Getting a new puppy is the beginning of a beautiful journey—and to make sure that your pup starts off on the right paw, great nutrition is vital. At this point, you may have a lot of questions, like “What is the healthiest food to feed a puppy?” or “What is better for puppies—wet food or dry food?”
Choosing the best puppy food helps your fur baby grow up to be healthy, strong, and full of energy. In this comprehensive guide by Sploot Veterinary Care, we go over the factors to consider when choosing the best AAFCO-approved puppy food—along with some of our top picks from trusted brands!
Overview:
- Young puppies 3 months old or younger can eat moistened dry food (kibble) or wet food
- Puppies generally need to eat three times a day until they are 4 to 6 months old. After this time, they can transition to twice-a-day feeding.
- Choosing the best puppy food depends on your puppy’s size—as well as other individual health factors like breed predispositions and canine allergies.
What is the Healthiest Food to Feed a Puppy?
The healthiest food to feed a puppy is the one recommended by your veterinarian. Generally, vets recommend AAFCO-approved puppy food. The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) is an independent organization that sets the standard for optimal pet nutrition, based on decades of scientific studies.
When you feed your puppy a vet-recommended diet at the right portions and frequency, they get all the nutrients they need for their development. However, for puppies that have specific needs, your vet may also recommend puppy supplements.
Note: Find out the most beneficial puppy food by scheduling a puppy exam. During a puppy exam, veterinarians will monitor your puppy’s development, look out for canine food allergies or sensitivities, and give you the recommended dog vaccine schedule for your pup.
→ Learn more - How to Take Care of a New Puppy 101: The 1st Year [Vet-Approved]
Is All Life Stage Food Good For Dogs?
Sploot veterinarian, Dr. Sylvia Berns states that all-lifestage food is not typically recommended. She explains: “The nutrients, fat, calories, and vitamin requirements are not the same for all ages. This is why we generally recommend puppy-specific diets, which help puppies grow and develop to their full extent.”
Can I Feed My Small Puppy Large Puppy Food?
Before a veterinarian recommends the best puppy food, they’ll take note of a few key factors, such as the puppy’s breed size, breed predispositions, and overall health. However, the factor that has the widest impact is the size of the breed, which divides certain puppy food into separate formulations.
If puppy food is formulated for larger breeds, it is generally NOT recommended for small-breed puppies—and vice versa. This is because of the following reasons:
- Larger breed puppies may need a specific balance of calcium and phosphorus to support bone growth, preventing skeletal diseases like hip dysplasia—especially for susceptible breeds. When fed to small or medium-sized breeds, this kind of puppy food can cause developmental issues.
- Small and medium-sized breeds may be more comfortable eating smaller kibble, appropriate to their size.
- Dog food for small-breed puppies is typically packaged according to serving size, helping to ensure the food’s freshness.
Note: Not all brands of puppy food have separate formulations for small, medium, and large breeds. In addition, some formulations are combined (e.g. small-to-medium, medium-to-large). When in doubt, consult your vet!
What is Better for Puppies: Wet or Dry Food?
Puppies can thrive on just dry food, wet food, or a combination of both. Here are the advantages of each:
Dry Puppy Food Only
Sticking to dry puppy food has the following benefits:
- Easier to store (no refrigeration required)
- Easier to clean up after feeding
- Generally more cost-effective
- Can be easily softened with moisture for puppies 3 months and younger
- Helps reduce dental disease in dogs by scraping plaque off teeth as pets chew
Main disadvantage: Dry puppy food is not palatable to all dogs and some dogs may get tired of it.
Note: If your dog gets tired of dry food, Dr. Berns offers this helpful tip: “Pet parents can add a small amount of wet food (on top or mixed in) to entice puppies to eat. However, the added wet food would need to be counted as part of the puppy’s daily caloric value.”
Wet Puppy Food Only
Feeding your puppy wet food only has the following benefits:
- More palatable to puppies—especially for picky eaters
- Softer than kibble—no need to put water
- Provides added hydration
Main disadvantages: Wet puppy food is generally not as cost-effective and would also need to be refrigerated once the can is open. In addition, wet food does not clean plaque off the dog’s teeth the way that dry food does.
Note: For optimum dental health, Dr. Berns recommends: “If pet parents choose a wet-food-only diet, it would be best to put more importance on dental hygiene habits (e.g. toothbrushing, dental chews, vet dental care) to prevent canine dental disease.
Combination of Dry & Wet Puppy Food
Another option is to combine dry and wet puppy food—or alternate them. This combines the benefits of both types of puppy food.
