Best 4-Star Dry Puppy Foods

The following is a list of 4-star dog food brands… each containing not less than one dry puppy food.

To qualify, each puppy food must meet AAFCO nutritional profiles for either growth or all life stages.

Or it must be recommended for puppies by the manufacturer.

If you know of a puppy food you feel we should have included here, please share your own suggestions in our Comments section.

Or if you’re looking for some suggestions yourself, be sure to look through our readers’ Comments to find more good ideas.

More Quality Puppy Foods

For even more ideas, you may want to check out one of our other puppy food lists or articles we’ve created…

How to Find the Best 4-Star
Dry Puppy Foods

The following is a list of 4-star dry dog food brands that have been shown to contain at least one puppy food. Within each brand, look for products that include the word “puppy” in their names.

In addition, many other products are designed for all life stages — a category that also includes puppies.

Best 4-Star Dry Puppy Foods

Esmereldan Esmerelda

I bred Giant Schnauzer
For 40 years and always told my buyers to stay away from Science Diet as there were 2 cases of the buyers switching to SD bc their vet sold it and the dogs developed bloat and died.

Sportsmix makes a good quality food for a reasonable price. My Giants liked it yet did not pig out on it unless I added some yummy to it (which was a rare, special treat). My puppies grew slowly yet always matured as big if not bigger than other people’s that had been so much larger than mine as puppies. It is worth your while to check out. I get mine through Tractor Supply.
Judy Roy

I don’t know if this will help, but I will tell you how you slow horses down who eat too fast. Get a large flat dish so that the food is not all bunched up to be gulped down, but instead is spread out more. Then add one or two large rocks (big enough to be difficult to pick up in their mouth). The rocks interfere in their ability to gulp. Instead they have to take the time to push the rock around so they can reach all of their food. It slows them down a little. You could also try putting only small amounts of food in their bowl at a time, and making them sit before you add the next little amount. Make him hold the sit for longer periods of time. My dogs all understand the “wait for it” command. Hope this helps.
Cannoli

What a handsome guy. If he is 7 months my guess he will probably have an adult weight of about 65 lbs give or take 5 lbs. my guy was 50lbs at about 9 months. He is currently 60 lbs and is almost a year and a half
Pitlove

Hi Kilee-

Could be that he is simply a food lover. Typically those kinds of dogs will gorge themselves on food. Once I found a food my dog liked he became like that as well, however I know I am feeding him the correct amount of food as he is not underweight or overweight. If the vet is not concerned about weight or health, I’d say he just really loves his food 🙂

Edit: But yes, he should actually be on a large breed puppy formula if he’s already 50lbs.
Kilee Upstate NY

Hello! I have a 7 month old pitbull mix. He is on Pedigree Puppy (its what he was eating when I got him at 6 wks). My vet thinks this is a fine food and he is a healthy weight but when I feed him ( 2 cups morning and night) he aggressively inhales his food. It takes him less than 2 minutes to finish his bowl and he is still desperate for more and I am stuck having to separate him from the other animals to eat because he devours everything in sight! My vet said that in time he will settle down and he is like this because he is growing so much right now. Would it be better/ more filling for him if I switched him to a large breed puppy food? He’s roughly 50lbs of love. See below: 8wk old disappointed puppy.
Mark Hamilton C

I have taken in a dog that lives on the street and her 3 puppies.. I read that you gave Kirkland puppy food 4.5 stars.. That is what I wanted to know.. Thank you from Colombia, SA.
Kealy

I am getting a french bulldog/boston mix and I was wondering if you could recommend a great puppy food for his breed. I know most french bulldogs have terrible allergies. I was looking into Blue Buffalo Freedom Puppy or Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy.
Pitlove

Yes Science Diet Large Breed Puppy is a highly recommended formula to use among veterinary nutritionists because it has the lowest calcium to phosphorus ratio and calcium to calorie ratio among all the foods from the big name companies. Also, like I said they along with Purina are the leaders in research on large breed puppy growth. Either formula would be a good choice personally.

This website rates based on ingredients and GA only, not nutritional adequacy or if your dog will do well on the food. The ratings shouldn’t be taken as bible.

