Best Dry Cat Food Brands 2018

Caring for your cat includes providing a balanced diet. Choose a food that is labeled “complete and balanced”. This food contains everything your cat needs in a healthy diet.

Cat food comes in dry, semi-moist, and moist varieties. The best dry cat food brands help clean your cat’s teeth and hardly spoils.

Dry cat food makes up about four-fifths of the cat food market and has become much more popular with the advent of technology.

There are numerous dry cat food brands in the market, which makes selection a little bit harder. Lest you have detailed knowledge of your kitty’s nutritional needs.

Top 5 Best Dry Cat Food Brands

Brand Name	Number of Product Lines	Available Sizes (pounds)	Suitable For	Price
Iams Proactive	5	22, 16, 7, and 3.5	Adults	Check Price
Royal Canin	3	15, 7, and 3.5	Kittens	Check Price
Hill’s Science	5	15 and 7	All Life Stages	Check Price
Purina	6	13 and 6.3	Adults	Check Price
Meow Mix	4	13 and 6.3	All Life Stages	Check Price

What to Look For the Best Dry Cat Food Brands?

Dry cat foods on average contain about 11% moisture and more than 89% dry matter. This is the food type of choice for free feeding.

In general, dry cat foods are the most economical form of food to feed due to raw material storage, lower packaging, and freight costs.

Nutritional Content

What makes a good cat food brand stand out from the rest? Forget the labels that say organic, gourmet, or premium. The important thing to check when you are buying dry cat food is the nutritional content.

The best way to go is just to ignore whatever marketing lingo they have got going. Go straight to the back of the package where the ingredients are listed to see precisely what you are about to feed your kitty.

Your cat needs proportionately more protein in her diet compared to other pets. Your adult kitty needs approximately 30% protein in its diet compared to the 18% needed for an adult dog.

Cats need protein to maintain tendons, ligaments, bone, and muscle. They always use a portion of their protein for energy. This is why a high-protein diet is necessary for a kitty’s health.

Your feline cannot generate all the 22 amino acids she needs. She needs to obtain 11 of the essential amino acids from the food you give her. This is why she needs a diet consisting of animal protein.

Caloric Information

Most cats respond exceptionally to diets composed mainly of dry food. However, there are some who flourish on a combination of dry and wet. You and your vet will conclude on the appropriate diet plan.

As we mentioned earlier, the best dry cat food brands aim to supply the essential nutrients (amino acids) felines eat in nature. Any brand that is labeled “supplementary” simply means that the food doesn’t cover all the dietary requirements of your cat.

Dry cat food is normally more condensed as well as higher in calories compared to wet food. This simply means that your kitty can ingest a small portion and still obtain a sizeable number of calories.

Dry cat food calorie counts do usually range from about 350 to 500 kcals per cup. On the other hand, wet kitty food calorie counts range from about 120 to 190 kcals per every 5.5 oz. cans.

It is not that easy to get the calories for dry kitty food. Well, most of you would think it is just a matter of looking at the back of the package.

Some cat food brands may not include the calorie count information on the package. Although, it is not a must for the info to be provided for all products.

There are a number of brands that offer caloric info on their official website. You can also call or email your preferred brand and request for the caloric information.

Your Cat’s Age Matters!

Not all dry kitty food brands are ideal for your kitty. This is so since felines have different caloric as well as nutritional requirements with respect to their age. You should also consider any health risks or existing conditions.

• Kittens

Kittens include cats of up to one year old. Young domestic felines have a considerably high protein and calorie requirement compared to adult ones.

When searching for the best cat food for kittens, settle for a brand that is specifically made for kittens. You can also consider brands formulated for all life stages.

One of the popular brands that we recommend for kittens is Royal Canin, which is a distinctive two-part food composed of the healthiest natural ingredients.

• Adults

They include felines of age one to six years old. Adult felines require a balanced and complete diet plan to help avoid sickness and keep a healthy weight.

Search for brands that are specifically formulated or made for maintenance. You can also consider brands formulated for all life stages.

We discourage you from giving your adult cat, kitten dry food. This is because kitten food has a higher calorie content that may make your cat gain too much weight.

• Pregnant/Nursing

Her nutrition is particularly important when she is pregnant. Apart from extra calories, she also needs additional nutrients.

There are some cat food brands that recommend you give your pregnant feline three times the serving of an adult cat.

Usually, if you do not provide enough servings for your pregnant or nursing feline, she may not have a healthy pregnancy or produce adequate amounts of milk for the kitten.

Lack of adequate nutrients may put her at the risk of getting eclampsia during nursing. She may suffer from deficient blood calcium.

• Seniors

Cats who are seven years or older are considered seniors. Seniors felines have a tendency of losing muscle and developing serious health problems.

If your feline suffers from kidney disease, digestive issues, diabetes or any other problem, we suggest you consult your veterinarian for food brand suggestions.

Read more: Best Cat Food for Seniors

Tips for Choosing the Best Dry Cat Food Brands

Here are some tips to help you with the selection process:

• Think of any dietary restrictions. Is your cat overweight? Does she suffer from any allergies? Choose a brand that will be healthy and safe for your cat.
• Always consult your veterinarian when you are not sure. Ask your vet to inform you of any specific dietary issues that you should be concerned about.
• Research numerous brands before you decide. Look for a popular brand that most cat parents recommend. Also, consider brands that offer more than one variety of their products.
• Compare the pricing. You would certainly come across cheap and expensive brands, depending on the quality of the dry cat food. Most brands provide basic or budget food, a premium style, or a normal formula.
• Always read the labels and read them again. You can gather a lot of info from the labels, including nutritional and caloric info.
• Consider the preferences of your cat. Your feline may prefer smaller or larger kibbles. She may favor one flavor more than the other and so on.
• Avoid trendy brands. The idea is to buy the best dry cat food brands. So, make sure you select a trusted brand and not just a trendy brand.

We believe this is more than enough information to help you choose the best brand for your cat. Here are our recommendations:

Top 5 Vet Recommended Dry Cat Food Brands

Iams Proactive

Iams is setting a remarkable standard for kitty food with its proactive dry cat food for adult felines. This brand has five product lines.

This is a premium kitty food brand that only uses top-quality ingredients and exceptional safe manufacturing process.

Iams is our top selection for the best dry cat food brands since it’s a genuine company that is fully committed to the nourishment and well-being of your cat.

The leading ingredient in this formula is chicken, which is a protein-rich meal that provides adequate energy and supports the development of strong muscles.

Unlike conventional nourishments, Iams Proactive is a hundred percent balanced and complete for proper maintenance.

Pros:

• Contains potassium and calcium for a healthy heart
• Protein-rich diet supports strong muscles
• Crunchy kibble texture lessens plaque buildup
• Tailored fiber improves digestive health
• Complete adult nourishment for lifelong health

Cons:

• Not a suitable choice for kittens

Royal Canin

At #2 on our list is the Royal Canin. This brand uses the finest ingredients in its formulas to mimic the natural high-protein regime of wild cats. This brand has three product lines.

While other brands provide you with wide varieties of products, making it harder to choose. Royal Canin offers you the finest recipe made of healthful ingredients.

If you are actively searching for a high-protein food for your kitten that is composed of healthy meats and limited carbs, look no further than the Royal Canin.

The main constituent is chicken, which guarantees strong muscle growth and full of playtime energy. This meal has 34% protein, 16% fat, 4% fiber, and 8% moisture.

Pros:

• Supports easy weaning
• Supports the developing immune system of a kitten
• Features a mixture of highly digestive prebiotics, fibers, and proteins
• Sufficient for the high-energy requirements of a kitten
• Small kibble texture ideal for a kitten’s mouth
• Ideal food for a kitten as she transition to adulthood

Cons:

• Not recommended for adulthood

Hill’s Science

Hill’s Science is the brand that provides you with nature’s variety. It provides the nutritional merits of evolutionary traditional wild diet. This brand has five product lines.

This brand is committed to providing recipes that are simple and pure, using only digestible and healthy ingredients for the satisfaction of your cat.

Hill’s Science is one of the best dry cat food brands for all life stages, and the one we most recommend for pregnant or nursing felines.

The company’s 15 and 7-pound formulas are made up of clinically proven vitamin C + E and antioxidant blend for a healthy immune system.

The formulas are well-balanced for sensitive skin and stomach. They help to improve skin and coat health and digestion.

Pros:

• Natural ingredients rich in protein and free of preservatives
• Suitable for sensitive stomach and skin
• Complete and balanced nutrition for easy digestion
• Clinically proven antioxidants benefits

Cons:

• The packaging of this brand doesn’t have feeding guidelines

Purina

Purina is the brand that knows very well that all cats are different. They know the nutritional requirements at every stage of life. This brand has six product lines.

Purina cat food is formulated by pet nutritionists to provide your cat with the perfect balance of protein-rich ingredients and healthy nutrients for health as well as longevity.

This brand has two formulas (13 and 6.3 pounds) for your feline’s nourishment. The recipes consist of no artificial colors and preservatives.

The food is specifically made for effortless digestion. Top-quality proteins and carbs work as a unit to provide the nutrients and essential amino acids your cat requires.

Pros:

• Formulas are specifically made for healthy digestion
• No added preservatives or artificial colors
• Offers all 25 minerals and essential vitamins
• Natural fiber blend improves healthy digestion
• 100% balanced and complete for adults
• Package includes daily feeding amounts

Cons:

• May cause some cats to puke, especially kittens

Meow Mix

The Meow Mix brand has been producing the finest cat meals for forty years. This brand is well-known for its irresistible tastes.

Meow Mix provides you with more than one delicious flavors, including ocean fish, salmon, turkey, and chicken. Your cat will never grow tired of this brand.

Meow Mix has four mouth-watering recipes for your cat, including Meow Mix Original, Meow Mix Tender Centers, Meow Mix Seafood Medley, and Meow Mix Indoor Health.

The Meow Mix brand is designed to provide your cat with nutritional benefits that mimic the natural food cats fend for themselves in the wild.

This is the one company that cares for every need of your feline. The packaging comes with caloric info, feeding guidelines, and nutritional info.

Pros:

• Balanced and complete nutrition
• High-quality protein supports strong muscles
• Supplies all essential minerals and vitamins
• Feeding guidelines and caloric and nutritional info provided

Cons:

• Some recipes are composed of common proteins

In Conclusion

When shopping for the best dry cat food brands, look at the packaging to make sure that the following are provided: nutritional info, caloric content, and feeding guidelines.

Avoid dry cat food containing byproduct meal. These rendered products are the most inexpensive sources of animal protein and are not reliable sources of nutrition.

We strongly suggest that you look for a specifically named meal or meat, such as chicken, turkey, or lamb meal as the first ingredient.

You should also avoid store or generic brands. These may be repackaged rejects from big companies and generally contain cheaper poorer quality ingredients.

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Best Dog Food for Labs & Lab Puppies

Like a lot of dog breeds, owners spend time researching to pick the best dog food for Labs. This is because labs are prone to gaining weight and having extra weight makes it difficult to shed. Labs are high-energy breeds, and so they need a proper diet of fat as a source of energy.

Puppies don’t eat adult formula because they do not need extra fat found in puppy formulas. It can make them grow faster than their skeletons resulting in skeletal disorders.

You should feed puppy food to puppies and feed adult food to adult dogs. They are both designed with different goals in mind. Source: k9ofmine.com

These dogs do not also need supplements with their diet. But when they are prone to obesity, chondroitin and glucosamine can come in handy to prevent joint damage. Be sure to include fatty acids in their diet for a shiny coat. Add probiotics for healthy gut bacteria.

List of the 7 dog foods for Labrador Retriever

Dog Food	Image	Price	Our Rated
1. Wellness CORE Natural		$$$		View on Chewy
2. BLUE Wilderness High Protein		$$		View on Chewy
3. Taste of the Wild		$$		View on Chewy
4. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food		$$$		View on Amazon
5. Fromm Family Foods		$$		View on Amazon
6. Eagle Pack Natural		$		View on Chewy
7. BLUE Wilderness		$$$		View on Chewy

Top Rated Good Dog Food for Labs

1. Best Dry Food: Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free

[img_products3 img_number=”49161″ alt=”Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food” img_code=”V1508796873″ product_name=”https://ift.tt/2L3b9x8″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This dog food is a grain-free dog kibble. It contains about 34% protein that supports your high-energy lab. This tasty kibble is also suitable for active working dogs. Its high-quality proteins are derived from low-fat chicken and turkey.

It is also ideal for dogs that don’t suffer from allergies. It has about 15% fat that is necessary for a large dog breed that’s prone to being overweight. Dogs on a diet may also benefit from this product. The formula contains omega 6 and 3 that help promote a healthy skin as well as a shiny coat. It also protects their heart.

