How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Cane Corso Puppies
Cane Corso puppies are beautiful to behold. Full of energy and with a bold, courageous spirit, the Cane Corso puppy requires a diet that can keep pace with this adventurous little bundle of fur and provide optimal nutrition to fuel its daily activity.
Cane Corso puppies should be fed a diet that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of large breed puppies. Adult formulations lack the correct number of calories and the ratio of nutrients to fuel a puppy’s growth and development. At age 18 months, the Cane Corso puppy can be transitioned to a high-quality adult food.
Active large breed puppies can easily become overweight, so the best dog foods for Cane Corso puppies should be carefully measured and monitored to ensure they maintain a healthy body condition. Free feeding this breed is strongly discouraged.
Feeding Cane Corso Puppies
A good place to start when feeding your Cane Corso puppy is with the feeding guidelines on the packaging of a high-quality large breed puppy food. This will ensure the correct amount is being fed as your puppy grows. The best food for Cane Corso puppies should be spread out over three to four meals given throughout the day to keep the pup’s hunger at bay.
To ensure the Cane Corso puppy’s growth proceeds at a healthy rate, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the puppy’s food must be correct. Feeding a diet specially formulated for large breed puppies ensures this nutritional requirement is met.
Dietary Requirements for Cane Corso Puppy Foods
Cane Corso puppies require a diet that is calorie-dense and protein-rich. Their ideal diet should be comprised of a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8.5 percent fat. Protein sources should be derived from animal origins and are preferably in whole form. Meat meals are also acceptable.
Most Cane Corso dogs and puppies can easily process both whole grains and fruits and vegetables. The primary importance of carbohydrates in the Cane Corso puppy’s diet is their ease of digestibility.
Healthy fats form an important part of the Cane Corso’s ideal food. Fats provide needed energy for puppies and also assist with the development of healthy skin and coat. The best sources for healthy fats are animal-based and include chicken fat and oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, and anchovies. Certain plant-based oils can also be a good source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Cane Corso Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Cane Corso puppy:
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Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
One of the first ingredients in a high-quality food suitable for the Cane Corso puppy should be protein. Whole, lean meats provide the most nutritional impact; however, meat meals are also an excellent choice.
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Enriched with helpful supplements
All diets can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements. The most beneficial supplements added to large breed puppy foods include DHA, prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Cane Corso puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.