Puppy Food

Once upon a time — before flashy packaging and shelf-stable “science-based” diets — puppies grew up just fine without food labeled specifically for them.

In fact, puppy food didn’t even exist until the 1970s.

Hard to imagine, right?

That’s because we’ve been conditioned to believe that puppies must eat a food designed for their age. But when you peel back the marketing — and look at how nature works — the truth becomes clear: real, fresh food already meets the needs of a growing body when it’s properly balanced.

Yes, puppies are developing rapidly. Their bones, brain, gut, and immune system all need extra support. But we don’t need hyper-processed kibble to get there — and we definitely don’t need to rely on companies that market based on fear or half-truths.

Puppy Food: A Modern Invention, Not a Necessity

Before the rise of commercial pet food, puppies ate what their moms ate — raw or home-prepared food scraps, meats, and broths. They were weaned onto real food that naturally supported their development.

Then came the kibble revolution — and suddenly, "puppy formulas" became a way to segment the market and sell more bags of food.

Most of these formulas are high in synthetic additives, starches, and inflammatory seed oils — not exactly what we’d choose to feed a growing body. And while they do contain more calcium, fat, and protein on paper — that doesn’t mean the nutrients are usable or bioavailable.

What Science Actually Tells Us About Puppy Nutrition

You may be surprised to learn that:

• Fresh food-fed puppies have a lower risk of allergies and skin issues later in life.
  According to Science Daily, a puppy’s diet is a significant factor in the development of atopy and chronic skin issues in adulthood.

• Puppies fed ultra-processed foods may show signs of gut imbalance, immune dysfunction, and nutrient deficiencies — even if the label says “complete and balanced.”

• All life stage diets using real food can be perfectly suitable — and often superior — when they are adjusted slightly for growth with real, whole-food sources of protein, calcium, fat, and omega-3s.

Common Misconceptions (and Marketing Gimmicks) About Puppy Food

Let’s bust a few myths that still float around vet offices and pet store aisles:

• “Puppies can’t eat adult food.”
  False. Puppies can absolutely thrive on adult or all-life-stage food when it’s thoughtfully prepared and species-appropriate.

• “Kibble is specially designed for bone growth.”
  Only if it’s properly balanced. Many commercial formulas are too high in calcium for large breed puppies, or too low in usable fats and omega-3s for brain development.

• “If it says 'puppy' on the label, it must be better.”
  Not necessarily. Labels can be misleading — and nutrient quality matters far more than nutrient quantity.

So What Should Puppies Eat?

When we’re designing meals for puppies, the foundation should always be:

• Fresh, whole food — balanced for growth, including organ meat, muscle meat, and bone or a bone substitute.

• Essential fatty acids — from fresh fish, anchovy oil, or krill for brain and eye development.

• Support for the gut — such as fermented foods, colostrum, and targeted probiotics.

• Natural sources of calcium and phosphorus — not synthetic additives.

And yes — we can tweak things like fat content, mineral balance, and protein type depending on the breed, size, and age.

But none of this requires you to commit to a lifetime of kibble.

Top 5 Things to Do Today for Your Growing Puppy

• Ditch the “puppy food” marketing and focus on real nutrition that’s appropriate for all life stages.

• Choose a fresh food diet with adjustments for growth — gently cooked or raw can both work.

• Avoid over-supplementation — instead, use food as medicine where possible.

• Add bone broth, omega-3s, and fermented foods as your puppy grows — they support joints, digestion, and the brain.

• Be mindful of overfeeding — rapid growth can stress joints and bones, especially in large breeds.

Marketing may have changed over the decades — but a dog’s biology has not.

If you're unsure how to build a growth-supportive meal plan, that's exactly what I'm here for. I help pet parents build real food recipes that evolve as your puppy does — from weaning to wisdom.

Want to go deeper with support for your dog through all life stages? Reach out or Join me on Facebook, or join my members community.

"Statements in this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Educational content only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."

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© 2025 Dana Brigman | Well Oiled K9 | All rights reserved.
Based in North Myrtle Beach, SC — offering local and virtual holistic wellness consultations for dogs nationwide.

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