Nutrition

Nutrition and picking the right diet for your pet is an important decision, and there are many options available to pick from. 

Not all pet foods are created equally. It's recommended to pick a diet that is well balanced and formulated for your pet's needs at their specific life stage. Puppies should stay on a puppy food to help support growth until they are at least 1 year old. Large Breed puppies (Great Danes, Mastiffs, Great Pyrenees, etc.) may benefit from staying on a large breed puppy food until 1.5 years old as their growth plates close at later times compared to smaller dogs. 

Recommended brands include Purina, Hill's Science Diet, and Royal Canin. These brands have veterinarians on staff and have a lot of science backing their diets to ensure their diets are properly balanced.  

Grain free diets are not necessary unless your pet cannot tolerate the grains. Most allergies are to the protein source (chicken, beef, etc.) instead of grains. Grains can provide a good source of valuable nutrients for your pet. 

Healthy treats for your pet include green beans and raw carrots. 

For more resources to help you pick a dog food, check out the links below: 

Pet Nutrition Alliance 

Purina Institute - Understanding Pet Food

For a consult with a board certified veterinary nutritionist to assist with creating a balanced homecooked diet to fit your pet's specific needs, check out the links below: 

OSU Vet Nutrition Support Service

Fostering Pet Nutrition (virtual appointment only)