Pets require specially curated foods during their growing stage. Formula foods created for specific breeds target their growth hormones. They are induced with great nutritional value to provide pups with high energy levels. As puppies exert maximum strength in their growing years, they need enough calories to support their energy levels. The formulated pet foods are readily available online and at retail stores. Here is a list of top-rated foods that are ideal for growing puppies:

Royal Canin
This pet food brand is popular among pet parents and vets alike. The brand is known for creating tailored nutrition for cats and dogs. Royal Canin has strategically crafted its formulas among pets depending on their size, age, breed, and whether it’s an indoor or an outdoor pet. They offer an extensive range of foods for growing puppies that ensure they get the right nutrition to support their growth and development. Royal Canin categorizes its food for puppies in different size variants, including X-small, Mini, Medium, Maxi, and Giant.

Natural Balance
This brand works with limited ingredients to ensure the best selection and nutrient-rich recipes. Their selective range of nutrients includes one source of animal protein, plant-based proteins, and selected carbohydrates to provide the pets with essential nutrients and growth hormones. Their single-source animal meat selection includes bison or duck, and omega-rich salmon. Natural Balance excels at providing a variety of wet and dry food recipes crafted with balanced nutrition and no added fillers. Their food is categorized into Life Stages – Adult, Puppy, and All Life Stages. Some of their popular recipes from their puppy range include Chicken & Brown Rice, Lamb & Brown Rice, and Reserved Grain Free Duck & Potato.

Nutro
The brand’s philosophy is to use clean ingredients and craft recipes made with natural, recognizable non-GMO ingredients. The brand uses nutrient-rich foods; every single ingredient is selected to provide essential growth proteins and nutrients. Nutro doesn’t settle on unnatural ingredients and avoids using artificial flavors, preservatives, and food colors. They don’t use animal by-products, wheat, soy, corn, or any other fillers. Check out their puppy recipes, where Nutro shares a list of the ingredients used. They include a variety of wet and dry foods to support the puppy’s growth and nutritional needs. Some of their popular choices include Puppy Tender Chicken, Sweet Potato, & Pea Recipe Bites in Gravy, Puppy Recipe with Farm-Raised Chicken, and Puppy Tender Beef, Pea, & Carrot Recipe Bite in Gravy.

Just Right
Just Right, powered by Purina, offers personalized foods for pets and formulates the best possible combination for a specific breed and size of the pet. They make customized food work by taking a 5-minute quiz that lets pet parents insert their pet’s details and asks them to specify their allergies. Based on their specific nutritional needs, Just Right crafts a recipe using the essential proteins, carbs, or plant-based ingredients. They offer a great variety of options in both dry and gravy, and their subscribers benefit from free deliveries.

Blue Buffalo
The Life Protection product line of the brand is perfect for growing puppies. The dry formula is created by using healthy ingredients like chicken, lamb, oatmeal, and brown rice. It does not contain BHA and high-risk preservatives.

When buying pet food, check labels for nutritional profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. They approve profiles that include the necessary ingredients and appropriate portions for a growing puppy to thrive.

These pet foods are available on the brand website as well as most retail online and offline stores. However, check for the reliability of the product as there are many dupes available in the market. To avoid the hassle, one can subscribe to their official website to get their pet food delivered to their doorstep. Snag some discounts, offers, or other benefits on subscribing.

Home-cooked foods for growing puppies
Besides the listed commercial pet foods, there are a variety of options one can create at home for their pets. The below list is specially curated with ingredients that could be used for growing pups. Ensure the recipes have a good balance of protein, carbs, and fats.

• Proteins – Chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef, yogurt, cooked eggs
• Carbohydrates – Rice, pasta, potatoes
• Fats – Vegetable oil, peanut butter (unsalted or unsweetened)
• Fiber – Sweet potato (steamed or boiled), carrots, peas, pumpkin, beans

One can rely on a combination of raw and cooked foods. However, if your puppy doesn’t respond well to raw foods, it’s best to stick to cooked recipes. You can take help from your veterinarian to make the transition from cooked to raw foods when the pet is older. Ask your vet about your puppy’s caloric requirements and feed them accordingly. This will help you understand the portion that needs to be served and the amount of food that should be in line with the calories spent in a day. Besides, remember to increase the portion sizes as they grow fast and practice weighing them every week to keep tabs on their growth.