I’m not familiar enough with the last food to tell you if it has a formula safe for your dog.
Bradlee Burnham

Thanks for the reply Pitlove. I may also look into the Science Diet or other Hills products as the Prescription Diet actually seems to agree with her the best (though I suppose that’s to be expected since it’s a rather bland food). Do you know anything about the Hills products? I noticed in this forum someone said that Pro Plan and Hills are given 3 stars on this site (is there a way to see the whole list of 3 star puppy dry foods?). Or how about Performatrin? Thanks!
Pitlove

Hi Bradlee-

At only 6 months she needs to remain on a Large Breed Puppy formula. She is not fully done growing and you will want to make sure to play it safe so that she continues to grow slowly. The 2 companies that have done the most research on large/giant breed puppy growth/nutrition are Hill’s and Purina, so moving back to Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy (especially since it agreed with her) would be a fine choice. Most veterinary nutritionists will recommend a giant breed like a Leonberger be on a LBP formula til at least 18 months of age.

Also just to note, it is for the best that you moved her away from the Whole Earth Farms Puppy as it is not large breed puppy safe.
Bradlee Burnham

Hi, I have a 24-25 week old, 70lb female Leonberger. When I first got her she (11 weeks old, 27lb) was being fed Purina Pro Plan Large Breed, and in fact had already been transitioned to the Adult variety. At the behest of my vet, I transitioned her back to the Large Breed Puppy. A month or so later I transitioned her to Whole Earth Farms Puppy as it seemed to be a higher quality food for the same price as Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy (nearly $40 for a 30lb bag). Unfortunately once I had her on just the WEFP she was having diarrhea/loose stool. Eventually determined that it was the food. Now on Hills-Prescription diet to get her system cleaned up. Need a different food once she’s ready to be transitioned again. I like buying in 30lb bags, and if possible would like to keep it to $50 or less, willing to go up to $70 if necessary though. I may just go back to Pro Plan. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Susan

Hi, do you shop at Costco or know someone that does?? have a look at their Kirkland Signature “Natures Domain” puppy or the other formulas look & see which ones are All Life Stages the “Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato” & the “Turkey Meal & Sweet Potato” are an All Life Stages formulas….
Kia Ballard

I’m getting an 8 week old Labradoodle tomorrow. What would you recommend to be a good dog food. He will be around 60-75 lbs full grown.
Thank you!
Pitlove

Hi Rex-

Precise Holistic Complete Large & Giant Breed Puppy comes highly recommended for Great Danes. My boyfriends brother used that for his and he grew very well.
Rex

So whats the best puppy food for a 8 week old Great Dane
Ginny

I have a 5 month old Rottie and am looking to switch his food from Iams to something higher quality. Any suggestions are appreciated!
Kim

I am getting a puggle part (mini schnauzer and pug and beagles) Ihave four weeks to prepare so I am researching puppy food. He is going to grow to be about 15 pounds give or take a couple. Can anyone recommend what is a good dog food without going bankrupt? I don’t mind a few extra bucks though. Thanks a lot
Pitlove

If that is what you can afford that’s fine. That or Pro Plan will make sure he grows correctly since both those foods are feed trialed with large breeds.
el doctor

Hi Patricia Davis

Welcome to DFA!

While we don’t know what the situation is with the pitbull you’re about to get, Pitlove is right. 8 weeks is the MINIMUM, and 12 weeks with the mom and litter mates is even better.

Dogs learn social skills, and a whole lot more in the first 12 weeks or so, and they are finding that they do better in a lot of situations.

Of course, none of this matters if you have to take the pup at 6 weeks.

Good Luck with your new family member 😉
Patricia Davis

Well it depends. I was going to get Purina one large breed puppy. That costs around $30 for a 31 lb bag.
Pitlove

Hi Pactricia-

Congrats on the pitbull puppy! They are the best dogs! Any chance of you being able to wait 2 weeks to get him when he’s 8 weeks? Or does he need to go now?

Regardless, what can you pay per lb for dog food?
Patricia Davis

I am about to get a 6 week old pitt bull. What puppy food do you guys suggest. Something that won’t break my bank either.
DogFoodie

Hi Tyler,

I’d say go ahead and finish off the bag you already have on hand and then switch over to the Sierra Mountain.

These foods definitely aren’t exceptionally high protein. Excess protein is simply excreted as waste in urine.

Excess calcium is of far greater concern than protein as it contributes to orthopedic disorders, which are more prevalent in large and giant breed pups than it is with your small breed pup. But, that said, no breed is exempt, from orthopedic disorders. Just keep your puppy lean during growth and avoid over-exercising him to avoid stressing growing joints until he reaches about eight months of age.