The grain-free food contains high-quality fiber sources like broccoli and potatoes. These ingredients help your lab feel fuller for a long time and regulate their bowel movements. Also, fiber is relatively important when it comes to weight control. Along with the fiber content, it also has probiotics for healthy digestion.

The formula also contains antioxidants that promote a healthy and strong immune system. Its glucosamine content helps support healthy joints as well.

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• Great for picky dogs
• Reasonably priced
• Doesn’t contain corn, wheat or soy
• Grain-free
• Doesn’t have artificial colors or flavors

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• Contains chicken

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2. Wilderness Blue Buffalo High Protein Dry Adult Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”46872″ img_code=”V1529603549″ alt=”BLUE Wilderness Adult Grain Free Chicken Dry Dog Food”  product_name=”https://ift.tt/2BYeoD9″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This dog food has been recommended for labs with sensitive stomachs. It is an inexpensive dry dog kibble. Wilderness Blue dog food is high in protein and free of poultry or chicken by-products.

It will help your lab stay energetic and active without having to worry about the indigestible parts found in poultry. Chicken meal and low-fat salmon helps labs develop long, lean muscles. It also maintains their muscles.

The dry dog food is low in fat sliding. It has only 15% fat content, and this is suitable for labs with weight problems. It also contains the essential fatty acids needed to maintain a moisturized skin and healthy coat.

The formula is not made with corn, wheat, or soy products. It also doesn’t contain any preservatives, flavors or artificial colors.

Its LifeSource bits are processed with a cold press that doesn’t subject its essential minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to the heat. This way, it remains potent and offers all the minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for proper immune system function.

It contains phosphorous and calcium that help keep your dog’s teeth and bones healthy. The glucosamine content helps the dog maintain his bones as time passes.

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• Quality ingredients
• Helps with allergies
• Doesn’t contain corn, wheat or soy
• Low fat
• Contains calcium, glucosamine and phosphorous

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• The texture of its LifeSource bits doesn’t appeal to all labs.

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3. Best Puppy food: Taste of the Wild, Canine Formula

[img_products3 img_number=”49066″ img_code=”V1524669768″ alt=”Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain Free ” product_name=”https://ift.tt/2L9kZxL” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This product is considered among the best organic dog food for labs. It is delicious, inexpensive and healthy. It was made to mimic the natural feeding pattern of a canine in the wild. It is grain-free and has different exciting flavors for picky dogs.

The formula has real roasted meats to provide protein with moderated fats of 18%. These ingredients are vital for a balanced meal. It is made with high-quality fiber sources like peas and sweet potatoes and is quite easy to digest.

These ingredients provide slow-burning, long-lasting energy and keep the dog healthy while supporting gut health.

It also has naturally occurring pro and pre-biotics that help keep your pet healthy. The formula is also suitable for puppies with sensitive stomachs.

This canine formula has been enriched with the essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3. This component keeps your lab’s coat sleek while keeping the skin healthy. It also protects and maintains your dog’s heart health.

It contains antioxidants such as raspberries and blueberries. These ingredients keep your lab’s immune system in great shape.

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• Comes in a variety of flavors
• Fills up the pet
• Free of soy, corn, and grain
• Great for sensitive stomachs
• Promotes a healthy immune system

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• Some flavors aren’t specified.

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4. Orijen Adult Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”816FTpyYS4L” alt=”Orijen Original Dry Dog Food” code=”B01I3JW7PK” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

If you prefer a diet that mimics the raw food diet, this may be the best for labs with shedding/dry skin. The premium dog kibble contains high protein as well as 85% meat. This helps mimic the natural raw food that a carnivorous canine would enjoy in the wild.

Its 38-44% protein content helps your lab to sustain its energy level all through the day. However, you must feed this product to an adult lab. This is to prevent overgrowing by the puppy, which will damage his skeleton. It is more suitable for adult labs.

Aside from being a high protein dog food, the 2/3 types of meat are raw or fresh. This implies that your pet can absorb the nutrients and vitamins faster as it should be. What is left of the 1/3 meat ingredient is air-dried. All meat products contained in this formula are suitable for human consumption as well.

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• Great for picky dogs
• Kibble smells nice
• Does not contain filler
• High in protein
• Great for dogs with allergy

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• High in fat

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5. Fromm Family Foods 33 lb. Gold Nutritionals Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”61gfyBo2JAL” alt=”Fromm Family Foods” code=”B000WFQ64C” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This adult dry kibble is suitable for labs with skin issues (source). It is formulated for large size dogs such as labs that are over 50 lb. It has enough fat and protein content of 12% and 23% respectively.

This blend of fat and protein helps support your lab’s energy level and also promote weight maintenance for your lab.

The protein content is gotten from various low-fat sources like chicken, turkey, eggs, and duck. This may not be suitable for labs with poultry allergies. It also contains salmon oil and probiotics that help your lab in digestion as well as maintenance of optimal gut health.

This ingredient provides essential fatty acids that help your lab to maintain a healthy skin and coat. It also protects the lab’s heart.

Other quality sources of fiber like barley, flaxseed and brown rice help fill up your lab all through the day. They also help maintain healthy energy levels.

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• Great for large breed puppies
• Good mix of natural products
• High protein content
• Contains probiotics
• Low in fat

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• A bit pricey

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6. Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”76715″ img_code=”V1491238657″ alt=”Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food”  product_name=”https://ift.tt/2BVFs5R” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This natural dry dog food is specially formulated for large breeds such as labs. It is a suitable diet dog food for labs. It offers a dual source of protein with lamb and chicken as well as DHA to promote eye and brain growth.

Its phosphorus and calcium content allows your lab’s bone structure to form without any complications. This also applies to female labs during pregnancy to prevent eclampsia.

It is recommended for labs with ear infections. It does not contain meat by-products, artificial flavors, preservatives or colors. Aside from the macronutrients it provides, the dry dog food provides optimum quantities of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements.

It is more suitable for lab puppies as they need a perfect balance of micro nutrients to help strengthen their immune systems.

This formula is ideal for labs with poultry allergies. It helps maintain their coats and keep their skin healthy.

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• Firms up stool
• Made with natural ingredients
• The kibbles are smaller
• Doesn’t contain colors or preservatives

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• May cause gas

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7. BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”64377″ img_code=”V1537549939″ alt=”BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe” product_name=”https://ift.tt/2L3bbFg” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

Blue Wilderness dog food has been recommended for active dogs. It is a tasty kibble for labs that was specially made to provide for your lab’s natural taste.

The recipe is formulated to give your lab a close-to-natural diet. It is made with a protein-rich formula, and it contains meat like lamb, deboned beef, bison as well as venison.

The formula was made with gluten-free grains. It has no trace of soy, wheat or corn. It is a unique hypoallergenic formula, and this makes it ideal for pets with a sensitive stomach.

You can be sure that your lab won’t have gastrointestinal disturbances. It gives your lab enough energy all through the day. It also helps promote a shinier coat.

It is made with a salmon formula that helps your lab fix their coat and skin problems. It achieves this by providing a fatty acid rich meal.

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• Grain free
• Comes in tasty flavors
• Hypoallergenic
• Promotes a shiny coat

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• It may not be suitable for all dogs

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Labrador Dog Food Advice

Regardless of what a lot of people say, the nutritional needs of different dog breeds vary. This is because larger dogs often require more food than the smaller ones. However, labs need the same percentage of fat, protein, and carbohydrate in their diets like a Great Dane or Chihuahua.

Every dog needs food with some protein. However, it must be from good quality sources like fish, chicken or lamb. Labs are high-energy breeds, and if they must keep up, they need food that is rich in protein.

One important thing you must note when it concerns the diet of your lab is the high risk of becoming obese. All dogs are prone to obesity, but the lab is particularly prone. It can be difficult to feed labs properly as they can easily be overfed. You must exercise caution in this regard.

There are lots of overweight labs because owners still haven’t gotten the routine right. There must be some sort of food-exercise balance. It is crucial to monitor your Labrador’s weight closely. Where necessary, adjust the portion sizes and include more exercise in your routine.

Before choosing food for your labs, you should find out if your lab has a sensitive stomach.

If your dog has a history of gastrointestinal problems or a sensitive stomach, it is safer to find foods that are allergy friendly. Such hypoallergenic foods are free from the common allergens like soy and gluten. They may also be easier on the lab’s stomach.

When you find a suitable food for your lab, it is better to stick to it. How can you determine if your lab needs a particular food? The coat will become more glossy, and they will have well-formed stools. They are also always energetic and maintain a healthy weight.

How much to Feed a Labrador?

Feeding your lab can be done in two different ways, and lots of lab owners use these methods. You can feed your lab twice a day all through his life or feed him once daily after he passes the 12 months mark.

Large meals can make your lab bigger than necessary, so be sure to check the portion. It is better to feed the lab once in the morning and again in the evening.

Most kibble packets contain the recommended quantity of food needed. This quantity varies from brand to brand. For labs that are already overweight, feed them 1/3 less than the recommended amount.

Your lab may need fewer kibbles than you think. If you have other concerns about his weight, read more about the measures to take to help your lab maintain optimal weight.

The amount you feed your pet Labrador will depend on the size, age and the amount of exercise the dog gets. Via cuteness.com

How much to Feed a Lab puppy?

Your lab puppies can easily be overfed. Divide the food into several portions before feeding. If you give the puppy a full day’s ration at a go, the puppy will eat it all. But this may cause diarrhea and also damage his stomach because kibbles swell after they are consumed.

The Dog Breed Info Center’s basic feeding guide recommends using an 8-ounce cup to measure out food. Via pets.thenest.com

When your lab puppy is eight to twelve weeks old, he’ll benefit from eating four meals during the day. It should include breakfast, lunch, and tea before supper. Try to space these meals properly by at least three hours. This will give the pups a chance to digest the food.

Also, ensure that Supper comes two hours before the puppy’s last trip to the bathroom during bedtime. When your lab pup is three months old, you can then divide this daily ration into about three portions. When he’s six months old, cut it to two. Just breakfast and supper.

Conclusion

Feeding your lab doesn’t have to follow a one size fits all approach. This HD because the needs of all labs are different. Some are overweight and need less food, while others are allergic to certain ingredients. So you need to do what is right for the dog and his health.

Our recommended dog food from this list is the Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food. This is because it contains a decent amount of protein that your lab needs for optimal growth. It doesn’t contain any artificial compounds like soy or color. It is also very affordable.

When your lab thrives on a particular kibble, continue with the diet. Monitor your pet to see if the food is ideal. If it is not, discontinue it immediately. You can seek the recommendation of a veterinarian for the best food for labs as well. Be sure to pick one that is suitable for your pet and keeps them healthy.

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Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomach, Gas, and Diarrhea Problems

Most dogs naturally have tummy troubles and finding a suitable food brand can be problematic. You need to know the ingredients that could irritate your pet’s stomach. This is the first step to solving the problem.

However, tummy troubles can be fixed by picking the right dog food for sensitive stomach. This article will highlight five top products to consider for your pet.

When it comes to treating sensitive stomachs, there is no sole approach. There are several methods of trial and error that have to be tested to know what will work for your pooch. The most recommended method is the restricted diet strategy. It involves feeding the dog with food with certain ingredients to prevent allergies and irritation.

5 Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomach, Gas, and Diarrhea

1. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”71vjAkENxXL” alt=”Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food ” code=”B003MGAIDI” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This dog food brand applied an efficient scientific approach to the development of the food. It is based on the various needs of different age groups and breeds. It is formulated for sensitive skin and stomach.

The food is made with high-quality ingredients and has additional nutritional compounds like omega-6 fatty acids. These ingredients promote a healthy coat, provides vitamin E and C for a robust immune system as well as essential antioxidants that help dogs with sensitive stomachs.

It is nutritionally balanced with simple ingredients that aid digestion and this may make it ideal for dogs with such health problems. The dog food is made in different varieties to offer a personalized experience to both small and large dogs.

It also comes in two types: canned or dry dog food depending on the needs and preferences of your dog.

The food may be ideal for dogs with allergies and may help clear up their skin within a short while after use. Its high-quality ingredients also make it a good meal for dogs as there is no chance of the pets overindulging in it.

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• Helps with digestion
• Suitable for old, sickly dogs
• Picky eaters love it
• Smells like salmon patties

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• May cause diarrhea in some dogs

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2. NUTRO Natural Choice Health Benefit Dog Treats

[img_products img_code=”91u55dEWe%2BL” alt=”NATURAL CHOICE Sensitive Stomach Adult ” code=”B006TWA6K2″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This natural dog food for sensitive stomach is packed in a pastel-colored minimalist package. The kibble is chicken flavored with a blend of simple and healthy ingredients to provide nutrition for your pet.

It is fortified with natural grains and mixed with natural fiber sources like chicory, pumpkin and natural coconut fibers. These ingredients help to strengthen the digestive function of your dog.

