In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation. “For example,” Millican explains, “one thirteen-ounce can of wet puppy food may contain four hundred and seventy-five kilocalories and replace approximately one cup of a dry puppy formula with a similar value of kilocalories per cup.

This allows you to calculate the amount of each product needed to meet your puppy’s nutritional requirements.” Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option.Īccording to Purina Nutritionist, Allison Millican, PhD, “If you’re feeding your puppy a combination of wet and dry food, it is extremely important to ensure the total caloric value does not fall short or exceed their daily energy requirement. You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence. This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy foods. Wet Puppy FoodĪlthough dry kibble is a popular choice, it’s not the only option. This results in a nutrient-dense, high-energy formula which adults and puppies need to support a healthy lifestyle.” Dry vs. Small breeds may prefer smaller kibble so they can more easily chew their food, which helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need.Īccording to Purina Nutritionist, Karina Carbo-Johnson, MS, “Small breed-specific dog food is important due to their increased metabolism. Large dogs have a higher risk of developing joint problems, so a large breed puppy food should include proper levels of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. The difference in formulas comes down to the unique needs of large and small breeds. Regardless of breed size, the food should be complete and balanced for growing puppies. Small breeds can also benefit from small breed-specific puppy formulas. If you have a large breed puppy, he may benefit from a large breed-specific puppy formula. Not only do puppies need puppy food, but certain breed sizes can benefit from size-specific formulas. Fat and carbohydrates supply the energy active and playful puppies need, while calcium supports developing teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development. Look for formulas rich in high-quality proteins to support their growing bodies. Puppy foods are formulated with a balance of nutrients to help puppies grow up healthy and happy. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced puppy food ensures they get the proper nutrition to develop and grow into healthy adult dogs. Here’s what you need to know: Puppy Nutrition Overall nutrition, breed size and the type of food all play a role. When it comes to feeding puppies, there are a lot of factors to consider.

Our experts answer your questions and offer advice to help set you and your puppy up for success. Get answers to these questions and more in our complete puppy feeding guide below. How much should you feed your puppy and when? When should you stop feeding puppy food? This raises a lot of questions for first-time (and even veteran) puppy owners, though. The decisions you make about your puppy’s nutrition will affect his growth, development and even his behavior.įeeding your puppy a high-quality, complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog.

Puppy daily schedule chart