Pit bulls are wonderful dogs that make fantastic pets. While they are often given a bad reputation, the vast majority of pit bulls are loving and definitely misunderstood.
While they are a powerful breed to own, with the correct training and an owner that has a good understanding of the breed, they are certainly worth considering.
When owning any breed of dog, it is important to ensure that they are being fed on the correct diet, especially when they are puppies.
A puppy’s diet will have a big effect on their health, growth, and development. As a result an owner needs to have a good understanding of what makes a good and nutritious dog food.
If you are unsure of what to feed your new pit bull puppy, then this is the article for you.
We have discussed and reviewed the 5 best puppy foods available that are suitable for this breed, and allow them to thrive.
In addition to this, we have discussed what you need to look for in dog food, and the ingredients a pit bull needs.
EDITORS CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK
Our top choice for the best puppy food for pit bulls is Orijen Puppy dog food. Overall, it is a fantastic choice to consider, and it is full of goodness, and nutritious ingredients.
Out of the five foods featured, it is the most expensive option. However, the cost is reflected in the quality of the food.
The first ingredient featured is deboned chicken, and the second ingredient is debone turkey. This is a sign of a fantastic food that is high in protein, and free from fillers and additives.
There are many protein sources, including egg, herring and mackerel. This is fantastic for a pit bull specifically.
Given that the food is low in carbohydrates, it is suitable for pit bulls that have allergies and sensitive stomachs.
There are plenty of vitamins and minerals present that help to promote healthy bone growth in the puppy. Some of these include zinc proteinate.
There are 4 different bag sizes that can be purchased, and it is a dry dog food. The ingredients are 85% quality animal based, which is important, and it is also grain-free.
You don’t have to worry about any unnecessary ingredients, and regionally sourced protein and ingredients are used.
Pros
- Grain free — This allows the food to be suitable for pit bulls with allergies
- Multiple protein sources — Pit bulls need this in their diet
- Multiple bag sizes — Great variety of options to choose from
- Natural ingredients — No additives or preservatives to worry about
Cons
- Cost — this food is significantly more expensive than the other options featured
EDITORS CHOICE
Blue Buffalo is a popular brand of dog food that is well known for its quality ingredients and reasonable prices.
While it is not the cheapest option available, it is not too expensive to purchase outright, and the cost per meal is significantly lower.
What is great about this puppy food is that it is grain-free, which is important for a pit bull puppy.
There are no unnecessary fillers added, which means that the food will be less likely to cause any stomach issues or upset.
While the food does contain chicken meal, this is the second ingredient listed behind deboned chicken. This means that the single protein source makes up the majority of the food, which is important.
There is also chicken fat, which is important for a pit bull’s diet, and fish meal, which allows there to be multiple protein sources.
The food contains a good amount of vitamins and minerals which benefit the dog’s diet, such as Vitamin D3, B2, B1, D3 and B12.
It is full of natural goodness, which is important in puppy food to help with bone growth and development.
This Blue Buffalo food is great for medium-sized breeds, which is the category pit bull puppies fall into. It is a dry dog food that comes in a variety of different bag sizes. It is natural and full of antioxidants.
Pros
- Natural ingredients — doesn’t feature any unnecessary additives, fillers, or ingredients
- Full of vitamins and minerals — this is important for growth and development
- Multiple protein sources — this is needed in a pit bull’s diet
- Bag sizes — range of different sizes to choose from, depending on your budget.
Cons
- Protein meal — this may be off-putting for some owners, however, it is not the main ingredient and single source proteins are still featured in the ingredients first.
BEST VALUE
Nutro Wet Dog Food is slightly different to the other options featured. This is because it is a wet food, rather than a dry food.
While dry food tends to be the better option to feed your dog, wet food can still be fed if necessary. However, you want to choose one that is high in protein.
This is the case with this food. It has fantastic ingredients, and is also grain-free. This makes it the perfect option for pit bull puppies suffering from allergies or intolerances.