Although this food is rich in ingredients, it is also a dry treat, and you’ll need to hydrate your pet when you feed them this food. The water will help them assimilate the food and all its nutrients.

It is important to note that this food is 100% organic. It does not contain any artificial flavors or color, preservatives or fillers. This may make it an ideal treat for your dog if he suffers from sensitivities and allergies.

The product is made specifically to support your pet’s immune function and intestine health. The treat gives your dog access to antioxidants, real protein, and vitamins.

It also does not sacrifice taste or nutrition to provide this feature. Lastly, they make a great training treat for all dogs, including puppies.

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• Contains high-quality ingredients like real chicken
• It doesn’t make dogs sick
• Large enough, so they aren’t swallowed whole
• Prevents bad breath

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• They don’t smell well

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3. BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dry Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”81t3eA27P9L” alt=”BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain Free Salmon & Potato ” code=”B00YFZS940″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

Just like its name implies, Blue Basics dog food contains the basics that your dog needs to stay healthy, satisfied and happy. It is made with a simple grain-free formula, which supports a healthy intestinal function.

It contains pumpkin, turkey protein, and pea fiber as well. In addition, the healthy carb requirements of dogs are covered with oatmeal, potatoes and brown rice.

This food does not expose your pet to harmful ingredients that may have serious side effects. It is free of preservatives, animal by-product, additives or colorants.

It contains a healthy blend of fruits, vegetables, and micronutrients that have been selected carefully as they aid proper digestion in dogs.

This food may be ideal for dogs that are on a restricted ingredient diet because of food sensitivities. It is also suitable for dogs who need food made from real ingredients. This makes it easier to assimilate and digest. This way, their bodies can use it for energy.

It contains an intense flavor profile that is gotten from fresh ingredients, and the natural flavors were preserved to provide a delightful taste sensation.

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• Easy on the stomach
• Great for sensitive stomach and skin
• Good for dogs with digestive issues

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• May cause vomiting in some dogs

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4. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food by Nature’s Variety

[img_products img_code=”6197nxR7gQL” alt=”Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Recipe” code=”B004YVOGJM” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

Instinct Limited Ingredient dog food is grain-free and comes in so many varieties. Some include duck, turkey, peas, and lamb. It also has different bag sizes to make it more affordable.

The small bag is only 4.4 pounds, but the biggest bag is about 25.3 pounds. This way, you will only have to buy what your pet can consume quickly if you prefer it.

The brand is formulated for pets with sensitive stomachs. This is why the common triggers of tummy problems such as grain and gluten are absent in the ingredient list. The ingredients are also free of fillers but contain lots of healthy omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

It is also made with an animal protein source and contains easily digestible ingredients. This may make it ideal for dogs with diarrhea.

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• Hardens poop to prevent diarrhea
• Great for dogs with irritable bowel syndrome
• Contains quality ingredients
• Great for dogs with oily coat

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• May cause gas

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5. Merrick Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”81Vy%2BGx-gUL” alt=”Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food” code=”B00IAXIGPK” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This dog food has a good meat protein source. The source is pork meal, and it is a good meat protein for dogs. Lots of high-quality dog food brands use pork meal as their main ingredient as it contains up to 80% protein that your dog needs. It is a good source for all dogs.

Merrick Dry Dog Food also gets its main carbohydrate source from sweet potatoes and potatoes. Potatoes contain up to 7% protein and about 92% carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes also contain 6% protein and about 93% carbohydrates.

These options provide excellent sources of fiber. Lots of dog owners worry about the sugar content of potatoes. However, this should not be a cause for concern except the dog has blood sugar issues.

The product also contains peas which may cause tummy problems in some dogs as they may find it difficult to digest the food. This ingredient has 22-24% protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Even though it is a healthy option, it may cause some digestive problems for extremely sensitive dogs.

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• Helps clear skin issues
• The kibble is smaller and fit for smaller dogs
• It is affordable

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• Has a strong smell

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Symptoms of Sensitive Stomachs in Dogs

Different signs help dog owners to detect sensitive stomachs in dogs. Some signs to look out for include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Painful bowel movements
• Itchy Ears
• Itchy skin
• Skin Rashes
• Loss of appetite
• Energy changes (hyperactivity or lethargy)
• Unwillingness to eat during mealtimes
• Noisy stomach (rumbling, gurgling)
• Flatulence (gas)
• Aggression (rare, but it happens)

When you notice any of these signs of the potential digestive or systemic sensitivity in your pet, you should find out which ingredient is responsible for the irritation or allergy.

Why Some Dogs Have Sensitive Stomachs

Sensitive stomachs can affect any breed of dog and can be caused by a long list of factors and some include:

Intolerances

Some pets exhibit intolerance to carbs most of the time, and this is characterized by gastrointestinal illness. Other lactose intolerant puppies show symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhea or bloating.

It is easy to spot an intolerance problem in your dog and link it to a particular ingredient or food by the way they react to it after it has been ingested. To be sure, you should visit a vet to confirm your suspicions.

Food allergies

In many cases, dogs become allergic to particular protein sources when they have been exposed to the ingredient or food source for a long time. This is why it is vital to diversify the dog’s diet properly so they can benefit from a variety of nutrients. This will definitely improve their immunity.

Another cause of food allergies in dogs is the presence of some food additives that can seriously disrupt the dog’s nervous system.

Underlying Issues

Occasionally, the dog may exhibit a sensitive stomach or allergy as a symptom of other underlying issues such as parasite infections, pancreatic deterioration, spoiled food, and toxicity. As a result, the allergy will be resent for shorter periods and can be treated easily with pharmacologic therapy.

If the symptoms do not subside after some time, then you should take the pet to the vet. The vet can detect the sensitivity and offer recommendations or place them on a restricted ingredient diet.

The Benefits

Getting food that is specially formulated for sensitive stomach helps prevent various allergic reactions in dogs. It’s necessary to study your pet to know when he/she needs special food.

You must try to understand what he can eat and what must be avoided to prevent tummy troubles. The food you provide must also give the dogged strength, optimum energy, and nutrition.

Inflammatory bowel diseases

When you buy specially formulated food for sensitive stomachs, you could also prevent the development of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Allergic reactions

Many dogs may develop allergies to regular dog foods. This is the time to get special food to promote optimal health.

Balanced diet

When the diet contains all the necessary ingredients, it will help the dog to maintain a healthy gut and balanced bacteria.

Prevents diarrhea

Most dogs display tummy problems through diarrhea. A healthy stool is solid in form, and loose stool can be caused by food allergy. When you restrict the dog’s diet, you will help aid digestion to produce firmer stools.

Prevents inactivity

When a dog has tummy problems, he is more likely to become inactive, and this will cause other health problems.

Reduces food sensitivities

When you feed your dog with healthy food, it will provide the nourishment they need despite being sensitive to some foods.

Prevents suffering and pain

Digestive problems can cause pain and agony when not checked properly. Getting the right dog food for sensitive stomach will reduce allergies and pain.

Allergic reactions to food

Eating one kind of food daily may cause an allergic reaction. Try to switch things up with the food to avoid allergic reactions.

Healthy skin

A good diet reflects on the skin of your dog. Getting good food for sensitive stomach helps make their skin shine and keeps skin diseases at bay.

How can you take care of a dog with sensitivities?

Here are some tips and guidelines to help you care for your dog with food sensitivities.

Start by finding out the food allergies your dog has. When you confirm this, do not allow strangers to give treats to the dog. Be sure to change the food every two months. You can also mix it up with other brands instead of using one formula for years.

Try the elimination and addition method to find the problem as it may be more accurate that allergy panel tests. Watch out for products with food additives, since they also cause allergies in dogs.

Also, try to reduce fat and carbs in the dog’s diet. Meat and grains should also be limited so check the ingredient list for this. Be sure to review your observations with the vet. Lastly, pick high-quality dog food.

Conclusion

Caring for a dog with a sensitive stomach is a full-time job. It doesn’t have to be complicated if you follow these steps to find high-quality food, your dog’s tummy troubles will be over.

The Hill’s Science Diet dog food is an excellent start for a dog with a sensitive stomach because it is balanced with simple ingredients to aid digestion. It is also specially formulated for dogs with allergies.

https://petupon.com/best-dog-food-for-sensitive-stomach/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Food for Bulldogs: Top 5 Picks

If you’ve been searching for the best dog food for bulldog then you are in luck. We’ve done all the research for you and have found some great options.

Many French or English bulldog owners know that their breeds come with some specific struggles. Not only in terms of health but also eating in general. We don’t enjoy seeing our pets suffer through thick and heavy breathing while they eat.

For sure hearing, too many snorts or coughs when a bulldog is in the food bowl makes me nervous! But, there is a lot of nutrition that can possibly help your bulldog’s day to day experiences. Let’s try to set your furry friend up for a long and healthy life.

Recommended Dog Food for Bulldogs

We have some recommendations here that can truly affect the nutritional intake of your dog from what they are currently getting. Don’t be too focused on the one that is a must-have. Instead keep in mind the goals you have for you and your fuzzy bulldog, as well as their nutritional needs.

What are our recommendations?

• Wellness Natural Dry Dog Food – CORE;
• Royal Canin Breed – Bulldog Dry Dog Food;
• Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Recipe;
• Canidae Dry Dog Food – For All Life Stages;
• Taste of the Wild

All five of these options are healthy options for your short-snouted friend. So finding the right one may not be as easy as selecting whichever is cheapest or has the highest amount of protein.

Wellness Natural Dry Dog Food – CORE

Wellness Natural Dry Dog Food delivers high-quality ingredients for your bulldog. This particular formula is generalized for “any adult dog” but Bulldogs get a lot out of the many benefits it delivers. The overall health of your bulldog is quickly met with this brand.

• 7 varieties including a puppy as well as a small breed option;
• Completely grain-free;
• Protein from high-quality meat, no by-products here;
• No Fillers

Wellness CORE’s focus on providing high-quality to your dog’s diet can possibly affect a number of aspects of their health.

The dental and digestive aspects are often most affected by diet change and can be associated with the lifespan of your pet. Just like people, a healthy diet can take care of a number of other issues before they even arise.

By switching from any brand to one like Wellness that eliminates the unnecessary fillers you can have a huge impact on how much nutrition your dog is getting from each meal.

Royal Canin Breed – Bulldog Dry Dog Food

Highly rated, highly recommended and from a brand that respects your love of your purebred Royal Canin you almost can’t go wrong with.

• Just the right amount of fiber for gas control;
• Focused on reducing joint inflammation;
• Top ingredient is always real meat

The benefits you see from Royal Canin formulas are far different from anything else on the market. These formulas are really engineered to cater to each breed so specifically that it is hard for any non-breed specific brand to rival them in terms of quality.

Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Recipe

Unlike any other dog food on this list, you have to make the Honest Kitchen food. It’s dehydrated and easy to mix so it isn’t the end of the world. But if you have a busy lifestyle this might be a deal breaker for you.

On top of it, the other downside we found is that it is actually kind of expensive.It seems expensive at first and then you reason, well, it’s not bad because it’s dehydrated. Don’t be fooled by portions and dehydration, this is a steep price.

• Balanced diet of protein to carbs;
• Entirely grain free;
• No GMO;
• No by-products

The balanced diet and moderate calories can be a huge benefit if you’re looking to maintain or control your dog’s weight. All of the meat used here is also human grade or “real meat” none of that overly processed stuff you see in some other dog foods. Also, all of the ingredients are all natural which a big plus for some dog owners is.

Canidae Dry Dog Food – For All Life Stages

A dog food option that often goes forgotten Canidae is a brand that delivers a high-quality product and focuses on using only premium ingredients.

• 4 variety options;
• No corn;
• No wheat;
• No Soy

Although many are adamant that any dog food labeled as “all ages” doesn’t deliver a lot of nutritional value, they have been proven wrong in this case.

It just means maybe make sure that the nutritional build in that particular formula fit your breed and the life stage your dog is in currently.

Taste of the Wild

This iconic brand is one that stands out. From all of the standard blue and grey patterned packaging is this nature scene. But Taste of the Wild doesn’t stop standing apart only with its packaging.

• Formula with a ton of vegetables;
• Real meat in every formula;
• Six flavor varieties for picky eaters;
• First two ingredients are always real meat

This has been identified as one of the best dry dog foods for Bulldogs and it’s because of the strong vegetable base. It eases a lot of their digestion troubles and it will help a lot of your having to live with their gassiness.

The downside to the Taste of the Wild is a natural side effect of the many great things about it. It molds really easily. Also, if you happen to hold on to a bag for too long and do not notice it can severely disrupt your poor bulldog’s stomach.

Taste of the Wild delivers a grain free formula that builds on a base of protein-rich vegetables. This means that the protein is high but still gentle on your bulldog’s stomach.

Whether your dog is active or lazy they’ll find a great time in burning off the energy from the extra carbs that are super protein-rich.

