Pitbulls are a loyal breed of dogs. They are agile and they are very protective of their humans. If you have children, rest assured that your pitbull will take care of them.
But in order for that to happen, you need to raise your pitbull puppy to be healthy and strong. And to achieve that, you must get the best puppy food for your Pitbulls.
We are here to help you finding the right food your Pitbull pup, keep reading!
The Best Dog Food For Pitbull Puppies
With so many different brands and products to choose from, you can get confused about what to feed a pitbull puppy. We have compiled a list of the best food choices for your pitbull puppies.
#1. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free
Overview:
Taste of the Wild Grain Free is a great choice for Pitbull puppies. It contains high quality protein that helps with a puppy’s physical development. The dog food also consists of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is a type of Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps a puppy’s brain development as well as improves their vision. Taste of the Wild Grain Free is packed with antioxidants that are necessary for your growing pup.
The recipe is made with ingredients from trusted international sources, and contains no grains, wheat or corn. Instead, it is made with real bison and venison meat. The food contains no harmful preservatives, colors or flavours and is regarded as one of the best foods for pitbull puppies.
What We Love About It:
The kibble size is small, making it perfect for growing pitbull puppies. Your little furball will grow strong muscles by eating Taste Of The Wild Grain Free!
Pros Cons
- High quality protein
- Contains real meat
- Nutrient rich
- Small kibble size
- Excess protein can make the dog’s poop smell
- Similar fake products available on the market
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#2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Overview:
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a great meal for puppies up to the age of one year old. A high protein natural dog food, it helps with the development of strong muscles and bones. It also helps with the steady cognitive development, and retinal function of your pitbull pup.
Made with the protein derived from deboned chicken and fish meals, Blue Buffalo Wilderness does not use any poultry by-products or grains, such as soy, corn or wheat. It contains fruits and vegetables alongside essential vitamins and minerals.
What We Love About It:
The recipe contains a natural high protein diet with added vitamins and minerals, making it the ideal choice for growing puppies.
Pros Cons
- Contains real meat and fish
- Has fruits and vegetables
- Builds strong muscles
- Improves vision
- Not all puppies like the smell of it
- Not suitable for puppies with sensitive stomachs
#3. Bully Max High Performance
Overview:
Bully Max High Performance is claimed to be a “Super Premium Dog Food”. Consisting of meat-based products, Bully Max High Performance contains a high calorie count at 535 calories per cup! This means your pitbull puppy will grow fast into a full-sized pitbull. It helps provide strength to the puppy and makes them more aware of their surroundings – just like a pitbull should be.
The recipe contains 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat content. Made from natural ingredients, Bully Max High Performance does not have any soy, corn or wheat. The recipe can be combined with any diet as per your pup’s preference.
What We Love About It:
The recipe has a very high calorie count – the highest in its class. This means your pup gets more nutrition per serving.
Pros Cons
- High protein content
- High fat content
- Improves strength & alertness
- High energy
- More expensive than others in its class
#4. Nutro Wholesome Essentials
Overview:
Nutro Wholesome Essentials is loved by dog owners. This recipe is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, helping in the growth and development of your beloved pitbull puppy. It consists of a lot of calcium, which develops stronger bones and joints in growing puppies. The farm-raised chicken used in this recipe gives it a great taste your dog will love.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials is made with farm-raised chicken, sweet potato and brown rice.
What We Love About It:
The recipe is available in different size packs in different price ranges. So if you want to try out Nutro Wholesome Essentials for your pup, you could go for a small pack first, and if your pup loves it, you can buy the larger sizes.
Pros Cons
- Helps with bone development
- Great taste
- Made with farm-raised chicken
- Different pack sizes available
- Some GMO might be present
- Kibble size is small
#5. Wellness Complete Health
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Overview:
Wellness Complete Health is a dry puppy food made with deboned chicken, salmon and oatmeal. It offers a balanced nutrition for puppies. It has a Healthy Weight Formula that can satiate your pup’s hunger while ensuring that they reach their ideal weight. With ample amount of calcium and phosphorous, Wellness Complete Health is great for your pitbull puppy’s muscle and bone development.
