How to Select the Best Dog Food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pup is an amiable little pooch, full of sweetness and fun. A breed that makes for an excellent family companion, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is well-renowned for its large, luminous round eyes and beautiful expression.
A dog breed that is a true lover of food, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy will eat as much food as it is offered. As a result, this dog type can be prone to becoming overweight. To prevent this, it is recommended that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy’s food be measured and all intake monitored.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies adore their families and seek to be near them as often as possible. Because they bond so deeply to their people, the breed does not do well when left alone for long periods of time.
A highly intelligent breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy loves to learn, taking to training with eagerness and a spirit of adventure. Because the breed is soft-natured at heart, positive reinforcement training is recommended for this soft and sensitive pooch.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies can be predisposed to skin irritations and allergies. To help prevent itchiness and other unpleasant skin-related problems, it is best to avoid foods that contain common allergens such as soy, corn, and wheat. By-products are also not of sufficient quality for this sometimes skin and stomach sensitive breed.
The best dog foods for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. Another important component owners should look for in a food for this breed is its ratio of calcium to phosphorus. The correct amounts to support a healthy rate of bone growth are 1.2 parts of calcium to 1 part of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies
Determining how much of the best dog food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies to feed a dog can be as challenging as selecting a food in the first place. The best means to ascertain what a puppy’s meal portions should be is by consulting the food’s packaging for suggested serving sizes. These can be used as a baseline starting point and can be adjusted accordingly until the perfect amount is found.
Because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy loves to eat and is prone to weight gain, this breed should never be free fed.
A small breed puppy food is the best choice for this charming little breed. After age one year, the dog can be transitioned to an appropriate adult formulation.
Dietary Requirements for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy Foods
The charming Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, like all dogs, is a carnivore, and thus requires a diet that is based on meat to thrive. The best dog foods for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies list a lean meat as their primary ingredient. Whole meats or meat meals are the best options.
By-products are taken from parts of an animal that are not considered desirable for human consumption. As a result, these are often inferior in quality and can be difficult for dogs to process and utilize effectively. Foods containing by-products or plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are best avoided. Other ingredients that are not suited to the needs of the developing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy include chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.
Because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy can be predisposed to skin issues, some puppies may do best on a grain-free diet. For those pups that can freely enjoy a grain-inclusive recipe, it is best to look for foods that place a high emphasis on whole grains that are easy to digest. Fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber and antioxidants help ensure healthy digestion and a strong immune system.
Healthy fats help the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy to enjoy coat and skin health and to have the support needed for eye and brain development. These are best derived from animal origins and include such ingredients as chicken fat or oily fish. Plant-based oils such as safflower, canola, or coconut are also excellent sources of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Supplements help a food to work its most effectively. The best dog foods for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies often include the following supplements in their formulations: prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies need a diet based on a lean meat to thrive. The primary ingredient in any food suited to this breed should be a whole meat or meat meal.
By-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat should be avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to a growing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. Diets containing these ingredients should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Diets that include supplements in their recipe offer additional health benefits to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. The ideal supplements to look for in a food include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.