5 Best Food for Bulldogs Breakdown

#1 – Royal Canin Breed – Dry Dog Food – Best Food for American Bulldogs

[img_products img_code=”61F1OlIDWSL” alt=”ROYAL CANIN BREED HEALTH NUTRITION Bulldog” code=”B0032BFAMM” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

There is a distinction to Royal Canin that they really care as much about your dog’s breed as you do. They start by identifying constant struggles within the breed and then analyzing how these could be overcome through diet and design.

Short and Broad Muzzle

This can really make eating difficult. Although we often get irritated with the messy eating habits of Bulldogs it can be hard to stay mad at such a cute face. Hours later though when you are mopping their food dish for the third time we know you wish they weren’t quite so messy.

Royal Canin has, of all things, an answer for that. They’ve designed their kibbles to be wavy so the Bulldogs upturned muzzle can easily scoop them up. Instead of hearing your bulldog snort and inhale their food you can rest easy knowing they are being encouraged to chew.

Let’s face it, Bulldogs can smell not like grandmas cooking, or roses, or even a decent body spray. They smell bad and they are gassy.

This can be a terrible combination, but where there is a struggle Royal Canin comes in to attempt to fix it. They have heavily pulled back on the heavy grains like corn and put a focus on nutrient-dense fibers.

Allowing your bulldog to have a restful stomach and you to have a reasonable smelling room. This change doesn’t happen overnight though.

It can definitely take a few weeks before you identify any change. We highly recommend watching your dog’s diet very carefully if it seems like their gassiness doesn’t change when their diet does.

#2 – Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Best Food for English Bulldogs

[img_products img_code=”81keaXs-0qL” alt=”Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food” code=”B000VTRI32″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

The wellness brand can be seen as a little bit pricey as they are on the upper side of the mid-priced dog food. But wellness offers probably the most similar benefits that a breed specific brand or formula would.

They do not have the innovation that Royal Canin does, however many breeds specific formulas didn’t make their way onto this list because they simply weren’t worth it.

Variety for even the pickiest of eaters

Wellness CORE has various options which include: whitefish, herring, turkey, chicken, duck, boar and rabbit. But Wellness doesn’t stop there, they keep going.

They offer varieties geared specifically for puppies, and small breeds and weight control also. There isn’t much more than we can ask for from a formula that begins so generalized.

So whether you have a picky eater or a bulldog with food allergies there is definitely something for your pet that you can find from Wellness. This might be one of the best-generalized choices available.

Long-term Effect of Quality Ingredients

So, it’s basic knowledge that a healthy diet over a long period of time means quality health right? Well, sometimes no but most times yes.

Wellness stays focused on sticking to their initial goal of quality ingredients. Nutrition and nutrient dense foods are clearly top priorities with Wellness.

They start all of their formulas with all natural food regionally sourced from the US. So when you’re asking what the best food for your bulldog is, or any dog for that matter, Wellness definitely deserves a name drop.

#3 – Canidae Dry Dog Food – For All Life Stages

[img_products img_code=”91X6RkKmDQL” alt=”CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Dry Food Chicken” code=”B001DY6TWU” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This is one of the rare times where we recommend an option that is supposed to be a one-size-fits-all sort of arrangement.

But the benefits of Canidae’s Dry Dog food for All Life Stages are too good to pass up. There is not another generalized brand out there like this that provides all the benefits Bulldogs need that we could find.

You will always find the first two or even three ingredients to be real meat. Then the grains that are used include brown rice and rice bran. A far cry away from most generalized formula’s that claim to serve “all ages” or “all life stages”.

The Canidae Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages is great for French, English or American Bulldogs throughout their adult life. Even as they approach elderly they can stay on this formula with an adjustment to the volume of their calorie intake.

As their energy goes down we often see the need to cut down on some of their calorie intakes. This is one of the arguments that is for “all ages” doesn’t deliver exactly what they need. It does, it just needs some adjustments over time.

What makes this possible is the quality ingredients and balance between proteins and carbs. They don’t overload on protein which would make it less nutrient efficient for puppies or elderly dogs.

There are also no filler ingredients which means that at all stages they’re getting only food that delivers a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Which brand is the winner?

Royal Canin Breed – Bulldog Dry Dog Food by a landslide. There is no time when innovative thinking about an animal’s diet doesn’t produce amazing results for Royal Canin.

They are able to provide solutions such as, different kibble shapes and different fibers to solve problems that have ailed both the Bulldogs and their owners for years. You won’t be stuck at home anymore wishing there was something you could do about your Bulldogs messy eating.

Now, there is a solution, and that’s great. But, the benefits we didn’t mention above?

Of course, Royal Canin is dedicated to high-quality ingredients. They focus on providing great, nutrient-dense proteins and use Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to help your bulldog’s skin stay healthy.

Most importantly though, Royal Canin has constantly returned to the need to cater to your Bulldogs easily disrupted digestive system.

Royal Canin may not be the brand for you, but if you are looking for the best dog food for bulldog’s this is the one we would recommend again and again.

https://petupon.com/best-dog-food-options-for-bulldogs/ #petupon #dogclippers

How to Take Care of a 10 Week Old Puppy

Approximately 7 out of 10 households in America have a pet (I have written in this post). They not only offer companionship and reduce loneliness, but they also are natural mood enhancers and as per current research can predict or sense things before they happen. Other people keep pets for security purposes.

Puppies unlike adult dogs are far more delicate and require a lot of attention and care. This includes diet, vaccinations and health care, sleep and toilet training among other things. Before acquiring a pet it’s good to familiarize yourself with how to care for these fur babies.

Below we discuss a few pointers to guide you if you are thinking of acquiring or adopting a 10 week old puppy. We have to point out however that taking care of a puppy or any pet for that matter is a commitment and requires a lot of patience especially during the first few weeks of life.

Feeding guide

At 10 weeks of age, a puppy should be on soft solid food either commercial puppy food or on a raw diet.  Puppies are normally weaned at 4 weeks of age. The diet especially if it’s commercial should of high quality, highly nutritious and easily digestible. One should be keen to read through the ingredients and labels and avoid food with fillers and additives which are often added to make a puppy feel full but offer no nutritional value.

Seeking advice from a veterinarian on the best brands for puppy food is always a good idea. If feeding a raw diet, a balanced diet is imperative as well.

How much to feed a 10-week old puppy?

Puppies should be fed approximately 3 to 4 times a day or small portions throughout the day up until they are 14 to 18 weeks old where they can switch to two meals a day unless advised otherwise by your veterinarian. This is because their bodies are growing fast and their metabolism is high therefore requiring more food and energy.

10-week old puppy feeding schedule

Their first meal can be 7 am, at noon for lunch and the last meal in the evening at 5 p.m. It’s a great idea for them to have their last meal of the day early to give the body time to digest and also to give them ample time to defecate before turning in for their nap at night. Care should, however, be taken not to overfeed them as it can lead to stomach upset, constipation, diarrhea or indigestion.

Water should be provided ad lib at all times to keep them hydrated and to assist in digestion. Milk especially cow milk should be avoided. Dogs are naturally lactose intolerant and feeding them dairy products can cause stomach upsets.

Owners should also be mindful not to change the puppy’s diet abruptly to avoid stomach upsets. If one wishes to switch up the diet it should be done slowly in small portions over time. Changing the diet the diet can also condition them to be picky eaters which can cause dietary problems later on when they become fully grown adult dogs.

Puppies are indiscriminate eaters can nibble on garbage and other harmful indigestible objects which cause obstructions in the gut. Owners should always be keen. In case of instances where the puppy feels insecure and anxious, one can opt for them to eat in their crate where they feel safe and secure. It’s also training them to wait before going for a toilet break.

Grooming

Grooming helps keep off parasites which transmit harmful diseases but also infectious microbes and odors. Puppies should have their first grooming session before 16 weeks of age. Later than this often proves difficult as at this time the majority of dogs are harder to train, have formed aggressive tendencies and harder to build trust especially when handled in ways they are not used to.

Grooming should be initiated at home first before scheduling a professional grooming session. This allows the puppy to acclimatize to being handled differently. This includes massaging or playing with their paws especially between their toes, ears, and tush. One can also brush their hair gently.

The first grooming session should be short and pleasant as puppies can get frightened by the noise of hair clippers, noisy dyers and being looped on the grooming table. This is because puppies are easily stressed and a bad first experience can inform future agreeability during grooming sessions.

Only basic grooming should be performed on the first session. This includes a warm gentle bath, gentle blow dry, light hair brushing, nail trimming ear cleaning and a light trim. The groomer should be gentle to keep the puppy as relaxed as possible. It’s also good to slowly introduce hair scissors and other grooming appliances especially those used around the face slowly.

Two to three grooming sessions are usually enough for the puppy to get acclimatized to grooming. The groomer should strive to make the experience very pleasant which inevitably conditions the puppy’s brain to associate grooming as a fun and enjoyable experience.

Sleep schedule

It’s good to put your pup on a schedule to make it easy for everyone at home. It’s good to take time off during the first few days of the pup’s arrival to spend quality time. This allows you to establish a bond as well as a good sleep schedule.

How much should a 10 week old puppy sleep?

Puppies should be encouraged to sleep in between play sessions or an hour after eating. Sleeping time should always be at the same time every day inside their crate or bed. Puppies at this age normally sleep for approximately 18 to 20 hours a day.

The puppy house

This may be a kennel for outdoor dogs or a crate or bed for indoor dogs. When acquiring or adopting a puppy it’s good to provide a safe, warm and comfortable space for them to retire to when tired, stressed, anxious or when they want to take a nap.

Crates or dog beds should have round edges to avoid injury. It’s important to keep the area clean with regular disinfection to keep harmful parasites and microbes that pass on infections.

Apart from providing a place to retire to, crates help in toilet training. They also provide a safe place to keep your dog while you are away. They also offer a safe place for recovery especially if your pup has had a major surgery and needs ample rest and minimal movement.

Puppy Training

Playing with your puppy

This not only ensures good physical and social development of your puppy but provides a good bonding opportunity. It helps one to get to know their puppy’s temperament, likes, dislikes, and Choose a time when the puppy is energetic.

Avoid initiating play immediately after meals as it can lead to a life-threatening condition called gastric torsion where the stomach twists on itself. It also prevents the puppy from vomiting or getting an upset stomach. Ideally, wait approximately an hour or two after meals. If playing with children, the sessions should be supervised.

At times kids can be a bit rough which may cause the puppy to become aggressive and not enjoy future play times. It’s also important to get to know which games your puppy loves. This may take a little bit of experimenting and patience. You want a game that greatly stimulates your puppy and offers good exercise as well.

Playtime also offers a great opportunity to introduce simple commands which one can build on when obedience training commences. Simple commands such as “Sit” or “Stay” can come in handy during play time. This should be followed by a reward either a treat, more attention from the owner or more play time.

Care should be taken not to overtire the puppy as much as they are so energetic. At this age, they are still growing and too much play may injure there growing bone and ligaments as they are not strong enough.

Toilet training

This also requires patience and should be done repeatedly over time until your puppy is fully trained to go outdoors. Puppies go at least 12 times a day and should be allowed toilet breaks at least every two hours especially after feeding, sleeping or playing.

Dogs appear anxious, walk around in circles or sniff around corners when they want a toilet break. One can opt to start with newspaper training. This involves training your dog to go to a newspaper. Always praise and lavish them with attention when they do go on the paper. If not ignore them but don’t shout or reprimand them. As they get used to it, slowly move the newspaper towards the door and finally outside. It’s a valuable trick to place a soiled newspaper outside.

Dogs normally follow their scent and will probably go where the soiled newspaper is. With time you can finally get rid of the newspaper and allow them to go while outdoors. Always remember to praise them for good behavior. One can also opt to crate train. This trains them to wait in their crate before being released to go outside.

However, this method will require you let them outside every two hours especially after eating. If a puppy goes indoors make sure to thoroughly clean the area to remove the scent. A stated above dogs can smell their scent and will probably go at the same spot again.

If your puppy goes while indoors please do not reprimand him or her as many at times they may not be aware of why they are being reprimanded and may turn aggressive unless if caught on the act.

Socializing your puppy

Puppies need to be socialized to avoid aggression towards other dogs as well as human. One can opt to take them to a nearby dog park or invite a friend with a puppy for a playdate. This should be done between 7 to 4 months of age. It helps them to be able to interact with other dogs, to be confident at play and shapes their personality.

It also helps them to get acclimatized to different environments. Most socialization experiences start from the breeder or shelter one acquires a puppy from. Gentle handling during the first weeks of life and allowing the puppy to explore his/her environment at this time sets the pace. Expose the puppy to different places, people smells and sights slowly.

