If you choose to have a Labrador puppy as your first pet, you might be unsure about what to feed them. This is because puppies are different from adult dogs and will require a high-quality, protein-rich meal. An ideal meal for Labrador puppies must have 18-22% protein. Similarly, they also need proper quantities of fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber to be at their healthiest and live the longest. Keep reading to learn about some of the top brands that offer the best food for a Labrador puppy.
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Dog Food from Wellness Core
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal are the first three ingredients of Wellness Core (Found here on Amazon), (paid link) which has a high-grade protein level of 38%.
While chicken and turkey meals are a concentrate, deboned chicken contains high-grade chicken protein. Because after the chicken is cooked, it loses up to 80% of its water content, but the meal doesn’t. It has almost 300 percent more protein per pound than regular chicken flesh.
Along with vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin A, this puppy food contains zinc, iron, and calcium. There are tons of veggies, including potatoes, spinach, carrots, and broccoli. Even some fruit, such as apples and blueberries, is included. Infections are known to be prevented by rosemary extract, green tea extract, and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
A balanced diet that promotes healthy growth and development is provided by this dry dog food. Likewise, its cutting-edge nutrition ensures lean body mass and muscle tone,. It promotes a healthy coat and skin without including any artificial preservatives, colors, tastes, fillers, grains, maize, soy, or wheat.
The top pick for the best puppy food for labs is this high-quality food, on which your puppy will flourish.
Grain-Free Puppy Formula from K9 Natural
This dog food gives your puppy all the advantages of raw food while promoting lean muscle mass. It also offers peak conditioning and ideal growth and development that is neither too rapid nor stunted. New Zealand beef raised on pasture is the major component. Flaxseed, kelp, New Zealand mussels, fruits, vegetables, and Hoki oil, which delivers DHA and EPA for optimal brain and eye development, round out the list of whole food components.
The K9 Natural Grass Fed Beef Feast with Hoki Oil Grain-Free Puppy Freeze-Dried Dog Food will aid in your puppy’s development of good health and strength. It is made to assist the growth of puppies of any breed or size specifically Labradors. Their sensitive stomachs can easily tolerate the grain-free recipe, which is loaded with nutrients like calcium for strong teeth and DHA for eye health.
The freeze-dried recipe keeps all the flavor and goodness while being incredibly simple and practical to serve. It is also grain-free and many dog owners prefer this kibble for this reason.
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Large Breed Puppy Food from Eukanuba
Eukanuba Puppy (found here on Amazon) (paid link) contains a scientifically designed balance of proteins, fats, calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients. It has the right amounts and proportions to encourage a healthy rate of bone and muscle development. That is crucial for large breed puppies because too many nutrients can be just as harmful as not enough.
This balanced puppy chow nourishes the body, mind, and energy of your developing puppy. Optimal calcium and phosphorus levels, together with high-quality animal proteins, support healthy bone development and muscle growth. Clinically validated DHA levels encourage sound brain growth for a more intelligent, trainable puppy. Optimum fat and carbohydrate levels provide focused energy for play and growth in your puppy.
A mixture of natural fiber and prebiotics promotes easy digestion. Vitamin E, an antioxidant, is guaranteed to be present, supporting the immune system development of your young champion. In addition, the first component in our medium puppy dry dog food, high-quality chicken, give your tiny dog energy throughout the day. The future holds tremendous things for your pet.
For the well-being of connective soft tissues, the meal also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which is comforting for large breeds, notably Labradors, who are prone to many joint disorders throughout their lives. Along with other fatty acids supporting healthy skin and coat, it also includes omega oils for proper brain development.
Puppy Formula from Taste of the Wild
Protein is abundant in Taste of the Wild (found here on Amazon). (paid link) The first component is bison, a premium cut of meat. The next component is lamb meal, which contains 300 percent more protein than fresh lamb meat and is a meat concentrate. Sweet potatoes, a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates, are the third most common component. They have beta carotene and fiber. In actuality, this dish contains about 40% carbs. That gives your furry friend a source of energy perfect for his active puppy lifestyle.
Additionally, this meal contains salmon oil, which is known to be high in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Chicory root also contains inulin, a prebiotic that supports healthy bacteria in your puppy’s digestive tract and overall well-being.
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Breed Specific Labrador Puppy Food from Royal Canin
Breed Health Nutrition by Royal Canin (found here on Amazon) (paid link) is formulated specifically to meet a labrador retriever’s nutritional needs. This exclusive breed-specific meal is specially developed for your large breed puppy with specialized nutrients to help puppies grow, whether you have a Yellow Lab, Chocolate Lab, or Black Lab.
