logo
  • Home
  • Gear Categories
    • cat-iconDog Apparel
    • cat-iconDog Beds
    • cat-iconDog Bowls & Feeders
    • cat-iconDog Flea & Tick Products
    • cat-iconDog Food & Treats
    • cat-iconDog Grooming & Hygiene
    • cat-iconDog Health Products
    • cat-iconDog Houses, Crates, & Kennels
    • cat-iconDog Leashes, Collars, & Harnesses
    • cat-iconDog Parent Products
    • cat-iconDog Toys
  • Breed Guides
  • Who is DogGear?
  • Contact Us!
  • Home
  • Dog Food & Treats

Give Motherless Pups the Nutrition They Need With the Best Puppy Formulas

author-image
By Amber Dover
Last updated: 28 Mar 2022

Orphaned, abandoned, and neglected puppies find a way to melt your heart instantly. If you have a few newborn puppies with a missing mother, giving them a well-nourished and healthy diet is mandatory. Since pups cannot consume solid foods, you need to provide them with a specialized diet for growth and wellness. Puppy formulas are a premium choice for baby canines as they contain a luxurious amount of protein that allows them to develop and grow substantially. We have reviewed the best puppy formulas in 2022 that will not only enable you to provide them with a balanced diet but also ensure that those innocent beings experience love during the growing stages of their lives.

It is mandatory to pick the right puppy formula to ensure maximum benefits. A good-quality product will provide maximum benefits without any side effects.

Best Goat Milk Formula
logo
PetAg Puppy Formula
3036 reviews
Shop now
Best Milk Replacer
logo
GNC Puppy Formula
Shop now
Best Dry Feed
logo
4health Puppy Formula
Shop now
Best for Cats and Dogs
logo
The Honest Kitchen Puppy Formula
Shop now
Show contents
What Are the Best Puppy Formulas?
  • 1 PetAg Puppy Formula
  • 2 GNC Puppy Formula
  • 3 4health Puppy Formula
  • 4 The Honest Kitchen Puppy Formula
  • 5 Vets Preferred Puppy Formula

Best Puppy Formulas Buying Guide

It is mandatory to have sufficient information about it to buy the best product available. Our buying guide for the best puppy formula will help you make a worthwhile purchase. 

What Things to Keep In Mind When Looking For the Best Puppy Formula? 

Following are the key components you must keep in mind when looking for the best puppy formula. 

Age of your puppy 

As young as a few days, puppies can start consuming formulas to build their health. However, different formulas are suitable for a specific age group, ensuring that your pup gets sufficient nutrition to reach adulthood. Younger puppies require much more calories. They tend to get hungry quicker, so it is essential to include amino acids, fats, and minerals. Once they outgrow the formula feeding age, you can provide them lesser calories to prevent them from gaining weight.

Allergens 

Puppies have very sensitive stomachs, meaning they can get sick quickly if you don't feed them with the right pet food. On the contrary, feeding canines the right foods protects them from digestive distress and helps their body fight allergies. Check with your vet if the pup has allergies or potential reactions, and feed the formula accordingly. 

Feeding schedule

As mentioned above, little pups need to be fed more often, and the type of formula you give them plays a huge role in digestion. Finding the right time to feed your puppy the formula means you allow them a natural experience of how their mother would feed them. While being easy on the digestive system, it is also easier for such pups to learn discipline in life.

Label 

The label of your formula packaging has everything you need to know about a particular feed. Not all of them are good for your pup; therefore, you need to opt for a brand that is more focused on a more natural and non-reactive approach. Opt for variants with very few artificial flavoring for your convenience. 

Expiry 

Dog formulas should not be kept or used past their expiration date. You need to pick a pack that you believe can be finished within its expiry date. Remember the number of pups at your home, along with their daily nutritional requirements, before ordering a packet.

Breed 

Like adult dogs, puppies also have different nutritional requirements according to their breed. Some formulas are only designed for dogs of larger breeds, while others are perfect for smaller pups. Go for the one labeled in accordance to avoid any health complications. 

What Are the Benefits of Giving Puppy Formula? 