Puppy classes not only offer an opportunity to learn obedience training but it also offers a place where they can interact with other puppies and people. This, however, should be done once they have started receiving their vaccinations

Separation anxiety

This occurs when puppies are left alone for long periods of time. They usually get distressed and appear anxious, pee and poop when the owner is about to leave or become destructive around the house. Crate training helps relieve separation anxiety. It also worthwhile to leave your dog with chew toys while away to keep them distracted as you leave. Taking them for a walk before leaving the house helps them associate your leaving with something fun.

Vaccinations and Health check-ups

At 10 weeks of age, puppies are required to have received their first two sets of shots as well as deworming. At 6 weeks puppies receive parvovirus vaccines while at 9 weeks they receive DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and leptospirosis). These are core vaccines and should, therefore, be administered.

Deworming should start as from 2 weeks of age until 1 month old upon which it should continue once every month until 3 months. As from 3 months, puppies should be dewormed once every 3 months.

Conclusion

The first few weeks of life is the most crucial time to train and provide care to your puppy as it sets the pace for his or her adulthood. A good dietary plan, scheduled veterinary checks, and good training ensure puppies grow into lovable and nurtured dogs. It, however, requires commitment from the owner’s side and a lot of patience.

https://petupon.com/10-week-old-puppy/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Brush for Shedding

Several dog breeds have distinctive coat features and need constant grooming. Some breeds have a double coat, with the first one for insulation during winter and other for outer guard hair.

The fur on some breeds thicken during winter, and the excess hair is shed in warmer seasons. Other than body temperature regulation, the hair on dogs helps them stay aware of their environment, especially in the dark.

Shedding is one major issue associated with owning a dog these days. The hair growth is in cycles. Old hair falls off, and new ones grow again. In some dogs, grooming is required to help remove the dead hair. It is a normal phenomenon, depending on the type of dog breed.

Frequent shedding may be caused by parasites, stress and other health challenges. Poor nutrition and improper grooming techniques may cause skin irritation and shedding hair in animals.

The appearance of your dogs will help you to determine the health of your dog. Keen observation of your dog’s fur to see if there are any changes to its colour or the hair shedding frequency is essential to forestall any adverse health issues. Poor feeding routines, allergies or just a change in weather can affect your dog’s coat in adverse ways.

While some people allow nature to take its course during fur shedding, others prefer using tools to remove dead hair and avoid creating a mess in their house. You may need to consult your vet before changing a hairbrush type. Also, note that shedding brushes are different from ordinary hairbrushes.

Does My Dog Need a Shedding Brush?

Dogs generally require a great deal of care and maintenance to keep them strong and healthy. Bathing alone may not be enough to keep their coats in good condition; good grooming routines are necessary to keep them looking trendy and vibrant.

To help your dog stay cool and comfortable during warm periods, the surplus hair needs to be taken out. You will have hair-free clothes, and the amount of work you have to do during your house cleaning will reduce in turn.

Picking the Right Shedding Brush

You need a shedding brush that can easily be disassembled for easy cleaning. Having a tool that is difficult to clean makes it difficult to use and may lead to the transfer of skin problems between dogs if you use it on more than one. Hair stuck on the brush may easily spread all over the house.

When selecting a brush from pet stores, try to check how well they fit in your hand. Buy those with a good grip for easy handling, in case you have to use it for long hours. You also need to look at the size.

Is it the right fit for your dog? Some brushes are wider than others depending on the size of your dog. You may choose to use narrow brushes for the tails and legs, and a wider one for other parts of its body.

It is essential to consider the safety of your dog while choosing a shedding brush. Dogs have different fur types. Your dog will enjoy the process if you’re using the right brush type. While using a brush, you are expected to pay close attention to the way it affects your pet.

If the tool irritates their skin or causes pain, they may avoid future grooming activities. You may need to talk to your veterinarian or read product review before making the decision on which brush to go for.

Review of the Best Shedding Brushes for Dogs

1. FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs – Short, Medium or Long Hair

[img_products3 img_number=”149557″ alt=”furminator-short-hair-deshedding-edge” img_code=”V1539035813″ product_name=”https://ift.tt/2Pe3Zqj” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

Due to frequent shedding, some dogs require weekly brushing. Constant brushing does not stop your dog from shedding. Use of shedding brush helps eliminate loose hair from your dog’s coat before its shed all over the house. Furminator is used to take care of mats, and it can reduce shedding by 90%. It has a FurEjector button that handles the self-cleaning of the tool. The Furminator has a stainless steel edge and comes in different sizes for different dog breeds depending on the type of coat they have. Owners of dogs like German Shepherds, Chowchow and Saint Bernard will find this brush very useful.

Things We Liked

• Comes in different sizes
• A self-cleaning FurEjector button
• Its stainless steel edges make it effective in removing loose hair
• Ideal for dog breeds with a thick

Things We Didn’t Like

• Not suitable for dogs with a delicate coat

2. Pet Grooming Brush Professional Deshedding Tool for Dogs and Cats

This rake is very useful for your shedding dog. Depending on the way it is used, it may be able to reduce shedding by a whopping 90%. It is not suitable for short-haired dogs as it may cause scratching and lead to irritation. It is ideal for dogs with thick undercoats to easily remove dirt trapped underneath the fur. It has a handle with a good grip for ease of use.

Things We Liked

• Easy to use
• Ideal for dogs that shed frequently
• It rakes the undercoat properly to achieve the desired result
• Designed with a hanging hole for easy storage

Things We Didn’t Like

• Using the rake with too much pressure may cause discomfort to your dog

3. Hertzko Small Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush

[img_products3 img_number=”136272″ alt=”hertzko-small-self-cleaning-dog-cat” img_code=”V1533577642″ product_name=”https://ift.tt/2zAOrrx” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

These brushes are made of bristles of thin wire on a flat surface. It can help in eliminating hair tangles and mats from the coat of your dog. It is designed with a wide head for and a good handle for efficiency and ease of use. Loose hair can effectively be removed by this brush without irritating your dog’s skin. It has a self-cleaning mechanism that can be activated by the push of a button. This helps in grooming as often as you need without leaving a mess on furniture.

Things We Liked

• Self-clean mechanism
• Wire bristles that can penetrate thick fur without scratching the skin
• Wide head and ergonomic handle for efficiency

Things We Didn’t Like

• Cannot be used on wet dogs

4. Oster Combo Brush for Dogs

[img_products3 img_number=”138262″ alt=”oster-combination-2-in-1-dog-brush” img_code=”V1506351896″ product_name=”https://ift.tt/2PeUO8V” check=”Buy from Chewy”]

For dogs with fluffy hair, brushes with wire pins are more effective as opposed to the natural bristle brush that could work for fine-coat dogs. The Oster brush sports the closely-packed traditional bristles on one side and wire bristles on the other side.

It can be used for a wide range of dog breeds to remove loose hair and debris that is stuck in the coat. The side with the traditional bristles can be useful in massaging the body of the dog for a healthy skin. It has a sturdy handle that makes it easy to use for long hours.

Things We Liked

• Used for different dog breeds regardless of the thickness of their coat
• A bristle side for skin stimulation and a pin side for shedding, removal of mat and debris
• Very affordable

Things We Didn’t Like

• It does not have a self-cleaning mechanism which makes cleaning it quite difficult

5. Bonve Pet Shedding Brush

This brush has a bulky head with fine tightly packed pins for efficient removal of loose hair from the dog’s coat. It has a self-cleaning mechanism that retracts the pins for easy removal of accumulated hair after use. The pins are with great flexibility to eliminate discomfort when grooming your pet. It can be used on different dog breeds with long and medium-haired coats.

Things We Liked

• The self-cleaning mechanism that can be activated by the push of a button
• Pins that are thin and flexible for the comfort of your pet
• Designed with a thumb rest and soft handle to minimize hand strain from prolonged use

Things We Didn’t Like

• It is only effective on dogs with dry fur

Types of Dog Brushes

Dog brushes have four major types. They are rakes, slacker, pin and bristle brushes.

Rakes:

These brushes have one or two rows of closely arranged, razor-shaped pins. They can be very useful in removing dead hair deep in the dog’s coat. Avoid applying pressure when using this kind of brush, as they can penetrate thick fur and may scratch your dog’s skin.

Dogs with thick fur like the Tibetan Mastiff, Saint Bernard, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shepherd need rakes to help remove hair tangles and debris that may be trapped under their coats.

Knowing the hair length of your dog is key to choosing a rake with the right pin size. Short ones may not be effective in removing dead undercoat, whereas longer ones may cause pain or skin irritation.

Slicker Brush:

There is a wide range of slacker brushes available to dog owners, but the primary feature is its short, neatly packed wires. They are helpful in removing mats on dogs with long hair or those with curly hair. They can be used on dogs like the Husky, Samoyed, Golden Retriever and Malamute.

Grooming these breed of dogs that easily develop mats with the right brush size that has a user-friendly handle makes the process an easy one. Gentle strokes with the brush will prevent pain that may be caused when tangled hair gets caught in the wires.

Pin Brush:

These look like the regular human hairbrush. It consists of flexible wires with pin tips that are loosely packed. They are very affordable and are often used to round up the grooming process. They help remove loose hair that was missed by other brushes.

Bristle Brush:

They are made of bristles that are closely They are useful in massaging the dog’s skin and the removal of dead hair to keep the furniture and clothing hair-free. Bristle brushes may be used of dogs with short hair that shed often like the Scott Terrier, Pug, and Greyhound. As you brush your dog often, the activity becomes easier as it gets used to the process.

Using a Shedding Brush

You need to know the type of coat your dog has, to help you to decide on the best dog shedding brush to buy. After picking the suitable shedding brush for your pet, you need patience because it will take some time before your dog gets used to the activity. You need to be very gentle during the de-shedding routine.

It is necessary to wash dogs first before manual shedding. Bathing the dog softens the fur and helps remove some loose hair or dirt trapped in its fur. Endeavor to use a mild shampoo that will not irritate your dog’s skin. The dog’s coat should be dried after washing. A blow dryer may be used for dogs with a thick coat. Then a dog shedding brush can be used to remove the remaining loose hair afterward.

Do not rake in an angle opposite to the direction of growth of the fur on your dog. Gently stroke the coat from head to tail systematically. Be careful when raking the belly and other sensitive areas of the dog to minimize stress, as it could be very uncomfortable for your pet. Too much pressure on a particular area of the coat may lead to skin irritation.

Always remove excess hair that collects on the bristles of the brush before continuing. You may need to place a clear plastic over the floor to collect loose hair while de-shedding. Endeavor to clean the shedding brush after use and safely keep it away for future use.

Conclusion

Grooming is one of the major activities a dog owner would undertake to maintain healthy canines. Using the right dog shedding brush makes the process an easy one. All dogs shed hair regardless of their breed of the nature of their coat. We have provided top quality dog shedding brushes from the good brands in the market. You can pick the right one that suits your pet according to the size of your wallet.

Our pick for the best dog hair shedding brush is the Furminator because of its ease of use and self-cleaning capability. However, you should note that dogs have different temperaments and they may not like it just because you do. Be patient with your dog and apply minimal pressure when using these brushes to achieve the best results.

https://petupon.com/dog-brush-for-shedding/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Food for Labs & Lab Puppies

Like a lot of dog breeds, owners spend time researching to pick the best dog food for Labs. This is because labs are prone to gaining weight and having extra weight makes it difficult to shed. Labs are high-energy breeds, and so they need a proper diet of fat as a source of energy.

Puppies don’t eat adult formula because they do not need extra fat found in puppy formulas. It can make them grow faster than their skeletons resulting in skeletal disorders.

You should feed puppy food to puppies and feed adult food to adult dogs. They are both designed with different goals in mind. Source: k9ofmine.com

These dogs do not also need supplements with their diet. But when they are prone to obesity, chondroitin and glucosamine can come in handy to prevent joint damage. Be sure to include fatty acids in their diet for a shiny coat. Add probiotics for healthy gut bacteria.

List of the 7 dog foods for Labrador Retriever

Dog Food	Image	Price	Our Rated
1. Wellness CORE Natural		$$$		View on Chewy
2. BLUE Wilderness High Protein		$$		View on Chewy
3. Taste of the Wild		$$		View on Chewy
4. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food		$$$		View on Amazon
5. Fromm Family Foods		$$		View on Amazon
6. Eagle Pack Natural		$		View on Chewy
7. BLUE Wilderness		$$$		View on Chewy

Top Rated Good Dog Food for Labs

1. Best Dry Food: Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free

[img_products3 img_number=”49161″ alt=”Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food” img_code=”V1508796873″ product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/wellness-core-grain-free-original/dp/34342″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This dog food is a grain-free dog kibble. It contains about 34% protein that supports your high-energy lab. This tasty kibble is also suitable for active working dogs. Its high-quality proteins are derived from low-fat chicken and turkey.

It is also ideal for dogs that don’t suffer from allergies. It has about 15% fat that is necessary for a large dog breed that’s prone to being overweight. Dogs on a diet may also benefit from this product. The formula contains omega 6 and 3 that help promote a healthy skin as well as a shiny coat. It also protects their heart.

