How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Dachshund Puppies
Is there anything cuter than a Dachshund puppy? This energetic little pooch is full of energy and life, bringing a ready smile to the lips of every person it meets. Dachshund puppies can be predisposed to a number of health problems including intervertebral disc disease. To prevent these conditions from developing, it is a good idea to ensure the Dachshund puppy never becomes overweight.
Dachshund puppies love to eat, so carefully weighing and measuring their food is vital to support a healthy weight and body condition. In addition to this, Dachshund puppies can display skin and stomach sensitivities. If you are concerned your Dachshund puppy may be showing signs of a food allergy, your veterinarian will be able to recommend a hypoallergenic diet that is also suitable for growth.
The best foods for Dachshund puppies place a high emphasis on highly digestible ingredients.
Feeding Dachshund Puppies
Dachshunds come in two different sizes: miniature and standard. Regardless of their size variation, all Dachshund puppies will require a higher caloric intake than their adult counterparts to fuel their growth and development. A high-quality small breed puppy food will make sure these requirements are met. The feeding guidelines on the packaging of a high-quality food for Dachsund puppies will serve as a useful guide for how much to feed.
It is recommended that the total amount of food allotted to a Dachshund puppy be divided into three to four meals that are fed throughout the day to maintain the pup’s energy and support its development. As with any puppy, the dog’s appetite and weight will serve as helpful guidelines in determining how much to feed.
The best dog food for a Dachshund puppy should be carefully measured and the puppy’s weight monitored to prevent obesity.
Dietary Requirements for Dachshund Puppy Foods
Any diet suited to the needs of a developing Dachshund puppy should contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. Proteins should be derived from animal sources and included in their whole form if possible, but meat meals also provide an excellent serving of protein.
Proper bone growth is critical to a puppy’s optimal development. To ensure this occurs, a diet that contains the correct balance of calcium to phosphorus is vitally important. The best foods for Dachshund puppies are specifically formulated to ensure a healthy rate of growth.
All diets suitable for the Dachshund puppy’s needs should include the correct amount of carbohydrates. Though Dachshunds can be predisposed to stomach and skin sensitivities, they can eat both grain-inclusive and grain-free formulations. Whether a food’s carbohydrates are derived from grains, fruits, or vegetables, the main thing is that they are easy to digest, full of fiber, and obtained from excellent quality sources.
No diet is complete without the addition of healthy fats to support proper skin and coat as well as to provide vital energy to the busy Dachshund puppy. Among the most popular fats or oils to look for in a food are chicken fat and oily fish such as mackerel, herring, anchovies, or salmon. Fish oils, in particular, contribute important omega 3 and 6 fatty acids such as DHA.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Dachshund Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Dachshund puppy:
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Complete proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
Dachshund pups thrive on a diet that is rich in proteins. Meats are the preferred source with those included in their whole form the best choice, though meat meals can also be an excellent source of protein.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Probiotics and helpful supplements added to a premium quality food can be an excellent help to a growing Dachshund puppy. Among the most beneficial ingredients to look for are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods for the Dachshund puppy should have received the stamp of approval from AAFCO, certifying it is nutritionally balanced and complete.