Also, there’s no reason you couldn’t feed your adult dog, the High Prairie Puppy food also. There are two growth profiles established by AAFCO, growth & reproduction and adult maintenance. Puppy food is growth food, which manufacturers frequently refer to as ALS. Just watch the portions as ALS frequently has higher calories than adult maintenance. Here’s some information on those profiles for you: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/aafco-nutrient-profiles/.

Also, since I’m a big fan of diet rotation, I’ll mention this article as well: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

Diet rotation, simply put, contributes to a healthier gut. It avoids prolonged exposure to less desirable ingredients and offers a more complete nutrient profiles. I rotate proteins and binders as much as possible. My two are able to switch with no transition.

Good luck with your new pup. Beagle puppies are the cutest!
Tyler Phillip

Thank you so much for your reply! That is so much more of a straightforward and clear response than the company itself provides. The dry formula I purchased was Hi Prairie, not Hi Prairie Puppy. I believe I’ve seen other comments on Amazon and other sites that the high protein content in Hi Prairie was one of the driving factors in the release of Hi Prairie Puppy again because of the danger for rapid growth in large breed puppies. I’m not sure about the calcium content differences between the two. I did find the Sierra Mountain formula and I’m purchasing a bag of that and will be switching for good. However, with all that said, should I discontinue feeding the current bag of Hi Prairie altogether or would it be safe to mix the remaining with the new bag? I would of course mix in the first week to slowly switch over and ease the change in foods on their tummies but what would you think regarding the rest of the bag? I’d hate to waste it if there’s nothing really wrong with it except for a higher protein content which may not be that detrimental to a beagle puppy as opposed to a large breed puppy. Thoughts? Thanks again!
DogFoodie

Hi Tyler,

I just looked at the TOTW website and it appears as though Pine Forest, Southwest Canyon, Sierra Mountain, High Prairie Puppy, and Pacific Stream Puppy are their dry diets that are approved for all life stages (ALS) and are appropriate for both your puppy and your adult dog. Their other dry formulas are for adult maintenance, and therefore don’t meet the AAFCO guidelines for growth.

Your beagles are not considered large breed puppies. The biggest difference in a large breed puppy food is the calcium level. Any of the foods I listed would be appropriate for your Beagles. The new Appalachian Valley small breed formula is for adult maintenance and therefore, not appropriate for your puppy.
Tyler Phillip

I posted this on the Taste of the Wild review but that hasn’t had any comments in 2 years so I’m reposting here too:

I am hoping you guys can give me some feedback here. I have 2 beagles – one 2 yrs and one 3 month old puppy. Feeding 2 different foods is a pain so I like to find one food to use for both. My concern is that Taste of The Wild used to be for all life stages and now they have recently come up with some puppy formulas. However, from all the research I’ve done it appears they created these puppy formulas mainly for large breed puppies as their All Life Stages formulas were found to make larger breed puppies grow too big too fast. I’ve seen other people ask Taste of The Wild directly on their website if it’s still safe to feed the regular formula to small breed puppies but Taste of The Wild just gives the same canned line saying – we have puppy formulas that are great for your puppy… not really answering the question about whether the regular formula is still considered ok for all life stages for small breeds. I hate when a company doesn’t answer the exact question posed and just skirts the issue so that for one is making me leery of Taste of the Wild, however, I’ve already purchases a 30lb bag so I feel like I’m committed at least until this bag is done. My dogs love it, no problems so far. Just really hoping someone can give me feedback on whether I am fine to stick with the regular formula for both dogs or if I do in fact need to switch my puppy to the puppy formula. Thanks in advance!
Crazy4dogs

It’s rated a 3☆ food, which is why it’s not in the 4☆ list. There are many foods that rate better and cost the same or less. Ultimately whatever food works for your puppy is the best choice.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/natures-recipe-dry/

If your puppy is going to be over 50 lbs as an adult, you might want to look at the food suggested for large breed puppies.

