AlbertA vet will consider many factors, such as a dog’s overall health status, life stage, and lifestyle, to determine which dog food is most appropriate for an individual dog. Generally, healthy foods meet the AAFCO’s nutritional requirements for complete and balanced nutrition and contain only high-quality ingredients. However, no individual dog food can be considered the healthiest. Some deep-chested large breeds are also prone to bloat, a life-threatening condition in which the stomach expands and twists when they swallow excess gas. To reduce this risk, large-breed dog foods are made with large-size kibble to encourage dogs to chew more, slow down while eating, and swallow less gas.
At the top of the list are chicken meal and chicken fat plus millet and eggs. Carbohydrates include pumpkin seeds, kelp, almonds, carrots, apples, blueberries, and cranberries. We recommend this food for active, normal-weight dogs with a breakdown of 36% protein, 15% fat, and 5% fiber. This food has undergone feeding trials and each cup contains 418 kcal.
On the other hand, small breed puppies require foods that are lower in calories and proteins but higher in fat content when compared to large-breed puppy food formulas. Small breed puppies mature more slowly and typically gain weight quickly and a small breed puppy food is designed to deal with these differences. Generally speaking there are two types of puppy foods that most fall under, either wet dog food or dry dog food. Dry puppy food is made into a form of kibble or pellets that can be easily stored in a bag and fed to your pup on a regular basis. Typically, dry puppy food has more carbohydrates than protein, which helps a growing puppy keep their energy needs met. Puppy dry dog food is also convenient as it requires little preparation.
Puppies need healthy fats to support their brain development and physical growth, absorb fat-soluble vitamins, keep the nervous system healthy, promote healthy skin and coat, and regulate body temperature. It’s essential to be mindful that too much fat can be harmful, causing concerns with the pancreas and affecting digestive health. The foods in this guide are complete and balanced according to the AAFCO standards, contain high-quality ingredients, and have the right levels of protein, fat, and fiber for their respective categories.
Standout carbohydrates include rice bran, split peas, whole grain brown rice, and whole grain barley. With 27% protein, 9% fat, and 10% fiber, we recommend this food for dogs that need help with weight loss and weight maintenance. Other healthy ingredients include sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas.
Being a fresh, slightly cooked puppy food it offers you less risk of handling raw meats, and being delivered to your door makes it really convenient. I’m pretty sure these recommendations are some of the best, healthiest puppy foods in Australia today (and trust me, I’ve researched!). I’ve researched and reviewed puppy foods for years, and can hopefully point you in the right direction. I wouldn’t say there’s a best puppy food in Australia, but I can offer some great recommendations on better puppy foods.
These types of treats provide an extra source of nutrition and will help your pup to develop healthily. Older puppies may benefit from reduced amounts of protein and fat in their diet as well as increased amounts of calcium for strong bones. Additionally, puppies with sensitive stomachs or food allergies will require special ingredients such as hypoallergenic proteins or grain-free formulas.
Large breed puppies need food that is filled with nutrients that will help them grow into healthy adults, and this option contains some of the most important ingredients for developing dogs. Specifically, this food contains glucosamine to support joint health and DHA and omega-3 fatty acids to help nourish healthy brain and eye development. “Large breed dogs are prone to developing arthritis as they age, and feeding diets containing chondroitin, glucosamine, and omega 3 fatty acids, like EPA and DHA may support joint health,” said Dr. Morici. This recipe is specifically geared towards puppies who will grow into large dogs, and it contains the necessary ingredients to help them do so. Some dogs are sensitive to certain food ingredients, which can cause excessive itching, loose stools, occasional vomiting and other symptoms. Investing in a dog food formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs and skin can help minimize these issues.