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What Is the Best Dog Food for Puppies? Vet-Recommended Picks & Buyer’s Guide

calendar_today July 2, 2025 question_answer 0 Comments

What’s the best dog food for puppies in 2025? The answer depends on your puppy's breed, size, age, and a lot of other factors.

If you just included a puppy as a new family member, then you must be obsessed with cuteness. But, now your biggest concern might be: what is the best dog food for puppies? Pet parents usually ignore the importance of choosing the right food for dog development during their early months. However, it should be among the first ones in the checklist. It is one of the most important decisions a dog parent should make.

Keep reading to learn how to nourish your puppy’s growth with top dog food picks.

Why Puppy Nutrition Matters So Much

Puppies aren’t just mini versions of adult dogs. Their bodies are very different from older dogs. They are growing rapidly, and this demands a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet.

Growth Stage Needs

The growth rate of little pups is up to 20 times faster than adult dogs.
They need an extra portion of all the ingredients for development.
Brain, bone, and muscle growth are at their peak in this phase.

Health Risks of a Poor Diet

Obesity from excess calories.
Joint problems due to improper calcium/phosphorus levels.
Delayed development and immune issues from low-quality foods.

Vet-Recommended Best Puppy Food Types (Available at Kwik Pets)

1.) Dry Kibble for Puppies

Crunchy helps clean teeth
Easy to store and serve
Long shelf life

👉 Pedigree Puppy Growth & Protection Dry Dog Food Chicken & Vegetable

Feature	Details
Type	Dry Dog Food
Main Protein	Chicken By-Product Meal
Grain	Yes (Corn & Wheat)
Life Stage	Puppy
Breed Size	All Breeds
Key Benefits	DHA for making your pet smart, calcium for good bones, antioxidants, and 0% fake flavors
AAFCO Status	Meets AAFCO standards

👉 Natural Balance Original Ultra Broth Coated Dry Dog Food Chicken & Sweet Potato

Feature	Details
Type	Dry Food for dog
Primary Protein	Chicken
Grain-Free	Yes
Key Ingredients	Chicken, peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, flaxseed, fish oil
Life Stage	All Life Stages
Key Benefits	Takes full-body health into consideration; rich in Omega-6 and Omega-3 for shining and glowing skin from inside.
Special Notes	Gluten-free

2.) Best Wet Food For Puppies

High moisture content (great for hydration)
Strong aroma appeals to picky pups
Softer texture for teething puppies

👉 Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Chicken & Rice

Feature	Details
Type	Wet Dog Food
Primary Protein	Chicken
Texture	Chopped Ground
Life Stage	Adult Dogs
Key Benefits	Real chicken gives that 100% nutrition ; 0% added sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, and 0% fake flavors.
Serving Options	Can be served in a lot of ways
Packaging	Available in pouches

👉 Earthborn Holistic Duke's Din-Din Stew

Feature	Details
Type	Wet Dog Food
Primary Proteins	Duck, Turkey
Grain-Free	Yes
Key Ingredients	Duck, turkey, potatoes, carrots, peas
Life Stage	All Life Stages
Key Benefits	Rich in protein and grain-free, a tick-mark for dogs with sensitivities.
Texture	Stew with chunks of meat and vegetables

3.) Raw & Fresh Puppy Food

Minimal processing, closer to a natural diet
Trendy and often seen as premium

Top Raw/Fresh Pick: Instinct Raw Boost Mixers for Puppies

Feature	Description
Protein Source	Chicken
Style	Freeze-dried raw
Pros	High protein, tasty, grain-free
Cons	Expensive, may require fridge/freezer

Best Puppy Food for Different Breed Sizes

1. Small Breed Puppies

They have fast metabolisms and need energy-dense food with smaller kibble.

👉 CANIDAE PURE Goodness Petite Small Breed Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

Feature	Details
Type	Wet Dog Food
Primary Proteins	Salmon, Shrimp
Grain-Free	Yes
Key Ingredients	Salmon, shrimp, peas
Life Stage	All Life Stages
Key Benefits	Infused with real meat and wholesome vegetables and no fake ingredients at all.
Packaging	3.5 oz cans, perfectly portioned for small breed dogs

2. Large Breed Puppies

They need carefully controlled calcium levels to avoid joint problems.

Top Pick:

👉 Natural Balance L.I.D. Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Lamb & Brown Rice

Feature	Details
Primary Protein Source	Lamb (first ingredient)
Grain Inclusion	Yes (brown rice)
No	Gluten, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Omega Fatty Acids	Balanced Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids for skin & coat health
Glucosamine	Supports joint health
Taurine	Supports heart health
Kibble Size	Larger bites to encourage slower eating and promote dental health
Feeding Frequency	Once or twice per day
Transition Period	Gradual 7–10 day transition recommended

3. Medium Breed Puppies

They need balanced food, not too dense, not too light.

