A puggle, a mix of a Pug and a Beagle inherits the health risk issues from one of its parents, the Pugs. Recent research published in Canine Medicine and Genetics made the case that pugs should no longer be considered a “typical dog” due to the amount and severity of their health issues.
While mix-breeds are considered to have less severe inherited health risks from either of the parents, puggles’ lifespan does not exceed 1.2 years than those of pure-breed parents.
This is why it is essential to provide a nutritional balance diet that meets and exceeds regulatory specifications set by AAFCO. You want a dog food diet that meets the minimum requirements and when it can, could surpass those standards to make up for the hereditary predisposed risk of certain health issues.
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What are the nutritional requirements of puggles:
Puggles require a diet that is mostly composed of high-quality protein meat with all or most of the essential amino acids needed by dogs for healthy development. Proteins are essential in body functions such as regulation of body temperature which is very important for puggles are they have short snouts which cause them to have difficulty breathing.
It is, therefore, essential that they are able to use an internal mechanism to effectively regulate the temperature. Quality protein is key. Avoid meat meal or meat bone meal diets that use extrusion to obtain the nutrients as some amino acids such as lysine are destroyed by the heat during the extrusion process.
AAFCO minimum recommendations to feed Puggles is 18% protein for adults and 22.5 for puppies on a dry matter basis. Being a small-breed dog, we recommend up to 27% protein and up to 20% of fat on a dry matter basis.
Recent studies have linked DCM in small-breed dogs to their diet. DCM was traditionally associated with large-breed dogs but recent studies have shown a rise in DCM in small-breed dogs;
To reduce the risk of DCM with your Puggle, avoid dog recipes with lentils, grain-free ingredients, peas, and potatoes as the primary source of carbohydrates and fiber. These recipes have been associated with an increased risk of DCM.
Instead, choose recipes with quality whole grains such as brown rice, barley, and oats. These ingredients will provide your Puggle with the necessary nutrients without putting them at risk for DCM.
Other important factors to consider:
Puggle adult dogs need about 30 to 40 calories per pound of body weight while puppies need about 50 to 60 calories per pound of body weight. Go for a high-calorie diet serving at least 400 kcal per cup.
Calcium: This is essential for puggles as they are at risk of developing Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, a hip joint condition. A diet with 0.5% to 1.2% of calcium on a dry matter basis is ideal for most dogs but for puggles, you might want to go closer to the 1.2% mark to reduce their risk of developing this disease.
Omega-6 and Omega-3: These are essential fatty acids that play an important role in maintaining healthy skin and coat. A ratio of 5:1 to 10:1 is ideal but a ratio approaching 10:1 is even better.
Made in the USA: You want to make sure the food is made in the USA to ensure regulatory compliance and high-quality ingredients.
Avoid artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives: These are not necessary and can even be harmful to your puggle.
Avoid fillers: Fillers such as corn, wheat, and soy are often used to bulk up dog food recipes and are of no nutritional value to your puggle. Not to mention, they can also cause allergies.
Grain-free vs grain-inclusive diets: Which one to get?
Grain-free diets have been linked to DCM in small-breed dogs and should be avoided.
Grain-free diets are those that use exotic ingredients such as lentils, peas, and potatoes as the primary source of carbohydrates and fiber.
We recommend avoiding grain-free diets and instead opting for a quality grain-inclusive diet.
A grain-inclusive diet is one that uses quality whole grains such as brown rice, barley, and oats. These ingredients will provide your Puggle with the necessary nutrients without putting them at risk for DCM.
Best Dog Food for Puggles:
OurPets HQ team is currently working on a robust list with a ranking of the best dog food for puggles.
Below is a list from another site that’s currently ranking well on the internet. You will notice several problems with the list below as it fails to explain how they arrived at the ranking. One glaring error is their ranking of a grain-free diet to be number 1 yet grain-free diets have been associated with DCM disease in dogs.
Please stay tuned for our robust list with a detailed explanation of our ranking.
In the meantime, below is a list we found online;
1. Wellness Grain-Free Complete Health Small Breed Adult Dog Food — Best For Adult Puggles
2. Holistic Select Adult & Puppy Health Grain-Free Dog Food — Best For Puppy Puggles
3. Nulo Freestyle Trout & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Senior Dog Food — Best For Senior Puggles
4. Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken Recipe in Broth Wet Dog Food — Best Wet Food For Puggles
5. My Ollie Turkey Feast — Best Fresh Food For Puggles
6. ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Dog Food — Best Premium Food For Puggles
7. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food — Best Budget Food For Puggles
8. Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Natural Dog Food — Best Weight Gain Food For Puggles
9. Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Farm-Raised Chicken Dog Food — Best Weight Loss Food For Puggles
10. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Adult Wet Dog Food — Best Food For Puggles With Sensitive Stomach
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com