The recipe consists of natural ingredients. It offers the perfect balance of essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, carbs, fat and minerals thus making this recipe one of the best dog foods for pitbull puppies.
What We Love About It:
Wellness Complete Health recipe is made with deboned chicken and consists of peas for extra energy. It also has a taste that pups love.
Pros Cons
- Balanced diet
- Delicious taste
- Low calorie count
- Loaded with calcium and phosphorus
- Various flavours available
- Not suitable for puppies with sensitive stomachs
#6. Wellness Complete Health Large Breed
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Overview:
Wellness’ Complete Health product range offers a recipe for large breed puppies like pitbulls. It consists of a Large Breed Puppy Formula, with deboned chicken and comparatively large kibble sizes. It contains extra DHA which is good for the bone, brain and visual developments of your pitbull pup.
The recipe is made with deboned chicken, salmon and brown rice. No meat by-products, artificial preservatives or fillers are used in this recipe.
What We Love About It:
The recipe can be used to regulate your pup’s growth as it comes with a controlled calorie intake.
Pros Cons
- Large kibble size
- Extra DHA for growth
- Gives energy to the pup
- Has a strong smell
- Not suitable for puppies with sensitive stomachs
- Expensive
#7. Natural Ultramix for Puppies
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Overview:
Natural Ultramix is a high-protein and grain-free diet. The recipe includes natural fibers and probiotics that help with your pup’s digestion. It is loaded with antioxidants as well as fatty acids that help your puppy grow big and strong.
The recipe uses 38% percent real duck or chicken meat as its main source of protein.It also contains sweet potatoes and whole peas. Visible pieces of fruits and vegetables are mixed with the kibble to ensure a well-rounded diet for your puppy. Plus, its grain free, with no wheat, corn or soy in the recipe.
What We Love About It:
The Natural Ultramix comes in both duck and chicken flavours, so you can choose the right one as per your pup’s requirements.
Pros Cons
- Rich in antioxidants
- Natural fibers & probiotics
- Contains real fruits and vegetables
- Different flavours available
- Pricier than other alternatives
#8. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Overview:
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is a tasty meal that comes with a burst of amino acids that are required by your pup on a daily basis. It also has wholesome grains. The recipe
takes a holistic approach to ensure that your puppy is getting their essential nutrients.
This recipe is made from chicken and oatmeal and has a delicious taste that your pup will love. It consists of barley for energy. Nutritional vegetables like garlic, carrots and sweet potatoes are also included in therecipe.
What We Love About It:
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is tasty and increases the appetite of your puppy.
Pros Cons
- Garden vegetables used
- Consists of grains
- Can make some pups gassy
- The lead content can be high
#9. Nulo Freestyle Puppy
Overview:
Especially made for puppies, Nulo Freestyle Puppy contains the company’s patented Bc30 Probiotic. This promotes digestion and a healthy gut. What’s more, the probiotic also improves your pup’s immune system and increases their metabolism. It also contains calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone and nerve development in puppies.
Nulo Freestyle Puppy is created from its own formula of High Meat/Low Carb. That means 80 percent of the protein is animal-based and it has a high amino acid count. The recipe is low in carbs as well as glycemic ingredients.
What We Love About It:
The recipe comes in both salmon and turkey flavours as well as various sizes, so you can choose the right option for your pitbull puppy.
Pros Cons
- Helps the immune system
- Improves nerve impulses
- Aids digestion
- Multiple flavours and sizes
- Kibble size can be a bit large
- Some puppies can be allergic to the ingredients
#10. Orijen Dry Puppy Food
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Overview:
Orijen Puppy Food provides a wholesome and nutritional diet that is loaded with protein. The protein comes from various sources, such as chicken, turkey, fish and eggs. Many long term users have claimed that Orijen Dry Puppy Food gave their pups a shinier coat.
