Adopting a puppy is such an exciting time. You get tons of puppy snuggles and have the pleasure of watching all their silly antics. But, what about the responsibilities that come with it? Finding the best cheap puppy food brands that will nourish your new family member and not break your budget is one of the most important tasks you'll have.
The pet food industry has been under a microscope lately. More and more pet parents have been concerned about the ingredients that are being used in commercial dog food and where they are sourced from. If you're a first-time puppy owner, you need to be concerned about this too – puppy nutrition is the key to raising a healthy dog.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has created strict guidelines for pet food manufacturers to follow. Sadly, they don't all stick to these guidelines.
While pet food manufacturing standards are some of the highest in the world, enforcement of the standards leaves much to be desired.
That's why it is so important for pet owners to pay attention to the dog food products they buy for their canine companions. Of course, dog food prices are a concern for many pet owners as well; we've considered that for these five best cheap puppy foods and have done more research in 2017's dog food price comparison.
Here are the best cheap puppy food brands that we will be discussing in this article:
| Cheap puppy food brands | Price | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Canine Recipe | $$ | A | 4.6/5 |
| Earthborn Holistic, Puppy Vantage | $ | A+ | 4.4/5 |
| Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Puppy Food | $$ | B | 4.3/5 |
| Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula | $ | C- | 4.3/5 |
| IAMS Proactive Health Puppy Dry Dog Food | $$ | C | 4.3/5 |
* Click on the best cheap puppy food brand for more information and prices, or scroll below for more details.
Picking the best puppy food that's cheap and affordable
Puppies in particular have unique dietary needs in their first 6 months of existence. For example, their growing bodies require more protein than most adult dogs yet less of other nutrients. Puppies need diets rich in vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy growth.
When you're looking for the best cheap puppy food, remember that regular budget dog food brands do not fit the bill; it's important to focus on the ingredients it is made of and where these ingredients come from. Ensure the that company of your puppy food is reputable. We've done some of that work for you below.
However, doing research on your own to pick the best puppy food brand is a great starting point, but you shouldn't make this decision by yourself. You should definitely have a conversation with your vet before choosing the best cheap puppy food for the dog to make sure it fits his specific needs.
Vets are not nutritionists, but they'll help and advise you on how to choose a dog food brand for puppies specifically that's based on your dog's age, weight, breed, and any health factors that may come into play. You should also be prepared to try a few different puppy food brands because you'll need to figure out which flavors Fido enjoys.
RELATED: 15 Top Dog Food Brands (2018 Update)
Top 5: Best Cheap Puppy Food Brand
Cheap Puppy Foods & Best Cost-to-Value Ratio
1Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Canine Recipe
Your puppy is at a stage that demands so much nourishment for growth spurts and an active lifestyle. This dietary requirement is well supported by the best cheap puppy food from Taste of the Wild.
This nutrient-rich formula combines high-grade fish protein sources with natural antioxidants from selected fresh fruits and vegetables, and roasted venison and bison – a good sampling of food from the wild.
- Cheap puppy food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
This potent combination helps boost the growth of powerful muscles and bones, healthy skin and coat, and the development of a stronger digestive and immune system. A choice of budget packs is available in 5, 15, and 30 pounds. Puppy owners say that they prefer this Taste of the Wild food over other brands for several reasons. Puppies simply loved the taste and didn’t need a long adjustment period. In fact, they took to it rather quickly.
Buyers say that as soon as their puppy was purely on this diet, their energy was noticeably higher than before. Upfront, the product does seem expensive, but dogs are fed only half the usual dose recommended by other brands. In effect, this comes out as the cheaper option. While puppies are fed only a small amount of Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Canine Recipe, they don’t act hungry for food before the next meal.
While this is one of the best cheap puppy food brands, there have been a few complaints from buyers. One reviewer needed to seek a refund when the bag of food they ordered showed up contaminated with large clumps of moldy food. A few others were upset because they claim Taste of the Wild changed the ingredients of the food without notifying buyers. They only noticed when their pup became ill after eating the new product.
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2Earthborn Holistic, Puppy Vantage
This formulation comes from organic protein sources including whitefish and chicken meals to help build strong bones and muscles, especially during the early stage of a puppy’s growth.
Earthborn has created the best cheap puppy food that uses nutritious carbohydrates like oatmeal, barley, and sweet potatoes to bolster the puppy’s digestive system. With added DHA, it reinforces brain and eye development.
- Cheap puppy food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
The item comes conveniently packaged with a re-sealable top for easy storage and can be bought in packs of 5 lb, 14 lb, and 28 lb. Dog owners are happy that this puppy food is prepared in bite-size kibble, which is suitable for regular-size puppies and even puppies of toy breeds. Pups also love it and look forward to their meals.