The purpose of the donut-shaped specialty kibble is to encourage your fast eater to take his/her time and chew well. Its expanding immune system is supported by a special antioxidant and vitamin E combination, which also maintains his enormous dog body growing robust. In addition to supporting bones and joints, calcium and phosphorus also assist him to maintain a healthy weight.
Additionally, this Labrador dog food contains high-quality proteins and prebiotics to encourage healthy stool quality and assist your puppy’s digestive tract. To ensure that your Lab puppy receives the proper nutrients as an adult, switch him from puppy food to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Dog Food after he has reached the age of 15 months.
Large Breed Puppy Food from Nutro Ultra
With Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food (found here on Amazon), (paid link) you can feed your paw-feet puppy meals that are both nourishing and delectable. These excellent, dry recipes specially created for large breed puppies begin with actual chicken as their first ingredient, no chicken by-product meal. You can make a delicious, nutritious supper by combining lamb, salmon, and a mixture of 15 superfoods.
The premium, non-GMO ingredients, that are sourced from reputable farms, offer a balanced, nutrient-rich puppy diet that supports the health of your furry baby’s hair and skin. Furthermore, it is devoid of maize, wheat, and soy protein and has no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. This tasty, wholesome kibble will be a favorite among your growing puppy!
This meal not only caters to large breed puppies, such as Labs, but it also satisfies AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile guidelines and is healthy and economically priced.
It has all the vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids required for healthy development, a robust immune system, and overall good health. Your puppy has an advantage with healthy joints thanks to the glucosamine and chondroitin that are derived organically.
Grain-Free Recipe from Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Puppy (found here on Amazon) (paid link) is a fantastic option if you’re searching for quality wet food to feed your Lab puppy. DHA is included in the formulation of this canned, wet food to assist brain and eye development. This food contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, by-product meals, maize, wheat, soy, cereals, or gluten. However, it should be emphasized that most dogs do not require a grain-free diet because gluten and grain allergies in dogs are uncommon.
The first three components are chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. Although it is more frequently used as a topping, wet food can also be served as an entrée. Additionally, Blue Buffalo provides giant breed pups with high-quality dry food.
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Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food from ORIJEN
The bulk of the animal protein in Orijen Puppy Large (found here on Amazon) (paid link) comes from fresh fish and deboned chicken. Numerous reviews give this premium, high-quality cuisine its highest endorsement. This food’s analysis revealed a fantastic ratio of fat to protein. And the first five components are all either fresh or raw animal protein. The first five components in this kibble are deboned chicken, deboned turkey, whole eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel, and yellowtail flounder.
This recipe provides a freeze-dried coating that infuses the kibble with various mouthwatering tastes. This food is a fantastic source of the protein, vitamins, and minerals that your developing Lab puppy needs to grow and develop. Since only a tiny percentage of dogs are sensitive to grains or gluten, going grain-free is a matter of personal taste.
The only drawback to this cuisine is that it is expensive, but the high quality is worth it. The food’s maker goes so far as to say that it contains 85% quality animal components, which is more than some of its rivals. Overall, this is a good option for Lab puppies.
Dry Puppy Food from Chicken Soup for the Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Puppy food (found here on Amazon), (paid link) is made specifically for the large breeds and includes DHA, calcium, phosphorus, glucosamine, and chondroitin for healthy joints. Omega-3 fatty and omega-6 fatty acids support healthy skin and coats. Wheat, maize, and soy (common fillers) are not present in this product. Another plus is that the first two ingredients on the list are chicken and turkey.
Many dog owners give this meal positive reviews. It is reasonably priced. The drawback of this recipe is that some puppies did reject it. Overall, many owners praised the fact that they got good value for their money and that many puppies responded favorably to this dry food. Some dog owners went so far as to characterize the pups’ healthy coats.
Want to make a good homemade meal for your Labrador Puppy? Check out our post “Homemade Food for a Labrador Puppy” for some great dog friendly recipes..
Large Breed Puppy Food from American Journey
A grain-free, well-reviewed dry puppy chow called American Journey Large Breed Pups is designed to meet the needs of large breed puppies as they grow and develop. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the formula is at the top of the range between 1.1:1 and 1.8:1, so keep an eye on your dog’s growth to make sure it doesn’t happen too quickly. This formula focuses on healthy bone formation.
Furthermore, ARA and DHA are present to maintain normal eyesight and cognitive function. There are no grains, wheat, maize, soy, by-product meals, chemical preservatives, or flavors used in the production of this food. The first component is real meat. And many dog owners choose the American Journey for their high-quality goods.
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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.