Better growth 

Puppies need a lot of nutrition from their mother's milk. Suppose mama isn't around due to any reason. In that case, you need to feed them a pro digestion healthy diet that not only allows them to grow but gives them everything they need to start functioning like normal. Puppy formulas are loaded with literally everything you need to maintain your health. 

Natural experience 

Orphan puppies deserve an equally fulfilling and happy life. What’s better than being able to give them the life that they truly deserve? Feeding them puppy formula is a gateway to memories of feeding on their mom. Happy puppies are unquestionably healthy, and if formula and milk replacement is the key to that, then why not? 

Rich in minerals

While an all-natural diet is ideal for puppies, you certainly cannot provide them with every nutrition in one meal. These minerals help in canine development and strengthening much faster than your home-cooked meals. 

Strong immunity 

Building their immunity is a must to protect your puppies from external weather conditions. A strong immune system prevents your puppies from getting sick and ensures they have happy and healthy growth. 

What Is the Impact of Breed on the Type of Puppy Formula? 

When it comes to choosing the right puppy food, your puppy's size and breed of your puppy matters a lot. 

Large breed puppies 

Larger breeds need a certain ratio of ingredients that slows down their growth spurt. If you don't feed them the right formula, they can grow a lot faster than average, resulting in joint issues and different musculoskeletal complications. This results in an obese dog who is way too big and does not know how to stay active.

Small breed puppies 

Small breed puppies do not run the risk of rapid growth, but there are various dietary considerations you need to keep in mind. They have a fast metabolism which means that the formula they need should release slow energy and contain complex and hard-to-break carbohydrates. 

Other than that, if you have a small breed puppy, they will grow up earlier than larger breeds meaning that you need to switch to adult formula much quicker. 

What Are the Nutritional Requirements for Orphaned Puppies? 

Puppies require hydration to function properly. Healthcare experts recommend puppies should be given 130 to 220 mL of water-based fluid per kg of their body daily. This has highly digestible and rich in calorie ingredients that allow you to rebuild your pup’s health. Every milk replacer should contain: 

  • 33 grams of crude protein
  • 42 grams of fat
  • 14.5 grams of lactose

Final Thoughts 

Puppies can be left motherless because of a variety of different reasons. For such innocent ones, puppy formula can be the right choice. The right formula will keep their tummies full and ensure on-time growth and help them build a strong digestive system and immunity. It would help if you considered your puppy's breed, age, allergies, and dietary requirements before buying the best puppy formula in 2022 for maximum benefits. 

What Are the Best Puppy Formulas?

1

PetAg Puppy Formula

– Best Goat Milk Formula
img
Check On Amazon
THE SCOOP

We are starting our list with PetAg, known for its phenomenal puppy formula made from dried goat milk to yield maximum benefits. This formula is one of the most recommended foods for rejected pups ensures that their sensitive digestive system does not react badly. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, ensuring that your puppy gets all the protein and nutrition to develop into a healthy adult.

PetAg dog formula comes in 3 packages of 5.3 fl Oz, 12 Oz, and 5 lbs. With a no-preservative formula, it is an excellent care solution for foster parents and animal rescuers who cannot find the right product for abandoned puppies from different and mixed breeds. Additionally, it can be used as a source of nutrition for older dogs after surgeries for a quick recovery.

Pros
  • Best for the digestive system
  • No preservatives
  • Ideal for all breeds
Cons
  • No probiotics added
2

GNC Puppy Formula

– Best Milk Replacer
img
Check On Amazon
THE SCOOP

Whether you want skimmed milk or goat milk for your pup, GNC has the best solution for you. This powdered milk formula is ideal for dogs to support healthy teeth and strong bones, ensuring strong growth. This premium milk replacer is intended to facilitate immunity, a compulsory requirement during the development stage so that your puppy does not get sick.

Featuring natural flavors, it contains all the required protein and amino acids to guarantee that your little furry friend builds enough muscle and strength. Moreover, it is available in 2 different sizes of 12 and 28 Oz so that you can pick one depending on the number of puppies.