The grain-free food contains high-quality fiber sources like broccoli and potatoes. These ingredients help your lab feel fuller for a long time and regulate their bowel movements. Also, fiber is relatively important when it comes to weight control. Along with the fiber content, it also has probiotics for healthy digestion.

The formula also contains antioxidants that promote a healthy and strong immune system. Its glucosamine content helps support healthy joints as well.

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• Great for picky dogs
• Reasonably priced
• Doesn’t contain corn, wheat or soy
• Grain-free
• Doesn’t have artificial colors or flavors

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• Contains chicken

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2. Wilderness Blue Buffalo High Protein Dry Adult Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”46872″ img_code=”V1529603549″ alt=”BLUE Wilderness Adult Grain Free Chicken Dry Dog Food”  product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/blue-buffalo-wilderness-chicken/dp/32052″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This dog food has been recommended for labs with sensitive stomachs. It is an inexpensive dry dog kibble. Wilderness Blue dog food is high in protein and free of poultry or chicken by-products.

It will help your lab stay energetic and active without having to worry about the indigestible parts found in poultry. Chicken meal and low-fat salmon helps labs develop long, lean muscles. It also maintains their muscles.

The dry dog food is low in fat sliding. It has only 15% fat content, and this is suitable for labs with weight problems. It also contains the essential fatty acids needed to maintain a moisturized skin and healthy coat.

The formula is not made with corn, wheat, or soy products. It also doesn’t contain any preservatives, flavors or artificial colors.

Its LifeSource bits are processed with a cold press that doesn’t subject its essential minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to the heat. This way, it remains potent and offers all the minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for proper immune system function.

It contains phosphorous and calcium that help keep your dog’s teeth and bones healthy. The glucosamine content helps the dog maintain his bones as time passes.

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• Quality ingredients
• Helps with allergies
• Doesn’t contain corn, wheat or soy
• Low fat
• Contains calcium, glucosamine and phosphorous

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• The texture of its LifeSource bits doesn’t appeal to all labs.

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3. Best Puppy food: Taste of the Wild, Canine Formula

[img_products3 img_number=”49066″ img_code=”V1524669768″ alt=”Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain Free ” product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/taste-wild-high-prairie-grain-free/dp/34247″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This product is considered among the best organic dog food for labs. It is delicious, inexpensive and healthy. It was made to mimic the natural feeding pattern of a canine in the wild. It is grain-free and has different exciting flavors for picky dogs.

The formula has real roasted meats to provide protein with moderated fats of 18%. These ingredients are vital for a balanced meal. It is made with high-quality fiber sources like peas and sweet potatoes and is quite easy to digest.

These ingredients provide slow-burning, long-lasting energy and keep the dog healthy while supporting gut health.

It also has naturally occurring pro and pre-biotics that help keep your pet healthy. The formula is also suitable for puppies with sensitive stomachs.

This canine formula has been enriched with the essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3. This component keeps your lab’s coat sleek while keeping the skin healthy. It also protects and maintains your dog’s heart health.

It contains antioxidants such as raspberries and blueberries. These ingredients keep your lab’s immune system in great shape.

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• Comes in a variety of flavors
• Fills up the pet
• Free of soy, corn, and grain
• Great for sensitive stomachs
• Promotes a healthy immune system

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• Some flavors aren’t specified.

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4. Orijen Adult Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”816FTpyYS4L” alt=”Orijen Original Dry Dog Food” code=”B01I3JW7PK” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

If you prefer a diet that mimics the raw food diet, this may be the best for labs with shedding/dry skin. The premium dog kibble contains high protein as well as 85% meat. This helps mimic the natural raw food that a carnivorous canine would enjoy in the wild.

Its 38-44% protein content helps your lab to sustain its energy level all through the day. However, you must feed this product to an adult lab. This is to prevent overgrowing by the puppy, which will damage his skeleton. It is more suitable for adult labs.

Aside from being a high protein dog food, the 2/3 types of meat are raw or fresh. This implies that your pet can absorb the nutrients and vitamins faster as it should be. What is left of the 1/3 meat ingredient is air-dried. All meat products contained in this formula are suitable for human consumption as well.

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• Great for picky dogs
• Kibble smells nice
• Does not contain filler
• High in protein
• Great for dogs with allergy

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• High in fat

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5. Fromm Family Foods 33 lb. Gold Nutritionals Dog Food

[img_products img_code=”61gfyBo2JAL” alt=”Fromm Family Foods” code=”B000WFQ64C” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This adult dry kibble is suitable for labs with skin issues (source). It is formulated for large size dogs such as labs that are over 50 lb. It has enough fat and protein content of 12% and 23% respectively.

This blend of fat and protein helps support your lab’s energy level and also promote weight maintenance for your lab.

The protein content is gotten from various low-fat sources like chicken, turkey, eggs, and duck. This may not be suitable for labs with poultry allergies. It also contains salmon oil and probiotics that help your lab in digestion as well as maintenance of optimal gut health.

This ingredient provides essential fatty acids that help your lab to maintain a healthy skin and coat. It also protects the lab’s heart.

Other quality sources of fiber like barley, flaxseed and brown rice help fill up your lab all through the day. They also help maintain healthy energy levels.

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• Great for large breed puppies
• Good mix of natural products
• High protein content
• Contains probiotics
• Low in fat

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• A bit pricey

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6. Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”76715″ img_code=”V1491238657″ alt=”Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food”  product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/eagle-pack-original-adult-lamb-meal/dp/104588″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

This natural dry dog food is specially formulated for large breeds such as labs. It is a suitable diet dog food for labs. It offers a dual source of protein with lamb and chicken as well as DHA to promote eye and brain growth.

Its phosphorus and calcium content allows your lab’s bone structure to form without any complications. This also applies to female labs during pregnancy to prevent eclampsia.

It is recommended for labs with ear infections. It does not contain meat by-products, artificial flavors, preservatives or colors. Aside from the macronutrients it provides, the dry dog food provides optimum quantities of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements.

It is more suitable for lab puppies as they need a perfect balance of micro nutrients to help strengthen their immune systems.

This formula is ideal for labs with poultry allergies. It helps maintain their coats and keep their skin healthy.

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• Firms up stool
• Made with natural ingredients
• The kibbles are smaller
• Doesn’t contain colors or preservatives

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• May cause gas

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7. BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food

[img_products3 img_number=”64377″ img_code=”V1537549939″ alt=”BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe” product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/blue-buffalo-wilderness-rocky/dp/49339″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]

Blue Wilderness dog food has been recommended for active dogs. It is a tasty kibble for labs that was specially made to provide for your lab’s natural taste.

The recipe is formulated to give your lab a close-to-natural diet. It is made with a protein-rich formula, and it contains meat like lamb, deboned beef, bison as well as venison.

The formula was made with gluten-free grains. It has no trace of soy, wheat or corn. It is a unique hypoallergenic formula, and this makes it ideal for pets with a sensitive stomach.

You can be sure that your lab won’t have gastrointestinal disturbances. It gives your lab enough energy all through the day. It also helps promote a shinier coat.

It is made with a salmon formula that helps your lab fix their coat and skin problems. It achieves this by providing a fatty acid rich meal.

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• Grain free
• Comes in tasty flavors
• Hypoallergenic
• Promotes a shiny coat

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• It may not be suitable for all dogs

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Labrador Dog Food Advice

Regardless of what a lot of people say, the nutritional needs of different dog breeds vary. This is because larger dogs often require more food than the smaller ones. However, labs need the same percentage of fat, protein, and carbohydrate in their diets like a Great Dane or Chihuahua.

Every dog needs food with some protein. However, it must be from good quality sources like fish, chicken or lamb. Labs are high-energy breeds, and if they must keep up, they need food that is rich in protein.

One important thing you must note when it concerns the diet of your lab is the high risk of becoming obese. All dogs are prone to obesity, but the lab is particularly prone. It can be difficult to feed labs properly as they can easily be overfed. You must exercise caution in this regard.

There are lots of overweight labs because owners still haven’t gotten the routine right. There must be some sort of food-exercise balance. It is crucial to monitor your Labrador’s weight closely. Where necessary, adjust the portion sizes and include more exercise in your routine.

Before choosing food for your labs, you should find out if your lab has a sensitive stomach.

If your dog has a history of gastrointestinal problems or a sensitive stomach, it is safer to find foods that are allergy friendly. Such hypoallergenic foods are free from the common allergens like soy and gluten. They may also be easier on the lab’s stomach.

When you find a suitable food for your lab, it is better to stick to it. How can you determine if your lab needs a particular food? The coat will become more glossy, and they will have well-formed stools. They are also always energetic and maintain a healthy weight.

How much to Feed a Labrador?

Feeding your lab can be done in two different ways, and lots of lab owners use these methods. You can feed your lab twice a day all through his life or feed him once daily after he passes the 12 months mark.

Large meals can make your lab bigger than necessary, so be sure to check the portion. It is better to feed the lab once in the morning and again in the evening.

Most kibble packets contain the recommended quantity of food needed. This quantity varies from brand to brand. For labs that are already overweight, feed them 1/3 less than the recommended amount.

Your lab may need fewer kibbles than you think. If you have other concerns about his weight, read more about the measures to take to help your lab maintain optimal weight.

The amount you feed your pet Labrador will depend on the size, age and the amount of exercise the dog gets. Via cuteness.com

How much to Feed a Lab puppy?

Your lab puppies can easily be overfed. Divide the food into several portions before feeding. If you give the puppy a full day’s ration at a go, the puppy will eat it all. But this may cause diarrhea and also damage his stomach because kibbles swell after they are consumed.

The Dog Breed Info Center’s basic feeding guide recommends using an 8-ounce cup to measure out food. Via pets.thenest.com

When your lab puppy is eight to twelve weeks old, he’ll benefit from eating four meals during the day. It should include breakfast, lunch, and tea before supper. Try to space these meals properly by at least three hours. This will give the pups a chance to digest the food.

Also, ensure that Supper comes two hours before the puppy’s last trip to the bathroom during bedtime. When your lab pup is three months old, you can then divide this daily ration into about three portions. When he’s six months old, cut it to two. Just breakfast and supper.

Conclusion

Feeding your lab doesn’t have to follow a one size fits all approach. This HD because the needs of all labs are different. Some are overweight and need less food, while others are allergic to certain ingredients. So you need to do what is right for the dog and his health.

Our recommended dog food from this list is the Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food. This is because it contains a decent amount of protein that your lab needs for optimal growth. It doesn’t contain any artificial compounds like soy or color. It is also very affordable.

When your lab thrives on a particular kibble, continue with the diet. Monitor your pet to see if the food is ideal. If it is not, discontinue it immediately. You can seek the recommendation of a veterinarian for the best food for labs as well. Be sure to pick one that is suitable for your pet and keeps them healthy.

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Best Dog Clippers for Thick Coats

Whether you have a Bichon Fries, Wolf Dog, Schnauzer, Newfoundland or any of the many other dogs with thick coats you’ll need exception dog clippers for home grooming. Fortunately, so many dogs have thick coats that you have a wide selection available, now we’ve done the work and narrowed it down to the best dog clippers for thick coats.

Value Section

There are a few aspects you should give some serious consideration to when choosing the best dog clippers for thick coats. Unlike other coats, thick coats aren’t just difficult to cut through, but they’re also notorious for jamming clippers, and many dogs with thick coats have had bad experiences with pulling and tugging on their skin. Don’t be surprised if your big dog hates grooming. But choosing great clippers for the grooming process and a bit of patience can alleviate a lot of the issue that your pet may have encountered with a professional.

Strokes per Minute

Although you want a powerful motor when you get into the very high or very low strokes per minutes, you’ll get a lot of pulling and may even lose control. The ideal strokes per minute for a dog with a thick coat is anywhere between 3,000 and 4,000. Much more or much less than this range can spell out disaster for you, your pup, and any attempt at styling you’ve attempted.

The other important thing to note here is that dogs with thick coats don’t respond well to scissors. Usually, scissors are very uncomfortable for dog’s with thick coats because of the excessive sawing that happens with thick fur or hair.

The bottom line here is that if you venture into too powerful or get a motor that isn’t powerful enough you’ll end up making the entire clipping session uncomfortable for your fur baby. It’s no wonder that dogs with thick fur are difficult at the groomers.

Multiple Speeds

You will want multiple speeds when handling a thick coat because you will be able to quickly zip through some areas but require a slower hand in other areas. The difficulty of using a single speed clipper with thick coats is that then you’ll naturally slow down where the hair is more dense or matted, but the blades don’t slow down with you.

