Puppies need more than care when you bring them home.
Puppies need a lot of stuff. In fact, first-year needs, including food, veterinary care, grooming supplies, crates, bedding, toys, and miscellaneous accessories, can easily top $1,000.
So, when buying for your puppy, shop wisely. Save money by knowing what your puppy needs and making careful selections. Focus on finding durable, high-quality products that can grow with your pup.
Diet for a Young Puppy
When selecting a food, read the fine print and look for the nutritional adequacy statement on the label. This will show whether the food provides complete and balanced nutrition, and if it is acceptable for all life stages or for a particular stage, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Puppies should be fed a diet that is guaranteed to meet the needs for growth or for all stages of the life cycle as determined by feeding trials conducted according to AAFCO protocols, or by meeting the nutrient profiles for dog foods recommended by AAFCO for Growth and Reproduction, says Francis Kallfelz, DVM, Ph.D., American College of Veterinary Nutrition Diplomate, and James Law Professor of Medicine at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, N.Y.
*Pick up this month's issue of Dog Fancy for the full story.
- Return to the April issue of Dog Fancy -