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When you have Pit Bull pup at home, you will have many reasons to be happy. When they are small, they look innocent and melt your heart with their mischief all day long. They are friendly, and they gel well with adults and kids. They also love to play, keeping you active with their small tricks. Before you understand the best food for Pit Bull puppies though, you need to know some basic facts about this breed.
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About Pit Bull Puppies
Pitbull pups come in many different sizes. On average, they weigh anywhere between 30 and 90 pounds, and grow to a maximum length of 19 inches. Their color and breed depend on the types of bulldogs and terriers that are mixed to get them.
Many people think Pit Bulls are aggressive breeds, but the reality is far from that. They are great entertainers, and they love social interactions. They require a lot of exercise; hence, you should remember to keep them occupied always. Their coat looks short and smooth, meaning you don't have to spend too much time trimming their coats. However, you should remember to trim their nails often.
Though Pit Bulls are socially active breeds, you should only walk with them with a leash. These dogs tend to get distracted when they see their prey, thanks to their natural instinct. We already mentioned that they are very active animals, so they need to be fed a proper diet regularly. Their nutritional and calorie requirements are very different compared to other breeds that don't move too much.
Feeding a Pit Bull Puppy – What Should You Know
Pit Bulls mostly get their energy and enthusiasm from the food they eat, which brings us to the next important segment in this article – their feeding schedule. You should prepare a diet that doesn't cause any allergies or stomach upsets in Pit Bulls as this breed is prone to stomach issues.
What Should You Feed Them Initially?
Pit Bull puppies take some time to settle down in their new homes. So, as soon as you get them home, you should continue feeding them the same food that they were used to having in their previous place. After about 10 days, you can slowly start to change the pup's diet. When feeding the dog, you can mix a small amount of a particular brand with a major portion of the old diet. You can check with your veterinarian before adding probiotics to the diet of Pit Bull puppies, as this can help keep their stomach and gut clean.
Some Important Points to Note in a Pit Bull Pup’s Diet
While preparing the diet for your Pit Bull puppies, you must take care of these points to ensure that they get their nutritional requirements properly.
- The diet should contain a minimum of 22.5% of good quality protein.
- The calcium and phosphorous content in the pup's diet should be in equal proportion. Sometimes, veterinarians also recommend you to include twice the amount of calcium than phosphorous in the diet for the overall development of the pup's bones.
- If the pup is very young, it needs to be fed regularly. You should give those younger than 16 weeks 4 meals a day. This frequency can reduce as the pup grows up. If they are between 16 and 24 weeks old, they will need only 3 meals a day, whereas if they are over 24 weeks old, they will need about 2 to 3 meals a day, depending on their activity.
- You can buy store-bought branded pet foods (both kibble and wet foods) for your puppies. However, if you prepare foods for your pups at home, you should be careful about the ingredients. As we already told you, these pups are prone to food allergies and stomach issues.
- When buying kibble from the stores, we recommend you to opt for premium brands, as the ingredients of these brands are easily digestible for Pit Bull pups. You should buy kibble for medium to large breeds for your dogs. Stay away from kibble that contains corn, fructose, glucose, wheat, soy, and other sugary syrups.
- Your pup may also love to eat wet food that is widely available in all pet stores. However, you may notice that your puppies will have loose stools when they consume wet food in large quantities. Veterinarians believe it is best to feed kibble mainly to Pit Bull pups. You can occasionally give wet foods in the form of treats, even if the package says it is a complete food.
- Please discuss with your vet and carefully study the instructions on the kibble and wet foods package about the quantity you need to feed daily to ensure that your Pit Bull pup gets its daily dose of requirements properly.
- Always check your pup's weight regularly. If it is of the correct weight, refrain from feeding more treats in the form of kibble, despite your pup's begging face.
- If your Pit Bull pup is not interested in eating, observe its behavior carefully. You shouldn't worry too much if it skips just one meal a day. As your puppy grows up, it loves to keep itself occupied through play and exercise; hence, it may not want to eat all meals. However, if your pet isn't interested in eating, or it doesn't eat anything for more than 12 hours, you have to check if it is sick. Common sickness symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and excess saliva formation. Speak to your vet immediately, in this case.
Top Recommended Foods for Pitbull Puppies
Now that you have understood the feeding schedule of Pit Bull pups, we'll talk you through some of the best products available on the market. Listed below are the top 5 foods for Pit Bull pups. After discussing it with your vet, we recommend you carefully go through the ingredients and choose the one that suits your dog the best.
Product Name | Key Features | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
- Real chicken as #1 ingredient - Has added minerals & vitamins - Specially made for puppies | ||
- Grain-free recipe - Contains species specific probiotics - High in protein | ||
- Precisely balanced - Recommended for puppies up to 1 year | ||
- Contains no by-products. - Puppy sized kibble to help combat tartar. | ||
- Reduced calories - Supports normal fat metabolism |
Please continue reading for more in-depth reviews
1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Natural Dog Food
Overview
This one from Rachael Ray Nutrish is considered the top food in the market for Pit Bull puppies. It is made from real pieces of chicken and brown rice, and is loaded with vitamins, minerals, calcium, and taurine. These are all essential ingredients for growing pups.