This food brand has greatly improved appetite and had resolved digestive issues, such as loose bowel, flatulence, and indigestion. Buyers noted that the ingredients are real food, and they find this very reassuring. Pup owners are impressed with Earthborn Holistic, Puppy Vantage's acceptability to their pets, and how it has supported the growth and development of their puppy in this crucial stage.
Some buyers did report that this food gave their puppy diarrhea, which could be a side effect of changing the diet too quickly. As with all of the best cheap puppy food brands, you'll also find reviews that state some puppies will not eat this food. Whether it's the smell or the flavor, some pups just don't find this food enticing.
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3Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Puppy Food
A recipe using the finest blend of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, choice fats, vitamins, and minerals. Wellness makes for balanced nutrition for growing puppies. It’s an all-natural puppy formula that contains no meat by-products, wheat, soy, corn, artificial flavors, colorings, or preservatives that are not beneficial to pets.
Instead, this puppy food contains deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, and fish meal with added DHA – all ingredients that support the holistic health and development of a growing puppy.
- Cheap puppy food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Puppy Food is proudly made in the USA. Most pet owners who use this product have been long-time patrons who’ve used it for their other dogs in the past. It’s quite obvious that pups find this food product delicious – they’re always looking so happy during mealtime and there’s no need to coax them into eating.
Dog owners believe Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Puppy Food is one of the only premium puppy foods that are low in fat and high in protein and carbohydrates – key nutrients for a puppy’s growth. Puppies on this food are remarkably healthy and show optimal growth and vitality. They have a good appetite, yet are not overweight. Owners of puppies that required a low-fat diet were happily surprised that this best cheap puppy food did not cause any disruption in their pup’s system, unlike what most prescription diets do.
Be cautious if you're buying this product online, as some reviewers say it is not the same quality as the Wellness Complete Health formula that they have bought in their local pet store. Others have complained that they received puppy food that was very near or past its expiration date. One buyer even noted that the bag of Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Puppy Food that they received was infested with moths and moth larvae!
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4Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
This best cheap puppy food offers real chicken bits combined with crispy kibbles that even the most picky-eater pup will not be able to refuse.
Purina ONE has come up with a smart blend of nutritious ingredients that include chicken meat, natural sources of antioxidants, glucosamine, calcium and phosphorus, DHA, fatty acids, essential vitamins, and minerals.
- Cheap puppy food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
All these healthy ingredients combine to support the development of strong bones, muscles, healthy joints, teeth and gums, brain and eye function, remarkable coat and skin, and all-around wellness that every pup requires. The delicious taste of fleshy chicken tidbits is what obviously makes SmartBlend a favorite among many pups, especially the fussy eaters. Aside from this unmistakable approval from the puppies, their humans cannot hide their satisfaction, too.
Buyers can’t be happier that issues with bowel problems, dislike of food, lack of vitality, and slow growth are now a thing of the past. With Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food, the puppies now show optimal growth without being overweight, and they are energetic and actively exploring their surroundings. Owners even get complimented about their lustrous hair and healthy teeth and gums.
This premium food comes highly recommended by pet owners for addressing their puppies’ needs. Not only that, but it also comes at a price that may not be super cheap but is really affordable. Unfortunately, some reviewers have complained about the use of by-products and fillers in this dog food. Also, there have been reviews that say this food has made dogs ill.
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5IAMS Proactive Health Puppy Dry Dog Food
Although Iams Proactive Health Dog Food caters to all dog breed sizes, this formula is designed especially for large breed pups from 1 up to 24 months old.
It has intended levels of calcium to nurture developing bones and joints vital to heavy-set dogs. Its natural nutrient-rich proteins from delicious poultry concentrate enhance strong bones and lean muscles.
- Cheap puppy food reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
This formula also includes Omega-3 DHA content that builds up more energetic and brainier puppies with sharper eyesight to boot. Moreover, this puppy food is enriched with essential vitamins and minerals along with natural antioxidants to bolster stronger and healthier digestive and immune systems.
IAMS Proactive HealthPuppy Dry Dog Food buyers love the positive effects it has brought on their puppies. This best cheap puppy food has helped eliminate digestive issues and creates firmer stools. Buyers say their puppies' weight remarkably improved, and their coats have turned more impressive than before.
A few reviewers noted their displeasure that corn meal is the second ingredient listed on the label. As with any dog food product on the market, you will also find an occasional review stating that this puppy food was not appealing to some pets. Some pet owners who purchased this product also noted that it upset their pets' stomachs. However, this could be linked to switching the pup's diet too quickly.
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