👉 IAMS Proactive Health Adult Wet Dog Food Pate with Chicken & Rice

Feature	Details
Type	Wet Dog Food
Primary Protein	Chicken
Grain-Inclusive	Yes (Whole Grain Rice)
Key Ingredients	Chicken, rice, vegetables
Life Stage	Adult Dogs
Key Benefits	Tickmarks digestion, energy, and overall health; budget-friendly
Texture	Classic ground

Top Vet-Recommended Puppy Food Brands (Product Picks + Feeding Tips)

These dog food brands combine a bunch of top-tier ingredients. Also, these are all available at Kwik Pets.

Brand	Product	Pros	Cons
Pedigree	Chopped Ground Dinner Chicken & Rice	Affordable, widely available DHA for brain development	Contains by-products
Natural Balance	Original Ultra Broth Coated Dry Dog Food Chicken & Sweet Potato	High-quality protein, no artificial additives	Higher price point
Earthborn Holistic	Duke's Din-Din Stew	Grain-free, rich in protein	Limited availability
CANIDAE	PURE Goodness Petite Small Breed Grain-Free Dog Food	Limited ingredients, ideal for small breeds	Premium pricing
IAMS	Proactive Health Adult Wet Dog Food Pate with Chicken & Rice	Balanced nutrition, no problem with digestion	Not specifically for puppies

Salmon & Shrimp

CANIDAE PURE Goodness Petite Small Breed Grain-Free Canned Dog Food Pâté w/Salmon & Shrimp 3.5-oz

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

$2.66

How Much and How Often Should Puppies Eat?

Puppies need 3-4 meals a day. This helps them to maintain energy levels and growth.

Feeding Chart (By Age & Weight)

Puppy Age	Weight (lbs)	Cups per Day
2–3 months	5–20 lbs	1–2 cups
4–5 months	10–30 lbs	1.5–2.5 cups
6–8 months	20–50 lbs	2–3 cups
9–12 months	30–70 lbs	2.5–4 cups

When asking “what is the best dog food for puppies,” always match feeding amounts to breed size and vet guidance.

AAFCO Approval & Vet Recommendations

Have a quick check on these key indicators to ensure safety and quality:

AAFCO-approved: Tick Marks all the nutritional standards of top dog food. These standards are usually set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Labeled "Complete and Balanced Nutrition for Puppies": Ensures the food supports growth in the best way that you have always wanted.
Recommended by veterinarians or certified pet nutritionists: Go for brands that vets place their trust in and usually ask you to buy.
Choose only puppy-food: Try to skip adult-only formulas for puppies.
Tested through feeding trials: Makes sure the food is a thumbs up in real-life puppy feeding scenarios.

A top dog food with AAFCO approval and vet backing should always be your first priority.

What to Search for in the Best Puppy Food

Puppies are just starting their life. Therefore, they need food that can build strong bodies for the future.

Key Nutrient Profile

Protein: At least 22% from top-notch meat sources.
Fat: Minimum of 8.5% for glowing fur.
Calcium & Phosphorus: Balanced for good bone health.

Avoid Fillers & Artificial Ingredients

Look out for:

Meat by-products
Corn, wheat, or soy fillers
Fake colors, flavors, and preservatives

DHA for Brain Development

One of the key requirements is that:

Supports brain development
Improves trainability
Often found in fish oil or salmon dog food.

Common Puppy Feeding Mistakes to Avoid

Overfeeding leads to weight gain and joint strain.
Feeding adult dog food misses key puppy nutrients.
Mixing in table scraps causes picky eating.
Not transitioning between foods gradually can upset the stomach.

How to Transition Your Puppy to New Food

Use the 7-Day Gradual Transition method:

Day	Old Food	New Food
Day 1–2	75%	25%
Day 3–4	50%	50%
Day 5–6	25%	75%
Day 7	0%	100%

Watch for:

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Itching or signs of allergies

Grain-Free vs. Grain-Inclusive Puppy Foods

Are you also stressed between the two and not able to find a solution? Then, it’s important to understand the facts.

Grain-free diets have become famous in the market due to concerns about allergies. However, recent findings have raised red flags. In 2018, the FDA began investigating a potential link between grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)—a serious heart condition. The connection is proven 100% but still there are some speculations.

Veterinarians generally recommend grain-inclusive diets for most puppies. They ask you to purchase a grain-free option only when your pet has a specific allergy. If your vet advises a grain-free option, go for it. Otherwise, a balanced, grain-inclusive puppy food is the safer bet. AAFCO standards compliance is something you should never forget to check.

Final Thoughts

So, Puppies need a balance of everything to grow in the best way. Whatever products you are choosing, always:

Check for AAFCO compliance
Skip harmful fillers and additives
Test what works best for your puppy’s overall characteristics

So, now you have the answer for: What Is the Best Dog Food for Puppies? Explore the best dog food options available at Kwik Pets, and give your puppy the best start in life!