From looking at the ingredients, chicken is the main source of protein. It features other proteins too, along with sweet potatoes, which are complex carbs.
There are plenty of vitamins and minerals included, such as Vitamins A, B12 and D3.
There are no additives or GMO ingredients, and real chicken is the main ingredient. It is created in the USA, and it can be purchased in packs of 24 and 36.
On the whole, it is a reasonably priced dog food that is worth considering if you are feeding wet food.
Pros
- Grain free — this is important for pit bull puppies
- No GMO ingredients — all of the ingredients are natural which is important
- High in protein — this is needed in a wet dog food
- Reasonably priced — good option to consider if you are on a budget
Cons
- Wet food — wet food is not always the best option to consider for dogs if fed for long periods of time
RUNNER UP
Wellness is another great dog food to consider, and it is a popular brand. The complete healthy food is full of goodness that will help your pit bull puppy to grow and thrive.
It is one of the more expensive options to purchase, but this reflects the high quality of the ingredients included.
The main protein source featured in this food is deboned chicken, which is followed by chicken meal. The carbohydrates featured are oats, which are a lot easier for a pit bull puppy to digest.
This is a dry dog food that features salmon meal and also salmon oil, which provides important nutrients.
Alongside this, there are plenty of vitamins and minerals present, such as vitamin B12, zinc sulfate, and vitamin E.
The food is created in the US and doesn’t use any fillers, by-products, or artificial preservatives. It is available in a range of different sizes too.
Pros
- No fillers or preservatives — important for a food not to contain these
- Multiple protein sources — needed in a pit bull’s diet
- Oats included — this is a complex carbohydrate that is easier for a dog to digest.
- Vitamins and minerals — the food is packed with nutrients and goodness
Cons
- Cost — this food is one of the more expensive options to consider.
RUNNER UP
Last, but certainly not least, we have Nature’s Recipe Grain Free Puppy Dry Dog Food. This is another fantastic option to consider for a pit bull puppy.
It is the most affordable option featured. However, it is not lacking in quality in any way. It can also be purchased in different bag sizes.
The main ingredient is a singular chicken protein source, which is important. The complex carbs featured are sweet potato and pumpkin, which are good for a pit bull.
The protein fats included are beneficial for a pit bull puppy, and there is fish oil included. The only downside to this food is that it doesn’t contain multiple protein sources.
Even so, it still contains plenty of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B12, D3, and E. This food is grain free, and doesn’t feature any artificial colors or flavors.
Pros
- Good protein source — this is important for pit bulls
- Vitamins and minerals — this food is packed with goodness
- Cost — this is one of the more affordable options featured
- Complex carbohydrates — the carbohydrates featured are suitable for pit bulls
Cons
- Single protein source — chicken is the only protein source
Best Puppy Foods For Pitbulls Buying Guide
Before purchasing dog food for your pit bull puppy, there are a handful of things that you will need to take into consideration. These aspects are important as they help you to choose the best possible food for your pit bull.
The Importance Of Puppy Food
When choosing puppy food, it is important to get the food correct. While there are a handful of dog foods that are suitable for all ages of dog, many are split into puppy, adult, and senior.
It is important to ensure you are purchasing the correct aged food as this can impact the growth of your pit bull. Puppy food contains extra calories, vitamins, and minerals that are needed for a puppy to consume.
Understanding A Pit Bull’s Needs
When choosing a brand, it is important to have a better understanding of pit bulls as a breed. This will help you to understand why certain ingredients are important for them to consume.
More often than not, pit bull is a phrase used to describe a range of different dogs. While this does include the American Pit Bull Terrier, it can also be used to describe mixed breed dogs with similar characteristics.
When looking at the American Pit Bull Terrier, it is a medium-sized breed of dog that has a solid build. They are known for their strength and strong features. They have short fur, and can have a variety of different coat colors.
On average, pit bulls remain puppies until 14 months, from here they then reach maturity. As they take a longer time to mature, they will need to remain on puppy food until this time.
Pit bull puppies need to have a good diet that is full of healthy proteins. This is important because it helps with muscle and bone growth.
