Labrador puppies are large breed pups. As such, their nutritional needs are different from those of other breeds. They also have a different structure, which is why you need to provide them with breed-specific food. To ensure your little pooch grows healthy, strong, and happy, you need to feed it with the best puppy food for labs.
However, with the numerous brands in the market, many lab puppy owners usually have difficulties in finding the best dog food for their lab puppies. While looking for the best dog food for your Labrador puppy, there are many factors you need to keep in mind. Fortunately, we are here to take away the stress of excessive research, as we will be walking you through seven of the best puppy food for labs.
The first great dog food for lab puppies on our list is the Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Puppy. This food is formulated to provide growing large breed dogs with all the nutrients and vitamins they need. It is very rich in protein, with a protein content of 38 percent.
The first three major ingredients of this food are deboned chicken, turkey meal, and chicken meal. Deboned chicken is a high-quality chicken protein, whereas the turkey and chicken meal is a concentrate.
This food contains about 300 percent more protein than normal chicken meat weight-for-weight. This is because when a chicken is cooked, it loses up to 80 percent of its water content whereas the meal does not. This dog food from Wellness Core is also rich in nutrients, as it contains vitamin B12, vitamin D, Vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A. It also contains minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc.
In addition, this food is loaded with fruits such as blueberries and apples. It even contains veggies like carrots, broccoli, potatoes, and spinach. To prevent infections, this food contains green tea extracts, lactobacillus acidophilus, and rosemary extracts. The food is 100 percent grain-free and it contains only premium, all-natural ingredients.
It features smaller kibble sizes for puppies and it is fortified with antioxidants and probiotics. It also includes fish and flax omega blend for a healthy coat and skin. For eye and brain development, this dog meal contains DHA. There are no meat by-products, corn, artificial flavors, colors, or fillers in this food.
This is one of the best puppy food for labs out there. This is a 100 percent grain-free puppy food that is also very rich in protein. The major ingredient of this meal is bison, and it is a high-end meat product.
This food is also made with lamb meal, which also contains a huge amount of protein in it being a meat concentrate, 300% more than fresh lamb meat. It also features potatoes, which are a great source of complex carbs.
It contains beta-carotene and fiber. This food contains about 40% carbohydrates, which provides your Labrador retriever with more than enough energy that is ideal for their busy lifestyle. Thanks to its salmon oil content, this food has two omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and EPA.
It also contains chicory root which provides inulin – a prebiotic that enhances healthy bacteria in the digestive system of your lab, promoting good digestive health and overall well-being.
This high-quality protein recipe features smaller kibble tailored for growing lab puppies. The ingredients of this food are from sustainable, trusted sources around the globe. It is a grain-free formula with no corn, filler, wheat, preservatives, or artificial colors, and flavors. This is a complete and balanced dry dog food formulated for lab puppies.
If you are looking for the best breed-specific food just for lab puppies, then you should consider the Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Labrador Retriever Puppy Dry Dog Food. This is one of the best dog food for lab puppies in the market. Large breed dogs take more time to get to maturity than smaller breeds.
They take about 12 to 18 months, or even 2 years, to grow fully. This dog food for Labrador retriever nourishes puppies from eight weeks to fifteen months.
This food comes with the perfect amount of calcium and protein to cater to their large breed bone and joint issues. This recipe also provides 100 percent support for their skin and coat, as labs have a water-resistant and unique coat. It also contains probiotics and prebiotics to support their digestive system and intestines.
Despite its use of chicken byproduct meal, it still covers all the major things we look for in the best puppy food for labs. It contains high, but not too high, protein levels. It has a protein content of 31 percent, which is great even for the most active and bouncy lab puppies. Royal Canin is well-balanced with a fat content of 12 percent which falls within the recommended 10 to 15 percent for lab puppies.
It is made with fish oil, which means it contains omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and EPA for strong bones, eyes, and cerebral function. It contains a great level of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. Per cup of this diet contains 307 kilocalories.
Hill’s has been in the dog food industry for a very long time now. This brand has years of scientific research behind all its recipes. The Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food is one of the best dog food in the market, and it is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your lab puppy.
Labs are typically big dogs, as such; some of them usually have bone and joint issues. This puppy food is formulated to solve this issue, as it comes with chondroitin and glucosamine that help with the development of bones and muscles. With this food, your lab pup will be a lean machine.
This company used trusted ingredients from around the world to make this food. The food is made in the USA and it is completely safe for your pooch friend. This food also caters to the coat of your puppy, as it comes with an exclusive blend of Omega-6 fatty acids for a shiny and healthy coat.
The top ingredient in this food is lamb meal (not byproduct meal), and it also contains a great amount of egg for protein, which is a total of 29 percent. It contains 16 percent from pork fat, which is slightly over the recommended 15 percent.