When your dog consumes this food regularly, it will develop lean muscle mass and healthy internal organs. This food is also naturally rich in EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). These omega-3 fatty acids help the pup's overall development of the brain, vision, bones, joints, and teeth.
Finally, not only is this food for Pit Bulls, it is suitable for all breeds.
The Good
- Comes with detailed instructions on ingredients and the feeding quantities based on the pup's weight
- The size of morsels is very small and easily digestible for pups
- Loaded with all essential nutrients needed for pups
The Bad
- Some breeds may experience loose stools after having this food
- Some pups may consume this only if added with other wet food or dog formula food
Our Verdict
Since it contains real chicken pieces and tiny morsels of brown rice, it is one of the best, most nutritional foods you can give your Pit Bull pups. However, please show the ingredients to your vet and get his approval before you start feeding this to your pup.
Overview
If your Pit Bull pup is prone to food allergies, this one from Taste of the Wild is a good choice for you. It is free from grains and easy to digest. It contains real pieces of roasted bison and roasted venison. The high protein content of this food (28%) makes it great for your pup's muscle development, bones, teeth, lean muscle mass, and more.
Some of the other noteworthy ingredients of this food are vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, K9 Proprietary Probiotics, antioxidants, and prebiotics. It contains all the components necessary for your pup's overall growth and nutrition.
The Good
- Free from grains, wheat, soy, corn, artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colors
- Made from real superfoods, thereby helping in the pup's overall digestive health and immunity
- Made from high-quality and locally grown products
The Bad
- In some breeds, this food could cause constipation issues
- The smell of this food repels some puppies
Our Verdict
According to many Pit Bull pup owners, this is a great product, as it caters to the sensitive stomach problem of your dogs. Your dog is less likely to experience food allergies when you give it this food regularly.
Overview
Are you looking for dog food that is designed for your dog's overall development and mobility? If so, then this one from Hill's Science is an excellent choice for you. It is made from real chicken and barley, making it easy to digest for pups up to 1 year old. This canned dog food has a great taste and is exclusively designed for small breeds for their overall brain development. Like all trademark Hill's Science products, this one contains mini antioxidants to provide immunity for dogs throughout their lives. The protein quality of this food is excellent, and it is known to develop lean muscle mass.
Since it has a lovely taste and smell of chicken and barley, your pup will be willing to eat it regularly without having any tantrums. It also has a soft and gentle texture, it is easy on your Pit Bull's stomach.
The Good
- Great and ideal for pregnant and nursing dogs too
- Complete food designed for overall nutrition and development of pups
- Comes with detailed instructions on the package to avoid any ambiguity
The Bad
- Some people find it tough to open the can, even with a can opener
- Not as wet as some breeds would have liked it
Our Verdict
Though veterinarians recommend this food, consult your vet first before introducing this to your Pit Bull pup. It contains barley, which is not easy to digest for some dogs. So, it is best to check for this fact, to be safe instead of sorry.
Overview
This is a wholesome dry food that your Pit Bull pups will love immensely. It contains real pieces of chicken and delicate morsels of brown rice that give your dogs immunity throughout their lives.
The kibbles are small-sized to enable easy digestion. Some of the most essential ingredients of this food are calcium, phosphorous, vitamins, DHA, ARA, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, and a load of antioxidants to keep your pups robust and healthy always.
The Good
- Free from soy, corn, wheat, grains, and poultry by-products
- Contains ingredients that are great for the brain and eye development
The Bad
- Some small dogs developed stinky poop and bad breath issues after having this meal
- Not many breeds find the smell of this food attractive enough
Our Verdict
While Blue Buffalo is a trusted brand in the pet food industry, you might want to try better brands with the same chicken & brown rice combination for your Pit Bull puppies.
Overview
This one, from American Journey, is a wholesome dry food that contains real chicken as its main ingredient. Besides, it also contains brown rice and vegetables that have balanced nutrients to maintain the ideal weight of a pup. The highlight of this food is that it includes reduced calories.
Some of the important ingredients of this food are L-carnitine (to promote fat metabolism), glucosamine and chondroitin (to develop bones and improve mobility), and other natural sources of fiber (to support healthy weight for pups).
The Good
- Free from wheat, corn, soy, poultry by-products, artificial colors, sugars, preservatives, and more
- Dogs feel full after a few mouthfuls.
- Great for a pup's overall immunity, healthy coat, bones, teeth, and mobility
The Bad
- Quite steeply-priced when compared to other dog foods
- Most eat it only when mixed with a complimentary meal
Our Verdict
Some pups may feel too full after eating very little of this meal because of its nutrient-dense ingredients. Therefore, please check with your vet before introducing this food to your pup's diet.
About the Author
Kirsten Heggarty
Kirsten created The Pet Handbook with the aim of sharing her knowledge about pets, pet food, healthy habits, and more. All of her advice is based on years of her own experience with her pets, and feedback that she has received from grateful readers about her tips. If you want to know more please read the About Me page.