Pros
  • Facilitates strong immunity
  • It helps in developing muscles, bones, and teeth
  • Available in different sizes
Cons
  • Bulk size not available
3

4health Puppy Formula

– Best Dry Feed
img
Check On Amazon
THE SCOOP

Just when your little canine friends start chewing, it is time to introduce the 4health Puppy Formula. Designed to prevent any digestive issues and maintain a healthy bowel movement, this dog formula ensures that your puppy stays regular and does not cause any problems. It comes in small kibbles, which even the most petite pups with little teeth can chew effortlessly, making your job of feeding them simpler.

Additionally, it comes in a 5 lb bag, so there is no inconvenience of buying more over and over again. 4Health Puppy Food is excellent for skin maintenance and coats, ensuring no skin complications among breeds with heavier coats.

Pros
  • Smaller kibble for easy consumption
  • Regulates digestive system
  • Best for skin
Cons
  • Expensive than its counterparts 
4

The Honest Kitchen Puppy Formula

– Best for Cats and Dogs
img
Check On Amazon
THE SCOOP

This delicious formula is available in natural dried goat milk suitable for both cats and growing dogs. It is a nourishing formula featuring a simple making process so that you can give your felines and canines a nutritious meal 2 times a day. Ensuring the highest standards, it is a wholesome feed with no by-products, so your animals can grow and develop without any health complications.

Furthermore, it also contains numerous probiotics and digestive enzymes that build immunity so that your innocent pups and kitties have the energy to fight against harmful diseases and germs. This feed is available in packages of 2 sizes: 5-gram pouches of broth and a 147.4-gram tin of milk, so you can pick as per requirements.

Pros
  • It is loaded with probiotics to regulate the digestive system and build immunity 
  • Simple making process
  • Available in 2 flavors
Cons
  • Can be clumpy
5

Vets Preferred Puppy Formula

– Best Adult & Puppy Feed
img
Check On Amazon
THE SCOOP

Sometimes puppies and moms both need nourishment to function properly. This is why Vets Preferred has the perfect milk replacement formula for your canines. Rich with essential proteins, fat, vitamins, and minerals, it is an ideal source of nourishment that helps meet their dietary needs. It has a delicious and easy-to-digest formula that contains critical enzymes and immunoglobulins that boost immunity, so your dogs don’t get sick. Puppies can have digestive issues, but this treat helps them stay regular and pain-free.

Additionally, it contains an abundant supply of calcium which ensures that your pup has healthy bone and teeth development. Ideal for dogs of all ages, it can help new mothers lactate more and as a source of nutrition for senior dogs.

Pros
  • Loaded with minerals, vitamins, protein, and calcium 
  • Best for all breeds and ages 
  • Regulates bowel movement
Cons
  • The instructions are not so accurate

Puppy Formulas FAQs

Q: How many times a day should a puppy be fed puppy formula?

A: You need to feed your puppy every 3 hours in a 24-hour time frame, so it is advisable to buy suitable packaging. After 6 weeks, you can include a solid diet and prolong the feeding time every 6 hours.

Q: Is it mandatory to refrigerate puppy formula?

A: An opened can must be refrigerated to not deteriorate in quality or flavor.

Q: What are the side effects of overfeeding puppy formula?

A: You might think it is good to feed them in advance, but overfeeding the dose might lead to digestive distress and even fatality.

author-image
By Amber Dover
Amber grew up having golden retrievers and will always have a special place in her heart for the breed. Her love for all things "dog" helped her become a general manager at a small kennel in Ohio for several years. Acquainting dogs and understanding both their needs and limitations have given her deep insights into the boarding process many dogs face in their lives. From consistent details to play time to food and bed time, Amber will always remember the small influences she was able to present to every pooch she cared for.
Related Reviews
img
Tips To Train Your Dog To Not Jump On Furniture
img
Keep The Stress At Bay With The Best Dog Anxiety Jackets
img
It’s Hiking Time With the Best Dog Backpacks
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
logo
Copyright DogGear © 2022
  • XML
  • FAQ
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy