How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Akita Puppies
Akita puppies are adorable, little balls of energy and fun. A breed with a coat to spare, the Akita puppy is a fluffy little fellow that bonds deeply with its family, eagerly lavishing them with affection and love. Akita puppies do have some unique nutritional requirements due to some health ailments that can plague the breed. To set this pup up for success, it is important that owners select a high-quality diet made from excellent ingredients and that is well balanced to meet the specific needs of Akita puppies.
Akita puppies can be prone to a number of different health problems including hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, bloat, and sebaceous adenitis. A number of these conditions can be exacerbated by diet, so it is important that owners understand what they can do to assist with these issues. The best dog food for an Akita puppy should be carefully measured and all intake monitored. This will help the pup from becoming overweight.
It is not known what factors must be combined for a puppy to succumb to bloat. However, experts agree that two common triggers may be overeating or eating too rapidly. To help avoid this, owners should select a large breed puppy food for their Akita pup. Foods created specifically for puppies of this size contain kibble pieces that are large enough to encourage puppies to properly chew and swallow each bit, thus making overeating or rapid eating much more difficult.
Akita puppies can also be predisposed to two different problems affecting their skin: sebaceous adenitis and allergies. Though many allergies are environmental and thus not affected by diet, any puppy that displays sensitivities to certain foods may require a hypoallergenic diet. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend one that is also appropriate for growing puppies.
Akita puppies experience a long growth trajectory and do not reach full maturity until age 2. Puppies should be fed a large-breed puppy food until they reach one year of age or have achieved the majority of their adult size. At this time, they should be transitioned to an appropriate adult diet. Any puppy food suitable for the Akita puppy should contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat.
Care must be taken that the correct amount of calcium to phosphorus is included in the Akita puppy’s diet to prevent rapid bone growth. Feeding a large breed puppy formulation will ensure these vital requirements are met.
Feeding Akita Puppies
Akita puppies are highly active and require a diet that can keep pace with their energy levels. Since the Akita puppy grows quickly, its meal sizes will change in size as the dog grows. The feeding guide on the packaging of a high-quality large breed puppy food will serve as a useful guide. The daily amount should be divided into three smaller meals to prevent hunger from occurring.
A puppy’s activity level and body condition will help serve as excellent guidelines as to correct portion size. These will need to be adjusted several times throughout the first year of growth. The best dog foods for Akita puppies are nutrient-dense, focusing on quality.
Dietary Requirements for Akita Puppy Foods
Akita puppies need a food that is high in protein to support their developmental needs. Proteins from animal sources are best with whole meats the best foundation for a diet for this breed.
Most Akita puppies may freely enjoy a grain-inclusive formulation with no ill effects unless they have a specific food allergy. The main priority of any carbohydrate is that it be rich in fiber and antioxidants as well as easy to digest. Ease of digestion is extremely important and a distinguishing characteristic of the best foods for Akita puppies.
All diets need healthy fats to encourage both optimal energy and healthy skin and coat in the Akita puppy. The best sources for these fats are chicken fat and oily fish such as mackerel, anchovies, salmon, and herring.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Akita Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for an Akita puppy:
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Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
Any food suitable for the Akita puppy should contain meat as one of its primary ingredients. Whole meats are the preferred basis for the diet, but meat meals are also a good source of nutrition.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
To provide the Akita puppy with a balanced diet, supplements added to the food are greatly beneficial. The most valuable ingredients to look for are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin. DHA is also a vital essential fatty acid that assists with brain and eye development.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Akita puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.