Choosing the Right Puppy Food


When it comes down to it, both wet and dry natural puppy foods are healthy ways to feed your puppy. With complete and balanced diets, each type of food contains all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients puppies need for proper growth and development. So choosing which type of food is best for your puppy is really up to you. But, in order to make a more informed decision, it’s important to know the benefits of each.

How to Find the Best Dry or Wet Puppy Food for Your Puppy


Benefits of Wet Puppy Food

  • Enhanced Puppy Enjoyment — According to the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition, wet food produces stronger, more measurable enjoyment responses in puppies than dry food.

  • More Natural Ingredients — Thanks to its higher real meat and protein content, WALTHAM® Science states that wet puppy food contains a better balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates.

  • Lower Calorie Content — Wet food has fewer calories than dry food. A can of wet food (~ 3/4 lb.) contains about 450 calories where as 3 1/2 cups of dry food (~ 3/4 lb.) contains approximately 1200 calories.

  • Greater Water Intake — Higher moisture content (wet food or dry food with water added) increases overall daily water intake. This helps ensure puppies get enough water and maintain a healthy urinary tract.

  • Easier to Eat — Wet food can be easier for a puppy to chew, especially during or before teething.

Benefits of Dry Puppy Food

  • Better Oral Health — The crunchy texture of dry puppy food helps keep teeth clean by scraping away plaque and tartar.

  • Improved Feeding Convenience — Easier for measuring and portion control, dry food is often preferred for puppies since they need to be fed multiple meals throughout the day. Plus, in situations where the entire meal isn't eaten, there’s less chance of spoilage.

  • Easier Storage — Once opened, dry puppy food can be stored in a cool, dry airtight container or by simply resealing or rolling the original food bag. Wet puppy food, on the other hand, must be used soon after opening as it only stays fresh for up to three days if refrigerated.

The Best Results Means Mixing Dry and Wet Puppy Food


As your puppy grows, you may want to consider mixing wet and dry food to meet his changing needs. While your puppy’s breed, activity level, and preferences are unique, we can help you better understand the development milestones and nutritional needs of puppyhood in general so you can make smarter feeding choices.

2 – 3 weeks

Puppies show interest in semi-solid foods, but continue to nurse from their mothers. They can lap milk or water from a dish.

3 – 5 weeks

Milk teeth (deciduous teeth) start to grow.

6 – 8 weeks

Puppies should be weaned from their mothers, and should eat 4-5 meals per day.

10 weeks

Feeding frequency should be reduced to 3 meals per day.

12 – 18 weeks

Milk teeth start to be replaced by adult teeth.

5 – 6 months

Puppies reach about half of their adult body weight, depending on breed. Feeding frequency should be reduced to 2 meals per day.

6 months

All milk teeth should have fallen out and have been replaced by adult teeth.

9 months

Feeding frequency can be reduced to 1 meal per day. Toy & small breed dogs (25 lbs. or less) reach adult weight and can be fed an adult formula.

10 months

The roots of a puppy’s permanent teeth become fully developed. Prior to this age, it’s recommended that puppies are not offered hard toys or chews.

12 months

Medium breed dogs (25 – 55 lbs.) reach adulthood and may be fed an adult formula.

18 months

Large breed dogs (55 – 100 lbs.) reach adulthood and may be fed an adult formula.

24 months

Giant breed dogs (over 100 lbs.) reach adulthood and may be fed an adult formula.

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