will have an impact on its health. The problem is that most dog owners assume that all the food is the same. No. Although there are many brands in the stores, they are not the same, specifically because they are made by different manufacturers who use varying ingredients. Here is a list of what you should look for when shopping for puppy foods.
Contents
Check Food Reviews
Since there are many brands in the market, choosing the best food can be a daunting task. It can be really overwhelming if it’s your first time to shop for puppy food. As a novice shopper, you can easily fall for the first brand you see or get carried away by pleasant packaging and forget to consider the things that matter the most. Fortunately, there is a way of knowing what to expect when you buy a particular brand. All you have to do is check puppy food reviews that are available on the internet. By reading through these reviews, you will be able to know the concerns that have been raised for each brand. And by the rule of thumb, you should narrow down to top rated brands.
Pick Tried and Tested Foods
When you walk into any dog store, you are likely to be overwhelmed by the variety of foods that are on the shelves. The problem is that most of them have sugar coated statements that are only meant for luring you into adding them into your shopping cart. You see, when you buy the best puppy food, you should expect to start seeing considerable results in a few weeks’ time. Some of the most notable results include a shiny fur and increased playfulness. Besides that, you will realize that the puppy eats the food with a lot of enthusiasm. But if your dog doesn’t respond well after a few weeks and probably doesn’t clear the plate, it’s obvious that the food was not designed with the best interests of your little furry friend.
Consider Number of Calories
Puppies spend most of their time running around with toys. They therefore need more calories than their adult counterparts. When hunting for puppy food it’s also important you pay attention to it’s breed. Keep in mind that large breeds require more calories than small breeds. In fact, there are specific foods for large breeds and vice versa. If you buy food that’s meant for large breed and your puppy falls into the small category, it’s likely for the dog to be overweight. Being overweight will put the puppy at risk of contracting certain conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. You can avoid making this mistake by reading the instructions that are printed on the package.
Size of Food and Balanced Diet
Your choice of puppy food should be guided by size. In fact, this one is a no brainer. There is no need to spend money on food that’s too large for a puppy to chew and swallow. If you opt for large chunks of food, there are chances that the puppy will experience frequent choking at meal times. You should therefore give priority to the right size of food, especially if it’s not canned. It’s also important you buy food that contains the right amounts of ingredients and nutrients. An ideal package should at least contain fiber, calcium and proteins. Fiber helps in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Calcium enhances the strength of the bones. Proteins on the other hand enhance the growth of strong muscles.