Good luck with your pup!
Robin Gurney

I don’t see Nature’s recipe dry on the list. Is it a good puppy food?
carl williams

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Pitlove

no problem! here are the links for the 3 foods I mentioned. you can take a look at what others say on the reviews about these foods as well:

http://www.chewy.com/dog/fromm-gold-holistic-large-breed/dp/32624

http://www.chewy.com/dog/precise-holistic-complete-large/dp/36237

http://www.chewy.com/dog/nutrisource-large-breed-puppy/dp/38141
jenifer

Yes..thank you so much for the help:)
Pitlove

ya sounds like the food is not very tasty to her. can you order online? they carry these brands I mentioned above on chewy.com and offer autoshipping and free shipping over 49$
jenifer

Hi is the wellness complete health and she only eat it when she is really hungry n not everything
Pitlove

hi, could you tell me which puppy wellness you’re feeding? is it WellnessCORE puppy? I’ve heard from a lot of people that Wellness isn’t a very palatable food. My top LBP foods I like are Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy, Precise Holistic Complete Large & Giant Breed Puppy and NutriSource Large Breed Puppy. These are all highly palatable foods that your pup might enjoy more.
jenifer

I have a 3 months old husky/german sheperd currently feeding wellness puppy dry food but is scratching a lot n doesnt really eat it. What do you recomend?
Helen Kozak

OR PETIGREE
Dog_Obsessed

Thanks! Even though I don’t totally agree with you on everything, it is nice to see that there are different perspectives. I agree that quality control and testing are very important. That’s scary that a company asked you what a nutritional analysis was. What company was that?
aimee

Hi Dog Obsessed,

I outlined the things I look for in the forum section. If you have any comments or questions feel free to ask. One post I address the company and the other the ingredients

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/help-creating-a-list-of-the-top-10-very-best-adult-dog-foods/

Here is more formalized version similar to what I look for that has been published by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Recommendations%20on%20Selecting%20Pet%20Foods.pdf
Dog_Obsessed

I’m interested to know what your specific ranking criteria is. I have heard you mention it before, but I don’t believe you ever said exactly how you rate food.
Debby Tompkins Walsh

Thanks for all the info everyone! I’ve always used Iams Large Breed formula for my big guys and they seemed to do very well on it. Now we’re about to get a little guy and I was looking to see if there were new and better options as I’ve been feeding Iams for 20+ yrs now. My vet first recommended it all those years ago, but I never bought it from them. Walmart or Sam’s Club were generally the way I went.
aimee

Hi Debbie,

Sites that rank food all have their own specific criteria on which they are judging products. The system used by this site doesn’t rank Iams and Hills highly, though some Hills puppy foods are 4 star. Other sites that use different criteria rank Hills and Iams much higher than they are ranked here.

The criteria that I use to evaluate foods are different than most that post here. Like veterinary nutritionists and PhD animal nutritionists I don’t rank a food based on an ingredient list and guaranteed analysis from the label, which is what most posters here use to rank a diet.

Here is an example of how different ways to evaluate food come up with different rankings. Grandma Lucy’s diets are ranked 4.5-5 stars based on an analysis of the ingredient list and Guaranteed analysis. I looked at the company and using the criteria I use “red flags” went up.

I was so concerned about this product not meeting a dog’s nutritional needs that I took it a step further and called my state feed control official. Recently got word back that an investigator for the state went to the store in my town where I found that food for sale and issued an immediate stop sale!! The food is not to be sold because it violates the state standard.

It really is all about what criteria are important to you. Dr. Mike ranks first by ingredient list and second by other criteria ( Editors Choice section) He is very consistent in his evaluation method of using the food
label to rank all the products in the same unbiased manner and I find the information valuable. The Editors
Choice section further refines the list of highly ranked foods by
taking other other criteria into consideration. I rank first by other criteria and second by ingredients because that is what is important to me.

My dogs currently are eating products made by Purina, Royal Canin, Annamaet, and Hills.
Crazy4cats

Hi Debby-

I always thought they were too! However, I’ve learned a lot on this site to help me make better choices. The foods on this site are rated by ingredients, but also heavily on animal protein percentages. Here is a link to the equation: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/rate-dog-food/

Just remember though, that a 3 or 4 star rated food might be a 5 for you dog if it does well on it and is within your budget.
Dog_Obsessed

Science Diet is 2.5 star food, and Iams is a 3 star food. Both are sold (and waaay overpriced) by veterinarians, to make people believe they are high-quality foods. Here are the links to the full reviews of these foods:

Science Diet: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/hills-science-diet-dog-food-adult-dry/