In the end, if you’re using a single speed clipper, you’ll have a very uneven cut, and your poor pet will feel the discomfort of an uneven coat. When you can easily transition from a high speed to a lower speed for troublesome areas, you’ll have a lot more control and will even be able to reduce unnecessary pulling. Additionally, a pet may scare more easily when the clippers are running at high speed. Some groomers will switch to a lower speed when working around the face or ears to give the illusion of a quieter clipper.

Speaking of Sound…

A quiet clipper is always a better option. Because there’s the issue of noise involved while you’re already doing something that puts your dog on edge, you’ll find that the more noise there is, the worse the grooming session.

One reason why dogs hate going to the groomers is that it’s a loud environment. Dogs have a very sensitive hearing, and a little extra noise can set them on edge. This issue is one reason why many pet owners choose to groom their loved ones at home. You can decide which clippers you like best and control the noise level at home. A silent motor or noise-free motor will help your dog feel at ease. Eventually, they may even enjoy grooming with the slow and methodical trimming. Easing your very furry baby into enjoying grooming can make the whole experience easier for you and your pup.

Top 5 Dog Clippers for Thick Coats

1. Wahl Lithium Ion Pro Series Cordless Dog Clippers

• Rechargeable
• Low-noise
• Cordless

The clippers used by professionals all across the country, Wahl Lithium Ion Pro Series is one of the top choices for handling thick coats. The Wahl blades and motors are well-known for servicing both medium and double layered coats without pulling or tugging.

We love that this clipper set works for both big and small dogs. When you see breeds like the Bichon Frisse it’s hard to find clippers that will tend to their thick coat, but small stature. It’s a typical, big hair, little body problem and these clippers are the solutions!

A standard problem with stainless steel blades is that they get hot. Now, you don’t need to worry about burning or searing hair while you’re trimming, but the heat is uncomfortable for your dog. With these clippers, you’ll need to take regular breaks.

Wahl doesn’t joke around that you could handle any job, big or small with these clippers. But deciding whether these are the right clippers for you really comes down to preference. If your dog is used to going to the groomers and can handle a lengthy grooming process, then taking regular breaks won’t be a problem.

Additionally, the clippers are low noise and cordless! The clippers work very fast, but the company doesn’t specify the number of strokes per minute that the motor operates at.

2. Oster A5 Turbo 2-Speed 78005-314 Professional Animal Dog Clipper with 10-Piece Comb Set

• 2-speed
• Stainless steel blade
• Cool Running blade

Oster provides another great option for any dog with thick fur. The fast speed runs at about 4,000 strokes per minute which is perfect for dogs with thick fur or heavy undercoats. The ten-piece comb package is useful for a wide range of dog sizes and different breeds!

The best thing about this clipper is king of everything, but to narrow it down we’ll focus on the cool running and handling aspect. A cooler clipper is going to be more comfortable for your pet, no matter what they were used to before, a warm clipper is always uncomfortable.

There’s really nothing to dislike here except the price, but it’s worth it! If you have one dog, you may not end up using every clip that comes with it, but sometimes it’s better to have the extra clips around.

The Oster A5 Turbo 2-Speed 18005-314 Professional Animal Dog Clipper is a great set for anyone who’s starting out and for those who already know their way around a good set of clippers. The snap-on comb guides are excellent for thick hair, and they move through hair easily.

Additionally, the unit itself, although not lightweight isn’t necessarily heavy, it’s set right in the middle. The unit does have a cord and uses stainless steel blades. The stainless steel blades, however, run cool making for a more comfortable clipping session for you and your dog.

3. Pet Grooming Clippers Dog Clippers 2-Speed Professional Electric Cordless Clippers

• Comes with detangling brush
• Four clip guards
• Rechargeable

The two available speeds help you glide over easy areas and focus more power on the tough areas. This clipper set from Enjoy Pet has a long lasting battery that recharges to provide up to four hours of constant use. The cordless design is great for dogs that are skittish during grooming sessions.

We love that the manufacturer put enough thought into using a blade adaption that makes the entire clippers much less noisy. In fact, the vibrations and noise level are the lowest available on this list! If you know that your dog is afraid of clippers, you should seriously consider this option!

The ceramic blade is great for keeping the area cool, but ceramic blades are notorious for jamming with excessive hair. If you’re working with a ceramic blade on a dog with this hair, you should frequently stop to clear the blade or comb guard.

This is a great clipper for the price, but you should definitely exercise a bit of patience as you’ll need to stop regularly to pull excess hair out of the blade. The speed adjustment is easy to use when the clippers are in use which is a struggle to find, and finally, the battery life is fantastic!

We definitely recommend this clipper set for anyone who has a pet who’s easily afraid of the clipper sound or needs a cordless trimmer now!

4. OMORC Professional Dog Clippers for Thick Coats

• Eight comb guides
• Cordless

OMORC uses an acutely angled titanium blade combined with a ceramic moving blade to swipe through thick fur safely without pulling. It’s an uncommon combination that will require regular cleaning and oiling, but it gets the job done quickly and cleanly! The unit is also very quiet, and lightweight.

We loved how low the noise level was, with a 50 decibel sound level, this clipper set is much quieter than anything else on the market except the clipper from Enjoy Pet above. The setup with the two-blades is also surprising and a huge bonus!

We don’t like that the charge takes a long time and you will definitely need to replace these blades after a few grooming sessions. While the battery can recharge, again and again, the blades will quickly dull.

Overall, this is a great starter set of clippers to start out with, no doubt you will want to upgrade when you’ve got the hang of things though. As a starter set, you can get used to combing through your dog’s thick mane and figure out how to handle the difficult areas.

Replacing blades is easy and there’s no reason why needing to replace blades should deter you from buying clippers. Eventually, every clipper will need their blades changed, cleaned or oiled. So, it’s better to start out early!

5.  Ckow Pet Clippers 3-Speed Professional Pet Electric Dog Clippers

• Cordless
• Low Noise

This noise-less pet clipper is useful not only gods but rabbits, cats, and horses. Why does that matter here? Well, it’s proof that this set of clippers can handle a wide variety of fur and hair types. The best way to cut through thick hair with these clippers is to use the large guide comb and gradually taper down in size until you have your desired style.

One of the things we love about these clippers is that they’re meant for a wide variety of animals, including rabbits and horses that are notorious for scaring easily. Their noise-less design comes with very low vibrations which can help does feel calmer when grooming.

The speed is a little too fast for thick haired dogs. The lowest speed available is 5,500 strokes per minute which can start to pull or tug on their fur. When you get up to the highest speed with is 7,100 strokes per minute you’ll definitely get some tugging.

If you know, you can work fast on a slow setting, or have multiple dogs to groom at home, and this is a great clipper set. Although they don’t quite meet our speed expectations the noiseless design and low-vibration during use can make grooming sessions easier despite the faster speed!

The Clear Winner…

With low-noise, 2-speeds, and ranging right between 3,000 and 4,000 strokes per minute we have the Oster A5 Turbo 2-Speed 78005-314 Professional Animal Dog Pet Clipper as the best dog clipper for thick hair. The multiple clips glide through hair easily and help with styling, as there are 10 of these clips you can use and become familiar with for styling and trimming purposes.

The Oster A5 is low-noise, but the best feature is the two-speed option. Both speeds run right in the range of strokes per minute with the highest speed running right at 4,000 strokes per minute. For dogs with thick hair, this means that there shouldn’t be any pulling or unnecessary tugging.  Additionally, the CryogenX blade with an antimicrobial coating will help ensure that you’re not dragging bacteria across your dog’s skin. Overall, this is an outstanding blade and motor combination!

https://petupon.com/dog-clippers-thick-coats/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Clippers for Shih Tzu

Known for their long, thick and rather luscious hair, the Shih Tzu breed can be challenging to groom at home. But, for those pet owners who are up to the task, you can start with understanding why you need specific clippers for your fur baby.

Value Section

The key to good clippers for any Shih Tzu is a balance between durability and power. Unlike hypoallergenic breeds that need durability, overpower and also unlike breeds with thick undercoats that need remarkable power, you need to be right in the middle.

Motor

The key to power and the heart of every set of clippers, the motor. Choosing the right motor might seem hard because of the jargon. But, it really comes down to power and the reputation of the brand. Although many pet owners have seen time and time again that brands aren’t everything, dog clippers are tried and true. Wahl, for example, is a well-known name throughout the entire hair care professional and there’s no exception for animal hair!

What you want from a motor is the power that will keep the blades moving quickly, but without tugging. For Shih Tzu’s it is difficult to find the balance sometimes because you need a very powerful motor to get through their thick hair. But, too much power and you’ll pull on their coat and skin. Rest assured, that when looking for the best dog clippers for Shih Tzu’s that you don’t need the most powerful clippers on the market.

Blades

Durability lies with the blades. You want blades that can hold their edge are strong and are comfortable to change or clean. You’re asking a lot from one blade so you’re best starting off with a grooming kit that should come with a great blade and a number of guides or replacement blades as well as blade cleaner.

When you’re cleaning or oiling your blades, the setup should be so simple that you can clean your blades in five minutes or less. You can find a durable blade that’s easy to oil and change.

The two primary options you have between blades is ceramic or steel. If you’re new to grooming, you should opt for ceramic or a cooling steel blade because the blade itself will stay cooler for a longer stretch of time. Steel blades are more durable and have a cleaner cut but heat up easily. A hot blade means that you’ll need to take more breaks and the grooming session will be much longer.

Pup’s Preferences

Although you might have your preferences on your dog’s appearance, they have a few things to say as well. Shih Tzu’s, although well-tempered are notorious for being both impatient, and stubborn. These two traits can create a grooming disaster.

Keep an eye out for pup’s that are skittish when the clippers come out and know that it might mean needing a cordless or lighter weight set of clippers. If your dog can’t sit still for long or won’t wait for you to trim their long hair cleanly, you will need to work fast. For the sake of your wrist get a set of lightweight clippers.

But, if your fur baby has been through the grooming routine on a regular basis for a while now, they will sit still for longer and not mind that you’re taking your time. If your Shih Tzu is well-behaved at the groomers, you can opt for a corded and heavier weight set of clippers. Typically, the corded options or the heavier weighted options are more durable and will last for years.

Top 5 Dog Clippers for Shih Tzu

1. PetTech Professional Dog Grooming Kit

• Rechargeable
• Come with all grooming tools
• Low noise

A cordless, lightweight option that is rechargeable and very low noise is a great option for puppies and anyone new to grooming. Best of all the PetTech Professional Dog Grooming Kit is a complete set that you can use at home but made with professional quality.

We love that this kit comes with two scissors, a styling comb, nail clippers, rasp, and four different guide combs. This kit is a great place to start learning how to groom your Shih Tzu. The styling comb and guide combs can help you over time transition from the short groomed, teddy-face cut to the longer and more traditional Shih Tzu style.

We don’t like that this blade is steel but marketed towards beginners. If you’ve never groomed your Shih Tzu before you will need to stop frequently. Steel blades heat up very quickly and can burn your pup.

Overall, the PetTech Professional Dog Grooming Kit is a great option. It has a moderately powerful motor, doesn’t tug on Shih Tzu coats and has a wide variety of tools. The collection of tools is what really sells this kit though.

When you’re new to grooming, especially with Shih Tzu’s it seems like you need everything to achieve a good look. But, this kit will let you slowly work your way up to the more traditional styles while allowing you to get more familiar with the clippers.

2. Wahl Professional Animal Pro Ion Home Pet Grooming Kit

• Cordless
• 6,000 strokes per minute
• Adjustable blade

Wahl is a well-established name when it comes to clippers, and honestly, they make the best whether it’s for pets or people. But, with this kit, you’ll get everything you need to start trimming your pup right away even if you haven’t ever used clippers before!

Hands down the blade are the best part of this Wahl kit. The blade is stainless steel, which isn’t the best choice for beginners, but it’s made specifically for smooth haired dogs such as Shih Tzu’s or Labradors. It can handle the hair easily, and the powerful motor ensures that you don’t get snagged while you’re trimming.

The downside of a kit this big is that it can be overwhelming for beginners. It’s the double-edged sword of taking on any new project, and with grooming, it’s so easy to get lost in the accessories. This kit is full of parts and a DVD that you’ll never use.

If you do choose this kit, you don’t need to watch the DVD, in fact, go to YouTube. You’ll need about three attachments, and you might occasionally use the scissors if you work your way into the long hair Shih Tzu styles.

But, getting past the stuff you don’t need, this is a great blade and a great clipper set for the price. The Wahl blade alone makes the purchase a great value. The motor is durable, and this is one of the few cordless clipper options that will last you for five or more years. Keep in mind that although this option is cordless, it is not lightweight.

3. Beautural Professional Cordless Pet Grooming Clipper Kit

• Low-noise
• Rechargeable
• Full kit

A top name in grooming, Beautural makes professional clippers, and this is a professional kit, which might seem intimidating for beginners. But, don’t get discouraged just because it’s a large kit, the blade, motor, lightweight design and easy to use adjusting feature make it worth the purchase.

