Feeding a Labrador is a challenging task because there are many feeding options for Labradors, but pet owners need to pick the most suitable for their dog. The common feeding options are kibble, wet food, raw food, and even home-cooked puppy food.
The tricky part in feeding a Labrador is finding the right amount of food and type of food that is suitable for the puppy’s growth and development. If you need more help on your Labrador’s diet, continue reading below for useful tips and tricks.
Best Puppy Food for Labradors
Most pet owners opt to feed their baby Labradors commercially produced dry dog food which is commonly known as Kibble because it provides a balanced diet for the dog. There are many brands and types of dry puppy food, but Kibble offers the most balanced nutritional content that is needed by young dogs.
However, if dry food is not enough for the puppy, mixing some commercial tinned dog meat in the dry food is also a healthier alternative. The dog meat mixed in the dry food would make the meal look more desirable for the puppy.
There are other pet owners who do not trust commercial brands for their Labradors, so they opt for home cooked meals and even totally raw diets for their dogs. BARF is an abbreviation for biologically appropriate raw food for dogs which is growing in popularity among dog owners. Even if raw food is allowed for dogs, owners should find the right balance in their dog’s diet for the sake of growth and development.
Experts disagree on puppy feeding
The reasons why many dog owners are having a hard time choosing the feeding method of their dog is because even experts disagree on the most effective puppy feedings. There is evidence that supports commercial dog food and raw food, so it confuses many dog owners. Some experts pronounce that the best way to keep a dog healthy is through the BARF method or feeding dogs raw food.
While some veterinarians and dog nutritionists argue that kibble is the best dog food because raw food can have negative consequences on the dietary health of the dog. The balanced diet that kibble offers makes it easier for dog owners to monitor the health and overall growth of their puppies.
However, there is no evidence that perfectly proves that the other method is better than the other because both type of feeding have their own set of pros and cons. Since both type of feeding has their own risk, its on the shoulders of the dog owner to properly assess the needs of their dog.
In general, the best qualification a dog owner can use in choosing the feeding method of their dog is the type and quality of food that the dog eats.
Feeding your Labrador Puppy on Kibble
Kibble is a commercially made dog food that is ready made into pellets that provides a balanced diet for dogs. However, in choosing a kibble you need to find a good quality brand because some kibble use grain, ash, and other by-products to add cheap bulk.
Since kibble is commercially made, companies are in it for the profit so dog owners should do their research on the best kibble brand that provides the nutrients their dog needs.
The only reminder that dog owners need to remember for the maintenance and storage of Kibble is that it should not get wet. Store the kibble in an airtight plastic container or tin to maintain the food grade quality of the product. Dog owners should prevent chemicals from leaching into the kibble because it can be toxic for the dogs and it can affect the taste of the product.
What do experts think on kibble?
Most veterinarians and dietary experts believe that kibble is the best feeding option for Labradors because it provides a balanced nutrition to the puppy.
If the dog owner decided to go with kibble for the food of their puppy, vets would most likely support this idea because it has enough nutritional contents to help the Labrador grow strong and healthy. Also, since it is not a raw food, it is free from additives that provokes allergies and stomach problems among dogs.
Feeding your Labradors raw food
Some experts are against kibble because since it is commercially made and companies are seeking profit, they feel that the nutritional content of kibble is not enough for the development of the dogs.
The common concerns of people on kibble are that they are worried of the long-term effects of feeding kibble to a Labrador so they opt to a more natural raw diet. However, before choosing raw diet for the dogs, dog owners should do their research because there are many pros and cons in a raw diet.
Dog owners should also be knowledgeable in the dos and don’ts of raw dog diet because there are many additives and food that are toxic to dogs. One should be familiar with the dietary restrictions and nutritional needs of the dogs before creating an effective meal plan through the raw food method. Remember that the dog’s diet is complex, and it needs to remain balanced for the growth and development of the dog.
How much do you need to feed a Labrador puppy?
Aside from the type of food the puppy needs, dog owners should also be mindful of the amount of food they give to their dogs. The puppy feeding chart is a helpful visual representation on the amount of food dog owners should give to their dog, but it is not always accurate.
An effective way to adjust the meal of the dog based on their needs is through observation. If the dog seems overweight for their age, lessen the quantity of food because overfeeding is bad for puppies. An overfed puppy would grow way too fast that it leads to less dense bones and other abnormalities
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