Ideally, the food should contain at least 25% protein to help them receive the correct amount needed.
Cost
When choosing dog food, it is important to take into consideration the cost of the food. You will want to purchase dog food that is suitable, but also within your price budget.
Fortunately, there are many great and nutritious dog foods that are suitable for pit bull puppies and aren’t too expensive.
Quality VS Quantity
Following on from the cost of the food, when looking at high-quality and nutritious food, a lot of people are put off by its cost.
When comparing the costs in comparison to grocery dog food, it is more expensive to purchase outright.
However, what you will want to consider is the cost of feeding per meal.
When it comes to dog food, the quality is more important than the quantity of the food. As a result the more expensive foods are more nutritious.
This means that they are not full of fillers, and less food needs to be fed to a pit bull. They will be fuller for longer and more satisfied in comparison to grocery food.
While nutrition based food is more expensive outright, the cost per meal is less, which means you will be purchasing the food less often. In the majority of cases, this will cost you less money in the long run.
Ingredients
When thinking about nutrition food vs grocery food, this all comes down to the ingredients featured. The better the ingredients are, the better, and more suitable, the food will be for your pit bull.
Protein Type
To begin with, you will want to take note of the protein type featured on the ingredients list. Ideally, the best protein will be whole sourced proteins.
These are listed as the exact meat, such as “chicken” or “beef”.
Whole sourced proteins are better for a dog, and allow you to know exactly what is featured within the food.
In contrast to this, you may notice that animal by-products are featured.
These should be avoided where possible, especially if it is the only protein source listed. This essentially means that the meat cannot be stated as an exact source.
As a result of this, the meat could be from a number of sources, which changes with the different batches of food.
The food could potentially be taken from ill animals, or unethical protein sources. The protein is typically made up from leftovers from the carcasses, and isn’t full of protein that is of a high quality.
Given this, it should be avoided where possible.
When the protein is followed by “meal” this emphasizes the meat is taken from leftover sources, typically that were used for human consumption.
Protein Content
While the type of protein is important, the amount of protein present is equally necessary to check. All good dog foods will feature the protein source first on the ingredients list.
When looking at the ingredients list, the first ingredient that is featured is what makes up the majority of the food. The last ingredient is the smallest amount featured.
As pit bulls need a good amount of protein in their diet, it is a priority that the protein content is listed first, and that it is a whole protein source.
Although the food can feature a protein meal, this should be in addition to the whole protein source, instead of a replacement for it. Pit bulls benefit from multiple protein sources rather than just one.
This is why it is important to look for food that has a few different protein sources. It is even better if the food contains fish in addition to a poultry protein.
Fish has a number of different health benefits, and it is a good protein source to consider.
It is full of good healthy fats and acids that will benefit a pit bull. Amino acids are important for the growth and development of a dog.
Fats
A lot of dog owners assume that fats are not healthy for a dog to consume.
However, a small portion of healthy fats is beneficial for a pit bull to consume, and it is particularly important for puppies. It helps to aid their growth and development.
When it comes to nutrients, fats help with the absorption of these, and it helps to ensure that the pit bull's coat and skin remains healthy too.
Puppy food typically does contain more fat than the average adult dog food, and a pit bull needs up to around 10 — 15% fat in their diet.
This fat can come from the protein or fish source. However, flaxseed oil can be a good alternative to this too.
Vitamins And Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are an important part of a pit bull's diet. Not only do they help with growth and development, but they help to keep a dog healthy too.
There are many types of vitamins and minerals that a pit bull will benefit from consuming through its food.
Where possible, a food should contain things such as, vitamin b12, calcium, and phosphorus. These are important with the development of bones.
Without this included in the diet, a puppy’s growth can potentially be affected.
Healthy Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are something that dogs wouldn’t necessarily consume. As a result of this, a lot of carbohydrates can be unsuitable for a dog to eat.
Even so, many low-quality foods will still include them in the ingredients list as a filler.
