Labrador retrievers are fun-loving and affectionate breed of dogs with hearty appetites. This breed of dogs is prone to arthritis, weight issues, and allergy problems. Therefore, establishing a good diet plan, when they are puppies, is one of the keys for a long, healthy life of labs.
Meat should be the preferred ingredient of the labs. Whole ground grains, like barley, oats, and rice and vegetables, such as potatoes and peas, also are nutritious and good for labs. Labrador puppies need fatty acids like Omega-3 and 6 that are found in herring oil. Foods with DHA, a nutrient in their mother’s milk, help with brain development and vision. Prebiotics works with the good bacteria in the digestive tract of dogs and strengthen their immune systems.
Being a large dog breed, lab puppies have rapid growth that can cause a strain on joints. You should look for those food products with sources of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine that help maintain healthy joints of dogs. You should also watch calories intake of your puppy to make sure your puppy is growing appropriately and not just getting fat, which also can add stress to the bones and joints.
Some recommended Labrador food that comprises above-mentioned nutrients are given below:
For Labrador puppies:
• Acana Puppy & Junior Dog Food
• Arden Grange Puppy Junior Dog Food
• Farmina N&D Pumpkin Grain Free Lamb and Blueberry Puppy Dog Food
• FIDELE Puppy Lamb & Rice
• Orijen Puppy Dog Food
For adult Labradors:
• Acana Classic Prairie Poultry Dog Foods
• Arden Grange Adult Dog Chicken and Rice
• Farmina N&D Grain Free Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Dog Food
• Pedigree Meat and Rice Adult Dog Food
• Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Dog Food
• Smartheart Adult Dog Food Chicken and Liver Flavour
You should alter the food choices based on the activity level of your lab. For example, if you are feeding a high-protein diet to your Labrador but he does not get much of a chance to exercises (like in the wintertime), you may need to reduce the quantity so as to keep them from becoming overweight.