The recipe’s 38 percent protein and 20 percent low glycemic carb content not only meets your pup’s developmental requirements, but also provides them with energy. Two thirds of the meat used in the recipe is fresh or raw, with just one third from dehydrated meat.
What We Love About It:
The recipe uses free-range chicken and turkey. This goes hand in hand with Orijen’s tagline, “Nourish as Nature Intended”.
Pros Cons
- High protein and fat content
- Gives a shinier coat
- Strong smell
- Not suitable for sensitive stomachs
Health and Nutrition of Pitbull Puppies
Pitbull puppies might look very cute but just like any other breed, a fair amount of work must be put into their care to make sure they are healthy and happy.
Nutritional Requirements for Pitbull Puppies
The ideal food for pitbull puppies in the early stages of their life is their mother’s milk. Naturally, the milk contains a high protein, fat and sugar content which promotes healthy growth.
But that may not be a realistic option for you. Good puppy food for pitbull puppies include formulated milk which is specifically designed with infant pitbulls’ nutritional requirements in mind.
ProteinProtein is very important for a puppy’s growth. So, food with 30 to 40 percent protein in it should be incorporated into their diet.
Unfortunately, many brands of puppy food have reduced protein in them that can have long term effects on a pup’s health. Therefore, in your search for the right food for pitbull puppies, you should keep an eye on the protein count.
A moderate amount of fat is required for pitbull puppies’ developing bodies. Ideally, the fat content should be between 15 and 25 percent. However, fat is high in calories so an excess can lead to rapid and unsustainable growth and even deformation.
2. Carbohydrates
Keep in mind, it is best to keep carbohydrate consumption to a minimum. A pup’s body cannot properly digest carbohydrates so, it can lead to gastric problems and loose stool. This may further lead to dehydration and weakness.
Feeding Your Pitbull Puppy
If your pitbull puppy is a newborn, they will at one point need to start eating solid food. By the third month you should incorporate solids along with their liquid food.
You could start out by mixing warm water or formula with their dog food at a ratio of 70 to 30. As time goes on, you should decrease the amount of liquid so that your puppy can get used to kibble.
You should also train them how to eat. Just like any dog, pitbulls puppies tend to overeat and don’t understand their limit. Therefore, you should measure out their food and use special bowls that help them pace themselves while they eat. If this is not monitored, they may suffer from health problems as pitbulls tend to become bloated.
Calorie Intake
Pitbull puppies require an average of 1,100 calories per day for proper development. If they consume less than this, they can become malnourished.
On the other hand, overfeeding your pup can lead to rapid growth that’s too fast for it to be sustainable. In other words, it may lead to skeletal deformations. Your pup may also become overweight, leading to other issues such as joint pain and diabetes in the future.
So make sure you are feeding your pitbull puppy the right amount of calories they require. Adjust your pup’s calorie intake as they grow, so that by the time they reach adulthood, you are feeding them 1,750 calories per day.
How Often Should you Feed your Pitbull Puppy?
As puppies are prone to diseases, they need a lot of attention. Initially, you should feed them liquids only for the first four weeks, as they would naturally have mother’s milk.
After the first month, your pitbull puppy should start consuming other liquids and soft foods. They should be fed around three times a day up until they are six months old.
At six months, as their diet changes and they are fully weaned, your pup should continue to eat around two to three times a day. However, it is important to change and adjust the amount of food they are eating as they grow. That’s because their body needs more energy to develop strong muscles and bones.
When a year, you can drop to feeding them once or twice a day. At the one year mark, their weight and activity becomes more of a priority than their growth.
Wet vs. Dry Dog Food – What to Get?
Generally, dry dog food is preferred by pet-parents. Dry dog food can be left out in a bowl for a longer time without fear of contamination. From a monetary perspective, dry food is relatively inexpensive.
Wet food, on the other hand, is often filled with flavours that puppies love. In fact, they can contain more nutrients than dry dog food. However, they are much more expensive. And let’s not forget, they can easily get contaminated by germs.
Health Risks of Pitbull Puppies
Pitbull puppies are prone to quite a few diseases during the earlier stages of their lives. It is important to take extra care of your pup during these stages to avoid future health problems or even early death.