Where possible you will want to choose food that contains complex carbohydrates such as sweet potato. This is easier for a dog to digest and is better for them on the whole.
Even so, it is difficult to avoid feeding dogs carbohydrates completely because it is placed in a lot of dog foods.
Oats and legumes are also useful to feed as these are softer on the digestive system. Things such as corn and grain can cause digestive issues.
Fillers And Additives
As we have already touched upon, a lot of lower-quality dog food will feature fillers and additives. These help to bulk out food that doesn’t contain enough protein or suitable ingredients.
The filler is typically made up of carbs that are not complex, and are more difficult for your dog to digest. They aren’t natural to a dog’s diet, and should be avoided where possible.
The additives included in a dog food typically help to enhance the flavor of low-quality dog food to encourage the dog to eat it.
A good quality dog food that has a good whole protein source will not need to feature any additives. This is worth remembering.
While some foods contain preservatives to keep the food fresh for as long as possible, this should be minimal and avoided when possible.
Allergies
Unfortunately, pit bulls are known to suffer from allergies.
As a result, you will want to ensure that the quality of the food you choose is good. If the food isn’t of a good quality, this can make allergies worse.
Some allergies that pit bulls suffer from include intolerances to grain, skin problems, and digestive issues. This is why it is so important to study the ingredients list closely.
Whole proteins, complex carbohydrates, and a lack of grains will help to ensure that the food will not cause any flare-ups of the skin or any potential digestive issues.
Sensitive dog foods can be a great option to consider if your pit bull is particularly sensitive to certain ingredients.
Branding
When choosing a type of dog food, it is important to look at the brand. While this doesn’t always determine whether or not the dog food is good, if the brand has a good reputation, this will typically be a good sign.
Knowing what the brand is like will help you to research into whether their food can be relied upon. Even so, it is important to note that with some types of dog food brands, you may be paying extra for the name of the brand rather than the quality of the food.
Changing The Diet Slowly
While it is important to change your pit bull onto a diet that is suitable for it and has good ingredients, this should not be done too quickly.
If you change the dog’s food too quickly, this can cause stomach upsets and diarrhea.
Instead, the change over of food should happen slowly, over the course of a few weeks. This will then prevent these issues from occurring and allows the dog’s body to slowly get used to the change in food.
Start off with 90% of the old food, with 10% of the new food mixed in, and gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of old food, until the diet is completely switched.
Pit bull puppies have sensitive stomachs, so this is a great way of knowing whether or not the dog food you have chosen to feed it will be suitable or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Feed My Pit Bull Puppy To Get Big?
You always want to ensure that you are feeding your pit bull good quality puppy food.
However, there are a number of things you can add to the food if you feel as though your dog needs the extra calories to help with growth and weight gain.
Protein is an important aspect when it comes to growth, as a result, you can choose to mix in cooked meats with the food. Chicken and fish are great options to consider, and both help to build muscles.
Eggs are another great source of protein. These can be added to the food, both scrambled or raw, depending on your dog’s preference.
What Foods Are Bad For Pit Bulls?
As discussed in our article, grains are not the best option to feed a pit bull.
This is because they naturally have a sensitive stomach. As a result of this, complete carbohydrates should be used instead.
In addition to this, there are many types of food that are unsuitable for dogs to eat. This is because they can cause upset stomachs and can even be potentially poisonous.
Some of these foods include — raisins, avocado, grapes, citrus fruits, chocolate, cinnamon, and onions.
These are just a handful of unsuitable foods. You should always carry out research before feeding a new food to your pit bull.
Are bananas good for pit bulls?
Yes, bananas can be a great treat for a pit bull. Interestingly, bananas are full of healthy proteins that can benefit a pit bull.
In addition to this, they contain biotin, nutrients, and potassium that are great for dogs.
Even so, they shouldn’t be fed in high amounts, but as an occasional treat they are healthy and suitable to feed.
They are also low in cholesterol and sodium, which actually makes them a better option to feed in comparison to some dog treats that can be purchased.