Iams: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/iams-proactive-health-adult/
Bobby dog

Hi Lee Beardsmore:
You want to feed your puppy a “growth” or “all life stages food.” Check out the 4 and 5 star puppy foods here:

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/best-puppy-foods/
Debby Tompkins Walsh

I don’t see Iams or Hill’s Science Diet on either the 4 or 5 star list. How come? I thought these were good quality foods. I’ve always used Iams for my dogs. I’ve never heard of most of these brands.
Lee Beardsmore

Hi please could you help?? I have a 4 month old tea cup Yorkshire Terrier. She won’t eat Iams dry puppy food but wants my other dogs food(+11yr old medium size Senior over 7yrs Iams food) Is this ok?? Or can you suggest an alternative??
Susan

Hi Rachel, I’d be feeding a fish kibble there’s “Holistic Select” Salmon Anchovy & Sardine meal Grainfree Adult/Puppy Health that has 5 stars….. also make sure you get a good Shampoo, one that doesn’t strip their natural oils & make his skin dryer “Aloveen” made by Dermcare is excellent for dry skin, you can buy a starter pack the shampoo & conditioner… here’s the Holistic Select link
http://www.holisticselect.com/product.aspx?pet=dog&cat=5&pid=71
Rachel Evans

I have a 4 month old Australian Sheppard with dry skin. Vet said a change in food to a higher quality brand might solve the issue. What puppy food could you recommend to help out my baby with his itchy skin?
Carrie

You might want to try NutriSource Large Breed Puppy.
Bobby dog

Hi Amy:
Large and giant breed puppies have special nutritional needs. You can learn more about it on the forum side. Read the first three or four pages of this thread along with the article links that Hound Dog Mom posted on the first page:
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/

For recommended foods for large & giant breeds you can access a document on page 79 of this forum. Look for a post from theBCnut dated November 6, 2014 at 8:12 am:
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/page/79/

You can also join the DFA Editor’s Choice for more current puppy food recommendations. There are several budget friendly foods recommended on the large and giant breed dog food document. Good luck finding a food.
Amy Dinkleys Hinch

Hiya I have a 5 and half month old lab. Very sensitive stomach. She was on beta puppy when first got her but then put her on pedigree (horrible smelly diarhea) went to pets at home and they suggested wainrights puppy food she liked it to begin with but now off it. She loves baker butdoing research that could cause harm she is scratching alot since on bakers. Im really worried. What do I do. Can anybody recommend anything. Doesnt matter about budget just want the best.. tia
Sean

Authority Grain Free Puppy (4.5 stars) is available at PetSmart for $10.99. Those stores are pretty much everywhere and the grain free food should help with any food sensitivities.
Crazy4cats

Hi Rhonda-
Congrats on your new pup! Can you print off the best puppy food list and take it with you to the store? It’s hard to make suggestions when we don’t know what is available where you shop. Good luck!
Rhonda

i have a 5 month old shichon, or shih tzu mix and I am almost out of the food from the breeder. She is on Nutrisource, but I don’t know which one. And that is really expensive and no one carries it around here. I’m having a hard time picking a new brand. She likes this kind, but I notice she has been scratching alot and I’m wondering if it is because of the food. Any suggestions for an inexpensive dog food? I need something that I can buy from a pet store or rural king. I just need to try a small bag of food for $10 before I invest in a $50 bag of food. Any feedback will help.
Raquel alvira

I have a chi and a york i do not know what food to give them i live in Florida and i need to know what brand to buy please help
Dori

Since he’s small you could also consider freeze dried, dehydrated, or commercial raw foods. Mio much better than feeding kibble. Any idea how much he’s suppse to weigh full grown?
theBCnut

Since he is so small and doesn’t eat much, consider feeding him a canned food.
judy

I have 5 moth old cha an can’t find a dog food he will eat
LabsRawesome

Hi Brooklynsmom, you can give her Krill oil everyday. Just give her one softgel. You can also give sardines in spring water, once or twice a week.
Brooklynsmom

I have a 10 month old pit bull pointer mix. She has the typical pit bull allergies and I finally found a food that she is not allergic to. Natural Balance limited ingredient diet dry food seems to keep her stomach happy. Unfortunately she still has dry skin and itching problems. I have been reading up on getting Omega’s into her diet but am so lost on how much to give her. Her food label says this “Omega-6 Fatty Acids* 1.7% minimum, Omega-3 Fatty Acids* 0.5% minimum”. She is a little over 50lbs and gets about 3.5 cups of food daily, split into two meals. I have seen krill oil mentioned a lot and would like to get her started asap to calm her skin down. Any advice on how much, how often? Or any other tips to improve her itchy skin?
Jenna Schmidt Wilson

Thank you so much!
4FootedFoodie

Hi Jenna,

Congrats on the new pup! I have a Golden also and hope you find yours as sweet, loving and gentle as I do mine.