Diseases to Look Out For in Pitbull Puppies
One common problem a puppy might face is being overweight. Pitbulls generally love to eat and do not have a good understanding of their limit. So, they tend to eat more than they can handle and gain weight.
In the future this can lead to other problems such as obesity, diabetes and liver complications.
Furthermore, they have a high risk of being born with complications such as hip dysplasia. This is common in purebred pitbulls due to in-breeding. This will result in chronic pain, lameness, weakness and arthritis.
In some cases, pitbulls are born with cataracts and congenital heart diseases. As pitbulls are broad chested breeds, they can develop gastric problems and bloating.
How to Ensure Good Health of your Pitbull Puppy
It is recommended to keep your pitbull puppies away from direct sunlight. As they have a light coat, they tend to get sunburnt easily.
Feed them only as much as they require as we prescribed earlier. Make sure that your pups are getting all the necessary nutrients they need in the right proportions, and ensure that you are giving them only the best food.
Pitbull Puppies Dog Food Buying Guide
Pitbull puppies need loads of energy and proper nutrients to grow up big and strong. As a pet parent, you should keep in mind the nutritional requirements while looking for the right dog food for pitbull your puppies.
However, the following factors should also be considered while looking for a good puppy food for pitbulls.
1. Energy Level of your Pup
Pitbull puppies tend to be quite active and playful while growing up, which means they need lots of energy. If your best friend is very active, you should feed them dog food with a high calorie count.
Alternately, if your puppy is more on the lazy end of the spectrum, a lower calorie recipe would suffice; otherwise, you put your pup at risk of obesity.
2. Flavours of Dog Food
While searching for the ideal food for your pitbull puppies, you’ll come across multiple flavours, and it’s easy to get confused. Protein-based flavours such as chicken, duck, turkey, salmon, etc. are usually loved by pitbull puppies.
However, it depends on each and individual pup’s taste buds and preferences. Some puppies won’t touch the food if they don’t like the flavour.
In case you don’t already know what your pup’s favourite flavour of dog food is, you should try out a few. It is crucial that you don’t forego your pitbull’s calorie intake while looking for the right flavour.
3. Why Choose Grain-Free Products?
Grain-free products are preferable for pitbull puppies because grains are not the best source of energy for them. Some pitbulls may even be allergic to grains.
To ensure your pitbull puppy doesn’t suffer from allergies, you might want to feed them hypoallergenic dog foods that have no allergens like eggs, grain, gluten, corn or soy.
4. Reading Dog Food Labels
Dog food labels contain important information about the nutrients and ingredients that you should check before choosing the perfect dog food for pitbull puppies. Let’s explore some of the important parts of dog food labels.
5. The Guaranteed Analysis
The Guaranteed Analysis part shows how much protein, fat and water is present in the dog food. It also shows the maximum fiber content. While it isn’t an actual representation of the specific nutrients in the pack, it shows how much is available. Consider the dry matter or caloric basis while comparing different dog foods using the Guaranteed Analysis.
6. Nutritional Adequacy
The Nutritional Adequacy statement indicates how the dog food was tested for the life cycle of the dog it was intended for. The statement is only available if it has passed the AAFCO feeding trials. Look out for dog food that is complete and balanced, as those are the preferred ones.
7. Feeding Guidelines
Feeding guidelines are important to understand how much food should be given to your puppy, so that you don’t underfeed or overfeed your pup. To do this, you should have a good idea of your dog’s body weight.
8. Dog Food Prices
Dog food often gets a little pricey. When it comes to buying dog food for pitbull puppies, it’s better not to sacrifice quality to save some extra bucks. A low-quality dog food can have a negative impact on your pup’s health, and will eventually cost you a great deal of money and stress in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Pitbull puppies are loyal and lovable. With proper nurturing, an average pitbull can live up to 15 years. As a pet-parent, you must ensure that your pitbull puppy is getting all the nutrients they need to live a long, wonderful life.