vetkar

Food guide

What to feed puppies

Puppies grow fast and need more energy and protein per kilo than adult dogs, with minerals in the right balance. The single most important label check is that the food states it is complete for growth.

Work out how much to feed

What to look for

  • A statement on the pack that the food is complete and balanced for growth (or for all life stages), following AAFCO or FEDIAF nutrient profiles.
  • Large and giant breed puppies (expected adult weight over 25 kg) should eat a food made for large-breed puppies, with controlled calcium and calories. Feeding too much or too fast can strain growing joints.
  • Several small meals a day (usually 3–4 for young puppies), with a gradual move to fewer meals as they mature.
  • Switch foods slowly over 7–10 days to avoid stomach upset.

Common mistakes

  • Adult food fed to puppies: it usually lacks what growth needs.
  • Calcium supplements added on top of a complete puppy food.
  • Puppies that are visibly too thin or too round. Ask a vet about body condition at vaccination visits.

Ask your vet first if

  • Any diagnosed condition (kidney, heart, diabetes, allergies, pancreatitis, urinary problems): these need a vet-chosen diet, not a generic pick.
  • Sudden appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhoea or weight change.

How we will pick specific foods

We aren't publishing product picks yet. Before we list any food, it has to meet each of these, checked against the manufacturer's own label:

  • Complete for the life stage. The pack carries an adequacy statement (AAFCO or FEDIAF) for the stage the page is about.
  • Named animal protein first. The first ingredient is a named animal protein, with protein and fat percentages listed.
  • Maker transparency. The maker publishes recall history and says who formulates the diet, ideally a qualified veterinary nutritionist.
  • Real availability and price. Sold in India, with price per 1,000 kcal so packs can be compared fairly.

Criteria are based on WSAVA's public guidance on choosing a pet food. Rankings are our editorial judgement and we don't accept payment to place a food.

Other guides

General information only, not veterinary advice. Feeding needs vary between individual animals.