My first question would be, do you know what the shelter has been feeding her? If so, I’d pick up some of whatever that is. Adjusting to a new home and after having just been spayed, you’ll want to keep consistent whatever you can.

An easy food to transition to is NutriSource, which is also budget friendly. In a pinch, you could use their Chicken & Rice, while you look for other foods you like. Good budget friendly foods are Earthborn Holistic, Dr. Tim’s, Victor and Horizon.
Jenna Schmidt Wilson

We are adopting a 33-pound, estimated to be 9-month old Golden Retriever stray from Dallas Animal Services. She comes home tomorrow after spay surgery. Since our vet has been closed all weekend for the holiday, I thought I’d solicit some advice on what kind of food to start her out on. I want it to be good for her, obviously, but hopefully not “break the bank” either. Any advice on what to feed, where to get it, when/how much, etc.? Thanks!
Coreine Valledor

Please help. What’s the best dog food for 2.5months old puppy chow? Thanks
LabsRawesome

Hi Paige, my top 3 affordable brands are- Victor Grain Free, Earthborn, Rachael Ray Zero Grain.
Paige Escue

I’ve been feeding my 13 week old Goldendoodle Nutro Natural Choice because the Petco clerk told me it was amazing and although my puppy hasn’t been sick by it at all and actually seems to really really like it, everyone’s concerns on the site has me terrified now. What should I be feeding him? What are the top 3 affordable brands I could go buy because I want him to stay healthy and he will only get to be about 30-40lbs.
theBCnut

Feed him nothing until dinner time. Go get the food he is used to. Feed him 1/2 HIS normal amount at dinner. Tomorrow, feed him 1/2 his normal amount for breakfast, then 3/4 his normal amount for lunch and dinner. The day after, you can go back to feeding him normal meals of his normal food. After he has settled in for a couple weeks, then you can start to transition him to a new food by mixing 1/4 new food with 3/4 old food for 3 days, then 1/2 and 1/2 for 3 days, then 3/4 new and 1/4 old for 3 days.
If you want suggestions for a good food, just ask.
Frances Santiago

I just got a coon/lab mix yesterday. they said he is 8wks and he was on alpo soft food. when uh brought him home I had bought Purina puppy chow he was really hungry so I feed it to him he ate it and about 15 he started with diarrhea. he hasn’t slept the whole night he pooped all over his cage the 4x. what should I do? I feel so bad for him
Katie Wilson

Thank you very much!
I have to go through his paper work again. The animal control here is very poorly ran. His stool was normal the first day or so, then I guess his stomach is trying to adjust to the new food still.
I think I’m gonna stick with it for a little just in case it is just that, cause both of my dogs love it so much
Crazy4cats

Do they do a fecal test at animal control before being adopted? If not, I’d suggest that you get one before you assume it is the food. Poor pup, thank you for adopting! If everything is fine with his sample, I really like Victor grain free food. Good luck!
Katie Wilson

I’m looking for a more affordable dog foor for my two pit mixes.
I had my older one on blue buffalo, and after awhile, he wouldn’t eat it unless I mixed gravy or something into it.
I’m currently using the Rachael Ray grain free dog food for both of my pups, but the younger one seems to have very runny stool. Not as runny as diarrhea, but not solid. We have had him for almost 2 weeks. We could not mix his old food because we pulled him from animal control and they did not tell us what they gave him nor do I think they really knew. So I’m not sure if that is part of the problem.
My older pup had slight diarrhea but it quickly became regular since we were able to mix his. But he has lost 6 pounds. I don’t know if it is the food to blame, or just all the playing he does with his new little brother puppy.
I also need to put a good amount of weight on my younger puppy, because he is on the skinny side from being in animal control, and god knows what he went through before being surrendered.
Hound Dog Mom