The price is the best thing here, and it’s really great because you’re getting so much more value than what you’re paying for. The brand itself isn’t known for overcharging their customers like other well-known names in grooming will do. It’s a rare occurrence that you get more than what you pay for.

The battery charge time isn’t great. Where other clippers have a 15-minute quick charge, this clipper set takes an hour and a half for a quick charge. But once charged, the battery lasts for about two hours of continuous use.

Beautural makes a great product here, and the only downside is the long charging time. But when you look at the complete kit, you see wonderful clippers, quality guides, and a great blade. The blade is still stainless steel and is very durable.

Additionally, the screw system in place here makes the blade easy to oil and change. Another benefit to the Beaturual product design. The ten different guide combs might be a bit overwhelming because you’ll only end up using three or four of them, but they’re handy to have on hand.

4. Wahl Professional Animal ARCO

• Cordless
• Guides for paws and face regions

A professional option for grooming clippers that comes in five different colors and will definitely last you for years. This kit is more expensive, but only delivers what you need and is well worth the investment!

The blade is a pro diamond surgical steel that adjusts to 5 different heights. It has a simple two screw mechanism that makes it easy to clean, adjust and change. The fine blade is perfect for smooth hair like a Shih Tzu but, could pull.

The price is the only downfall of this clipper, but if you’re going to groom your Shih Tzu at home, then this clipper will pay itself off in the first year. Because Shih Tzu’s require constant grooming, it’s definitely easy to justify the price of this clipper set.

You couldn’t ask for more! It’s a high quality, durable blade with a moderately powerful motor that runs cool is lightweight and cordless. The entire grooming kit is a great option for any Shih Tzu owner and is easy enough to use for beginners to get the hang of grooming too!

5. Wahl Professional Animal Deluxe U-Clip Pet Clipper and Grooming Kit

• Full Set
• Corded
• Long life-span

This powerful clipper set is where most people start and is known widely as the standard beginner’s clipper. In fact, if you’ve taken your pup to the groomers, odds are you’ve seen some rendition of this clipper hanging in their grooming area! While there are a lot of things to love about this clipper, there are a few issues to address specifically for Shih Tzu’s as well!

The U-Clip grooming kit only comes with the heads that you’ll need for a Shih Tzu and gives you the opportunity to style longer hair as well as giving the shorter cut. But, the best feature is how easy it is to transition from one clip to another. The clips snap on, and unlike other options that we’ve seen here the blade itself doesn’t require frequent cleaning or oiling.

The downside is an aspect that many people will find surprising and it’s that the motor is too powerful. We mentioned in our value section that you need a balance between power and durability. The blade is durable, but the power is so high that it can easily pull or tug on hair as it’s trimming. The other issue with a motor that runs at 7,200 stroked per minute is that it will heat up quickly.

The Wahl Professional Animal Deluxe U-Clip Pet Clipper is great for an experienced at-home groomer. If you know your way around the paw and face areas, you’ll have no problem handling this super-powerful clipper. With speed and a practiced hand, this clipper set will easily trim, shape and style your Shih Tzu very quickly!

The Clear Winner…

Although it’s the most expensive, the best value without a doubt is the Wahl Professional Animal ARCO grooming set. The cordless, lightweight clipper has the lifespan of a heavy-duty corded set of clippers.

Not to mention the blade is durable, and adjustable, while the motor runs at about 5,500 strokes per minute. This means that it should slide through the coat quickly, without tugging. Additionally, the blade is cool running which means that even though it’s stainless steel and not ceramic, you shouldn’t have to stop too often. Overall, this is the best clipper for Shih Tzu set whether you’re a beginner or you have a more experienced hand!

https://petupon.com/clippers-shih-tzu/ #petupon #dogclippers

Best Dog Clippers for Matted Hair

Matted hair happens, but your dog can experience their version of “hair today, gone tomorrow” with the best dog clippers for matted hair. Help your fur baby feel better and enjoy their coat again with the best clippers for them.

Value Section

No matter the reason that your pup ended up with matted hair or matted fur, you’ll need high-quality clippers and a lot of patience to work through this issue. There’s a lot to be said for clippers that can take out matted hair but remember that simply shaving down your dog might not always be the best solution.

Keep Calm and Clip-On

Matted hair happens for a wide variety of reasons, and with some breeds, it’s almost unpreventable. Matted hair is not synonymous with neglect although the internet likes to paint a terrible picture of pet owners that go an extra week without grooming.

Keep calm and break out the clippers because sometimes the brush is just too much work. When you have a pup that is prone to matted hair, you should familiarize yourself with the lower maintenance styles for the breed you’re working with, such as the teddy style.

Breeds like Shih Tzu’s, Yorkies and Poodles although they all have different hair types and textures always do best with shorter styles. A shorter style may mean that you can go longer between grooming sessions, but they may also appreciate brushing between trimming. Some dogs dislike being brushed as much as they hate the grooming.

It’s really up to you to decide what works best for you and your pup. But, the universal truth is that lower maintenance styles tend to mat less. The take away here is to find a clipper with an adjustable blade and guide clips so you can safely get close to the skin and style for comfort.

Impatient Pups

A lot of the time, puppies or stubborn adult dogs will run around with matted fur because they are difficult to groom. Whether you’re grooming at home or going to a professional groomer, the results are likely to be the same. There’s a lot of debate on how to best handle impatient dogs during grooming.

If you know that your pup is a handful or downright difficult during grooming you should avoid a professional groomer. Not that a groomer should have any intention to harm your animal, but they get frustrated just like everyone else does, and it’s not their dog. You will have a lot more patience and care, regardless of how outrageous your puppy is behaving.

So, to handle an impatient pup, you should focus on having lightweight clippers that are cordless. This combination of weight and mobility will let you keep clipping through their whining or tantrum as long as it’s safe.

Safety and Sanitation

Unlike other instances during grooming where you need to take great care with pulling and tugging watching that they don’t cause safety problems, you have other safety issues to worry about with matted hair. Often matted hair comes with irritated or broken skin or even rashes. In some cases, matted hair around the genitals can expose severe infection, and you should always take your pup to the vet in these cases.

When it comes to finding the best dog clippers for the matted hair, you’ll want to take the precaution of exposing irritated skin to bacteria. This means that you’ll want to stick with stainless steel blades and keep them well oiled. As the hair comes away, it may contain feces, dirt, or other hidden surprises that you can’t want to touch the irritated skin.

A stainless steel blade that is well-oiled should provide a clean separation between the coat and skin.

Top 5 Dog Clippers for Matted Hair

1. Oster A5 Turbo 2-Speed Professional Animal Dog Pet Clipper

• 10-piece set
• Durable, stainless-steel blade
• Rotary Motor

Using a CryogenX blade with an AgION antimicrobial coating, you can ensure a clean and sanitary grooming session for your dog. This blade is great for trimming around mats and then using the clips to style out your pup. The blade detaches easily for cleaning and doesn’t jam.

The two-speed function is great for handling mats because you can use the lower speed to power through some of the tougher mats and then the faster speed when your pup becomes impatient. The A5 Turbo 2-speed 78005-314 professional clipper is a great option for dogs that mat because of how anxious they are in the groomers chair.

We don’t like the price for what you’re getting. While there’s usually a balance between blade quality and power, there isn’t much balance here. You’re getting an exception blade, but a rather low powered motor. The motor turns over at 4,000 strokes per minute. However, the lower power can be better for precision which is a benefit for hair that mats easily.

Oster is a top-brand among clippers, and although you’re getting a very high-quality clipper set here, it’s not quite worth the price because of the lower power motor. But, this investment could be worth it if you know your dog mats regularly because they’re impatient during grooming.

The lower power motor is easily both a negative and positive when deciding whether or not to buy this clipper. Because it’s a lower power, you will have more precision with the high-quality blade. Additionally, the 10-piece comb set that comes with it is great for styling and curving around the paw and face areas!

2.  Andis Ultraedge Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper

• Corded
• Runs Cool

Unlike the other clipper options, we’ve seen here Andis breaks all the rules on a traditional value in a clipper for matted hair but is an outstanding clipper set! The Andis UltraEdge uses the unique feature of a clipper that fits a wide variety of blades including both stainless steel and ceramic plated blades.

The unique but universal blade fitting on the Andis UltraEdge Super is what landed the Andis clippers on this list at all. The clipper itself is heavy and corded. But changing and adjusting blades on this unit couldn’t be easier!

We don’t like the fact that this clipper is both corded and heavy which doesn’t make it ideal for impatient pups. But, if you have multiple dogs you need to groom or know that mats aren’t a regular issue, this is a great clipper.

Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper is the ideal solution for anyone with multiple dogs that they groom at home. When you’re looking for the best dog clippers for the matted hair, you should consider the Andis clippers even though they are very different than the other clippers that cater towards matted hair or fur. Do keep in mind though that the initial investment will lead you to purchase more than one blade.

3. Low Noise Electric Pet Grooming and Trimming Clippers

• Low noise
• Rechargeable
• Cordless

From Nicewell, we have a solution for dogs that are prone to matting and don’t mind grooming, that’s right we’re looking at your poodles and Shih Tzu’s. Some hair types mat easily, but this clipper is a great way to trim down your pet into the low maintenance styles that will dissuade matting in the near future.

We love that this clipper is really an all-in-one solution. Unlike the other options that are a hefty investment and require you to learn how to use the clippers, clean the clippers, and change blades, this option is really plug-and-play.

The only issue with such a simple clipper set is that it’s cheap in quality. Don’t get us wrong it will definitely last you through a good year or two and can take on hair mats without any problems, but you’re not getting the quality of an Oster or Wahl product.

A cheap solution that has everything you need to handle grooming a dog with hair mats. If you know that matted hair is a repeat issue for your pup, the Low Noise Electric Pet Grooming and Trimming Clipper Kit can help you trim your dog down into low-maintenance styles easily.

The cordless and lightweight design allows even beginners to move easily during the grooming session. But, there’s the bonus of also have the safety around the blade. Even without the guide combs, the safety on this blade will help you avoid tugging, pulling or accidental nicks.

4. Oster Power Max 2-Speed Pet Clippers with CryogenX Antimicrobial Blade

• 2-speed
• Lightweight
• Quiet

We’ve seen other Oster brand clippers on this list, but this clipper set has the balance of power and precision that you need to tackle heavy mats. For dogs that have soft but thick undercoats leading to heavy matting, this clipper set is the solution.

The CryogenX Antimicrobial Blade is the perfect option for pets that get dirty. For pets, with matted hair, it’s hard to give them a good cleaning before trimming, and the antimicrobial blade will help ensure a clean separation between irritated skin and definitely dirty hair.

There’s nothing to dislike about this option, except the lack of an ergonomic design. But, ergonomic designs are pretty uncommon with pet clippers. We’ll take what we can get and say that there’s nothing wrong with this clipper option!

Overall, Oster offers another amazing solution for matted hair. When you’re working with your pup, the 2-speed system is great for powering around mats or speeding through open sections.

The system is corded, but lightweight with great mobility so the corded fact is pretty neutral. The system will definitely last you for years!

5. Oster Golden A5 Animal Grooming Clippers with Detachable CryogenX Antimicrobial Blade

• Single speed
• Heavy-duty blade

The motor on these clippers is technically low power, but what it really comes down to is fewer strokes per minute but with more force behind it. The Oster Golden A5 Animal Grooming Clippers have 2,100 strokes per minute motor, but with an exception blade.

The low stroke per minute motor makes this a great option for dogs that are heavily matted and will continue to get thick mats in their undercoat for the rest of their life. These clippers should be the go-to option for working with thick undercoats that mat easily such as German Shephard or Chow Chow coats.

Unfortunately, the corded design and heavyweight aren’t ideal for any dog that is skittish when it comes to grooming. To combat this, you should ease your dog into grooming and ensure that they’re comfortable first, try a warm bath and a bit of brushing before you break out these bad boys.

Oster has many great options, and if you’re working with a big dog that has a lot of matted hair, these are a great option. They are a little too heavy duty though for smaller dogs, or dogs that have fine hair.

But, the low stroke per minute motor can be the difference between getting out all the mats and getting out most of the mats. This set of clippers definitely deserves your consideration!

The Clear Winner…

With a 4,200 stroke per minute motor and a blade designed for precision, you’ll find that the best dog clippers for matted hair are the Oster Power Max 2-Speed Pet Clippers with CryogenX Antimicrobial Blade. Not only is the clipper set durable, lightweight and extremely mobile, it’s also very sanitary.

The blade is easy to detach for oiling and cleaning, while the antimicrobial blade will help reduce the possibility of bacterial transfer to the irritated skin. As an added bonus, these clippers include an accessories kit to help maintain the blade’s cleanliness while also promoting you to style your pup after trimming down the matted fur.

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