Note: Make sure to talk to your vet to find a balance that best provides your puppy with their daily required nutritional intake.
The Best Puppy Food: X Examples [Small, Medium, & Large Breeds]
1. Royal Canin® Size Health Nutrition™ Dry Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Dry food, one of the best dog foods for puppies: small, medium, and large breeds, AAFCO-approved puppy food
Royal Canin® Size Health Nutrition™ is one of the best dry puppy foods in the market, offering balanced nutrition with variants for every breed size.
The formulations for small and medium puppies are separate—each finetuned to support the faster rate of growth and higher energy requirements of these breeds.
Meanwhile, the formulation for larger breeds supports their relatively slower but lengthier growing period, providing the nutrients for developing strong muscles and bones, and helping prevent skeletomuscular issues which are prevalent in larger breeds.
With highly digestible proteins and prebiotic ingredients, this dry puppy food is also ideal for sensitive stomachs.
2. Royal Canin® Size Health Nutrition™ Thin Slices in Gravy [Wet Food]
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Wet food, one of the best dog foods for puppies: small, medium, and large breeds, AAFCO-approved puppy food
Royal Canin’s Thin Slices in Gravy is a sought-after wet food for puppies, with its savory flavor and a healthy mix of antioxidants, vitamin E, and easy-to-digest proteins. This puppy food supports growth and brain development, strengthens the immune system, and promotes digestive health.
Royal Canin’s Thin Slices in Gravy has separate variants for small, medium, and large breeds, packaged and portioned accordingly to ensure freshness. This wet puppy food serves as a full meal by itself or as an effective and healthy food topper for picky eaters.
3. Hill's Science Diet Puppy: Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables [Wet Food]
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Wet food, one of the best puppy foods, formulated for all sizes, AAFCO-approved puppy food
Hill's Science Diet Puppy: Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables is one of their most highly rated wet food for puppies. This puppy food is delicious, easy to digest, and packed with high-quality protein for building muscle. With its nutritious ingredients, it also helps build immunity and strong bones, giving your puppy a great start in life.
This wet food for puppies is NOT size-specific, meaning it can be recommended by veterinarians for virtually any breed. The can includes portioning instructions based on the puppy’s age and weight.
4. Purina® Pro Plan® Development Shredded Chicken & Rice [Dry Food]
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Dry food, one of the best puppy foods, formulated for all sizes, AAFCO-approved puppy food
Purina® Pro Plan® Development Shredded Chicken & Rice is one of the best and most highly rated dry foods for puppies. It provides a nutritious formula that combines DHA from omega-rich fish oil for brain and vision development, antioxidants for cellular health and immune support, and calcium for strong bones and teeth.
Made with high-quality chicken, it includes crunchy kibble and tender shredded chicken for taste and texture. It is also fortified with live probiotics for digestive and immune health.
5. Royal Canin® Breed Health Nutrition® [Dry Food]
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Dry food, one of the best dog foods for purebred puppies, AAFCO-approved puppy food
Royal Canin® Breed Health Nutrition® offers targeted breed-specific nourishment for puppies—with each formula tailored to a breed's unique nutrient needs. It also has kibble sizes and shapes specifically designed to suit the breed. Additional factors such as size, coat length, and other characteristics are also considered to ensure optimal nutrition and health support.
Examples of breeds with their own special puppy food formulation include: Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Poodle, Pug, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Jack Russell Terrier, Boxer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and more.
Final Reminders on Choosing the Best Puppy Food
When it comes to choosing the best food for your puppy, consulting your veterinarian is essential. Puppies have unique nutritional needs depending on their breed, size, and stage of growth.
A vet can help you select a diet that provides the right balance of nutrients—while also addressing any special dietary requirements, such as malnutrition, food sensitivities, or allergies in dogs.
If you haven’t brought your puppy to the vet yet, make sure to schedule a puppy exam. Puppy exams are physical examinations for puppies where veterinarians also guide you through dog vaccination schedules, spaying/neutering, microchipping, and other important puppy care tips.
Get Complete Puppy Care at Sploot Vets
Sploot Veterinary Care offers all-in-one vet care for your puppy. Whether you need routine care for your puppy or you’d like to consult our vets regarding your puppy’s health or well-being, we’re here to help.
Plus, with our Fear Free certified medical team, we will help your puppy develop a positive association with vet visits.
Get unparalleled availability in our convenient clinic locations. Our modern veterinary clinics are open for extended hours, 365 days a year (including holidays!) You can easily schedule an appointment online or through the Sploot Vets app.