To be honest I always thought it was odd that that food was ALS, the fat is way too low imo.
theBCnut

I don’t know. I went to their website and they have the old formuas listed, but it says on them that they are maintenance foods, so I don’t know when the change happened. Sometimes I wish dog food companies would leave well enough alone.
Hound Dog Mom

Thanks Patty. So I’m not crazy, I knew it was ALS when I made the list. Must be the recent changes they made in the formulation made it not longer qualify as an ALS food.
theBCnut

Here Wysong Epigen is still listed as ALS

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/wysong-epigen/
Hound Dog Mom

Hi Malta –

My list isn’t based on the min calcium level, it is based on the actual calcium level in the food. I contacted each company directly to obtain the actual values and used these values in my calculations.

Thanks for pointing out Epigen is a maintenance food only though – not sure how that one slipped by me. I know they recently had some changes to the formula, I wonder if that changed as well?
Malta

Need to relook the Hound Dogs Mom list below.
It only lists the MIN calcium content. Critical is the MAX calcium content for large breed puppies. AAFCO max 1.8% calcium, FEDIAF 1.6-1.8% depending on age.

AAFCO: http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.p…

FEDIAF: http://www.fediaf.org/fileadmi…

Also, the HDM document lists wysong epigen, which is labeled maintenance, not growth.
Emily

Good to know, thanks for the info!
theBCnut

Probably not. Most of us recommend finding a few different foods with different protein and starch sources. Rotating foods helps the pup to develop a strong gut which also provides a huge boost to the immune system. The only problem I have with TOTW is that is made by a company that has had numerous recalls in the past, so I just can’t recommend them. Earthborn, NutriSource, Nature’s Variety, and Victor’s, as well as many others, are good foods. All Life Stages foods are made to the AAFCO guideline for puppy foods, so yes they are fine for puppies, and in fact many of us here feed ALS foods for the life of our dogs.
Emily

Thank you so much for your reply. He’s actually much more (toy) poodle than he is lab. He’ll only get to about 25 lbs (both of his parents are mini labradoodles). With that in mind, which food is recommended and should I still consider him a large breed puppy?
theBCnut

Read here http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/ to learn more about the issue when feeding large breed puppies. And this https://docs.google.com/viewer?srcid=0BwApI_dhlbnFTXhUdi1KazFzSUk&pid=explorer&efh=false&a=v is Hound Dog Mom’s newest list of foods that are OK for large breed puppies.
Emily

I’ve heard that Taste of the Wild is an all life stages food and fine for puppies, but I’ve also heard that TOTW puppy formula is better because the regular formula doesn’t have the right amount of protein and calcium for a growing pup. I just got a 3 month old mini labradoodle (~9 lbs) and I’m not sure whether I should feed him the TOTW pacific catch that my older dog does so well on, or get the puppy formula (or another good brand of puppy food) instead. What is recommended?
Pattyvaughn

Don’t stick with just one food. Feeding a rotational diet is much healthier.
sandy

Nutrisource small/med breed puppy and Nature’s Select Hi-Pro/Puppy are tiny kibbles, then Amicus is very small too since it’s a toy breed kibble. Wellness also has a Toy/small breed line. Nature’s Logic is a very small kibble too.
LV

I am getting a 10 week old bichon/maltese/shizu mix that is currently on Proplan small breed puppy dry and wet mix. What would you recommend I swith it too that is better for its health. I know I need to slowly change. Thanks LV
rere

i’m getting puppy tomorrow he’s 8 weeks old a lab/boxer mix what would be best dry/wet food for him?
Pattyvaughn

You have to register to use google docs, but other than that, it should work.
kelseey

From everything that I’ve read and reread about NuVet Plus its a god sent. I encourage you to look it up and tell me if I’m wrong or not. I am open to any suggestion. I was looking at the raw diet and saw Instinct. They look to be a very promising food and would consider it if it will benefit her.
Betsy Greer

Hmm, darn it, I really wish you could open that. I’m not sure why you can’t, it’s a Google document and I he link – it worked for me.

Try visiting the second link and read through the thread. At least you’ll know other brands people are talking about.