The formula is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. It also contains enough calcium to help your Labrador pup grow substantial, sturdy bones.
If you are looking for a complete and balanced dry dog food for your lab pup, then the Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy Dry Dog Food is what you need.
This food comes with the optimal amount of protein, fat, and calcium for lab puppies. It is available in both chicken and lamb flavors. The first two ingredients of both recipes are animal-sourced proteins.
This puppy food for labs contains DHA for growing brains, and it helps your lab to meet their full potential. It also comes with a considerably fair price and dogs up to 18 months of age can still eat it. It is made with natural ingredients including farm-raised chicken, sweet potato, and brown rice. It contains vitamins and minerals that are essential to the growth and development of your lab puppy.
The formula includes calcium for strong, healthy bones and joints and Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy, shiny coat and skin. Nutro also made this food with essential antioxidants such as vitamin E, which promotes a healthy immune system. It is made with non-GMO ingredients.
The Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Dog Food is the number one choice of dog food for many lab owners. One reason why many dog owners love this product is that it is available in different package sizes and formulations. It is the most versatile puppy food on our list.
Purina has made five formulations to meet the lifestyle and dietary requirements of an array of puppies including lab puppies. The formulas are Focus, Sport, Savor, Nature, and Bright Mind.
All these formulations are also available for puppies and adult dogs. The Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Dog food comes with the perfect blend of ingredients for lab puppies. This food contains omega-rich fish oil, which helps promote brain development. It also contains antioxidants to strengthen your lab pup’s immune system.
The source of protein in this food is chicken. The food also contains healthy levels of glucosamine to support their joints and cartilage. The specialized nutrients in this meal will ensure your Labrador puppy remains healthy, strong, and happy.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to dog foods. With that in mind, Eukanuba has taken its food production to a new level by scientifically developing different foods to suit different dog breeds and life stages.
This puppy food for large breeds contains a scientifically formulated balance of fats, proteins, calcium, and phosphorus in the appropriate proportions and amounts. The food promotes a healthy rate of muscle and bone development.
The food is also loaded with the right amount of chondroitin and glucosamine to promote the health of soft tissues, which is highly important for large breeds such as lab, as they suffer from many joint issues in life. For healthy brain development, this food contains Omega oils, and also the fatty acids to support a healthy coat and skin.
This formula also includes a mixture of natural beet pulp and prebiotics to fortify the digestive system of your lab puppy. The clinically proven calcium and protein levels will give your lab puppy the kick it needs to grow at a healthy and steady pace.
Lab puppies are among the most adorable in the world. These dogs are playful, energetic, and loving. Nevertheless, the nutritional and dietary needs of this dog breed need to be met if you want them to have a smooth and swift transition into adulthood.
There are certain things you need to consider when picking a puppy food for your lab pup, and some of those things include:
If you do not give the diet of your lab puppy the attention it deserves, you might run into some severe health issues. The dietary needs of adult and pup labs are not the same; they vary drastically. Lab puppies grow rapidly, so they have higher nutritional needs than adult labs. They need more resources to build their muscles and bones.
The best dog food for lab puppies is made with natural ingredients, with no additives such as artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. You also need to ensure that the food does not contain allergenic ingredients.
You want to make sure that your lab pup is growing healthy and strong, and not just in size. While labs are known for their gluttonous eating character, you need to watch what your pup eats and provide it with complete and well-balanced puppy food for labs.
Another thing you should think about is wet or dry dog food options. For lab puppies, kibble is the best option. Dry food (kibble) tends to have more balanced and complete nutrition. All the ingredients added to a dry food recipe are tailored to the specific ratios most suitable to your lab puppy.
In addition, if the digestive system of your lab pup needs more attention, then a grain-free option is your best option. Kibble offers many benefits, including keeping the teeth of your puppy clean as they chew. Larger kibble also helps to slow down the eating habits of your lab baby and prevents bloating.
Large breeds are prone to joint issues as they grow older, and Labradors are no exceptions. Some dog foods contain ingredients that solve this issue. Glucosamine and chondroitin are two ingredients in dog food that help to treat joint issues.
These ingredients also come in supplement forms, which you can find in stores. However, ingesting them through food intake is the best way. Chondroitin and glucosamine help to relieve symptoms of the hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis in your later years of lab baby.
With the reviews and buying guide in this article, choosing the best puppy food for your labs should no longer be a difficult task. You can pick any of the options that suit your lab baby’s nutritional needs.
From the products we have reviewed, our top recommendation is the Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Dog Food, as it comes in different flavors and sizes. It also has several high-quality formulations that are suitable for almost any lab puppy. It is dry dog food and it is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your growing Labrador pup.
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