🍼 Puppy
High-protein kibble with DHA for brain growth.
Examples:
- Purina Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites
- Royal Canine Medium Puppy
Tip: Feed 3–4 smaller meals daily; avoid adult formulas until growth slows.
🐕 Adult
Balanced nutrition with real meat as the first ingredient.
Examples:
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice
- Nutro Ultra Adult High Protein
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie
Tip: Choose food based on energy output — working dogs need higher calories.
🧓 Senior
Lower-fat, joint-supportive diet with omega-3s and antioxidants.
Examples:
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites
- Wellness CORE Senior Deboned Turkey
- Royal Canine Aging 12+
Tip: Watch part size; metabolism slows after age 7 (small breeds ≈ 10 years). Also dogs have to switch to softer food based on their ability to chew their food. So be careful with feeding your senior dog too much soft food because they will get super chunky)
Small Breeds:
Higher-calorie small kibble sizes.
- Merrick Lil’ Plates
- Royal Canine Small Adult
- Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws
Medium Breeds:
Balanced protein/fat with moderate calories. These dogs usually don’t have the craziest reaction to changes in food so it’s pretty easy to keep a proper diet for a dog in the medium breed category
- Purina One Chicken & Rice Formula
- Blue Buffalo Chicken & Brown Rice Medium Breed
Large Breeds:
Controlled calcium & glucosamine for joints.
- Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Adult
- Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Chicken & Rice
- Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed
Breed Spotlight: French Bulldog
Focus on digestion & allergy-friendly recipes. Larger breeds have very sensitive stomachs to changes in food. These changes can end up with your house being painted a new shade of brown.
- Royal Canine French Bulldog Adult
- Signature Salmon Limited Ingredient
- Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach
- Taste of the wild without the grain(too rich for the dogs stomachs
Safe Fresh Food Add-Ons
- 🥩 Lean meats: Turkey, salmon, beef (plain — no seasoning)
- 🍠 Carbs: Sweet potato, brown rice, oats
- 🥬 Veggies: Carrots, spinach, green beans
- 🍳 Extras: Egg (scrambled or boiled), kefir or plain yogurt for probiotics
❌ Avoid: Onion, garlic, avocado, chocolate, grapes, cooked bones. (Dog Calorie calculator)
| Weight (lbs) | Activity Level | Cups/Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10 | Low | ½ – ¾ | Toy breeds—small stomachs, frequent meals which aids in digestion |
| 20–40 | Moderate | 1 – 2 | Medium breeds—adjust by exercise level |
| 50–80 | High | 2½ – 3½ | Large breeds—watch joint health |
| 100+ | Moderate | 4 – 5 | Giant breeds—monitor weight regularly beacsue they can pack on weight super fast |
Water & Nutrient Boosters
Always keep fresh, clean water available.
Dogs should drink about 1 oz of water per lb of body weight daily.
Supplements to Ask Your Vet About:
- 🦵 Glucosamine + Chondroitin — Joint health
- 🧠 Fish oil (EPA/DHA) — Brain & coat
- 🦷 Probiotics — Gut balance & stool quality
| Day | Old Food | New Food | Mix Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 75% | 25% | Light change |
| 3–4 | 50% | 50% | Moderate mix |
| 5–6 | 25% | 75% | Nearly switched |
| 7+ | 0% | 100% | Fully switched |
Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Mix kibble + fresh add-ons (like boiled beef or veggies).
- Compare cost per lb vs per bag—not just sticker price.
- Join loyalty programs or subscribe for auto-ship discounts.
- Trust me it will all be worth it without the unnecessary vet clinic visits
SmartPup Nutrition 