A growing puppy will have specific diet needs.
Finding a healthy alternative to standard puppy food can be a challenge that will depend on your dog's breed, health condition and the dog itself. However, finding a healthy alternative to buying commercial puppy food can be a benefit to your dog's well-being, to your wallet or both. Experiment with different types of food and different recipes to find the meals that suit your dog's individual taste and needs.
Premium
Premium dog foods can be more beneficial to your growing puppy as they use less filler materials, such as vegetables, in the food. As puppies need to intake a higher amount of calories than a grown dog, a premium dog food specified for puppies will enable them to do just that. While a premium dog food will be more costly, the contents of the food will be much more nutritionally sound, so your puppy will likely eat less than he would with standard puppy food.
Organic
Choosing organic food for your dog is a movement gaining popularity among dog owners. Organic foods use natural ingredients, but without the hassle of preparing the puppy food yourself in your own kitchen. While organic food will likely be more costly than standard puppy food or than preparing the food yourself, you pay for that convenience. Just as humans are turning more toward organic food options, the same health benefits from organic eating are promoted for dogs as well.
Raw
The raw food movement for puppies plays upon the idea that dogs are creatures who since creation have consumed raw, uncooked food. While they may become used to consuming pellets of cooked vegetables and meat, they are not what their digestive systems were designed for. Hefty pieces of meat upon the bone are given to the puppies by their owner to consume as their primary diet. Recommended meats for the raw diet are chicken, turkey and beef.
Homemade
Making your own blend of puppy food is the best way to know exactly what your puppy is consuming, but is also the most time intensive. The Homemade Puppy Dog Place's website recommends creating your homemade dog food with 50 percent protein, 25 percent grain and 25 percent vegetables. Recommended items for this recipe are boneless chicken, lamb, beef or fish for the protein; oatmeal, pasta or rice for the grain; and carrots, green beans and broccoli for the vegetable portion. Avoid such foods as onions, grapes, garlic, mushrooms and uncooked potatoes, which are dangerous to dogs.
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