I definitely wouldn’t use Blue Buffalo and I would look for something grain free with whole food ingredients and as little synthetic stuff as possible. Would you consider a raw diet? Are the vitamins you’re planning to use synthetic? I would probably also add some quality probiotics for optimal gut health so he can get the benefit of the food you’re feeding.
kelsey

Thank you both for the advise! I can’t open the first link about the list of dog foods though. My puppy is going back on NuVet Plus vitamins at the end of the week when I receive them. She was off them for a short amount of time and I feel like that had a big impact on her immune system. I will stop the Blue Buffalo and wait til her vitamins come and see how she does from there. I only want the best for her and I’ll do anything to make sure she’s happy and healthy! Quick question before I go, she was on Eukenuba Large Breed when I first got her and since I don’t have that in any of the stores where I live I ended up switching her to Nutro Natural Choice. Should I possibly try just ordering it online and having her go back to that?
Pattyvaughn

Many people are reporting problems with Blue Buffalo right now, so this might not be a good time to try them. See if you can find Earthborn Holistic Meadow Feast or Coastal Catch. There is a thread over on the forum under Diet and Health Issues titled Large and Giant Breed Puppy Nutrition that you should read at least the first few pages of.
Betsy Greer

Hi Kelsey,

You should be choosing an appropriate food for a large breed puppy from this list that Hound Dog Mom compiled:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwApI_dhlbnFTXhUdi1KazFzSUk/preview?pli=1

Large breed puppies need controlled Calcium levels, to be kept Lean and to avoid being over-exercised.

Visit this thread in the forum area of DFA for more information about large breed puppies:

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/
kelsey

My 4 month old Golden Retriever is my everything! I did tons of research before I got her a few months ago on foods and treats. About a month ago she started developing warts and took her into the vet. They said its from having a low immune system. I was currently feeding her Nutro Natural Choice Large Puppy thinking that I was doing her good. However, the vet said I need to switch her to something of a better quality. I just started switching her to Blue Buffalo Life Protection and on the first day she had immediate diarrhea. I didn’t even put a whole lot in! Am I making the correct choice? Should I try something less potent? Please help, I’m near tears thinking that I’m hurting her more than doing her any justice 🙁
InkedMarie

No problem, I just asked.
Stephen Stamper

Well..let’s see. I could have done 4 separate replies to each helpful poster, or just reply by posting one reply under the main post, whereas most people could have use their imaginations and figured it out…. Seems easier to me…
sandy

Since he is a mix breed, you won’t know what his full size will be for another several months. But he could just be on the small side since he’s part yorkie. Check his “body condition score” and if he is good, then I wouldn’t worry about his weight. Feed him to maintain a good body condition. And there are many dog foods to choose from.

https://www.google.com/search?q=body+condition+score+dog&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7uDfUqK7CMqv2QWeiYHgAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=642
InkedMarie

Is it a disquis glitch or are you replying to yourself?
Stephen Stamper

Thanks for the suggestions… I made the switch to Diamonds Natural (not just regular Diamond) which is actually one of the 4-star rated dog foods. I also believe it is one of the cheapest 4-star dog foods on the list, and is no more expensive than pedigree or purina in the supermarket!! They sell it at Rural King, and Tractor Supply, etc.
tatiana

i have a poodle and yorkie mix he is a medium size dog he just got nutter and all his vaccine he is six months what food do you recomend he is a healthy dog but i think he is underweight. he weighs 3 lbs what do you recomend. i feed him 3 times a day but he still the same i would like something with more nutrients im feeding him pedigree complete, what do you think?
Carol

Hi again Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul is also a good food and a bit less expensive than Taste of the Wild.
Carol

Hi I have a border collie also—2 1/2 years. I’ve been feeding him Taste of the wild–lamb formula. It’s really a very good dog food It’s around $50.00 for a 30# bag. Now that’s not cheap, but, there are many more that cost more.
Nadia

I suggest you stick to premium dogfood, like Go Fit and Free, Dr. Tim’s Momentum is great for gaining weight, and Orijen puppy. Make sure to make a slow transition to avoid loose stool. 63 pounds at 5 months is quite big. I suggest Dr. Tim’s if he is that thin.
Nadia

Dr. Tim’s All stages Kinesis, Go Fit and Free puppy or Acana puppy.
Nadia

Go Fit and Free already contains Pre and Pro biotics. It simplifies everything. Adding other sources of probiotics won’t hurt, just a bit hassle on your part. If you use a premium dogfood, usually there is no need to add “ad ons”.