Best Food for Cavapoo Puppy

The best food for cavapoo puppy will make your pet thrive thanks to easily digestible protein, plenty of DHA, and calcium.

Cavapoos are the offspring of poodles (toy or mini) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Depending on their poodle parent, cavapoos can be small or medium sized dogs.

They sometimes have sensitive tummies which need novel and easily digestible proteins with limited ingredients and minimal processing,

Cavapoo puppies are friendly, playful, and energetic dogs.

By feeding them foods rich in DHA and Omegas, you can ensure that they have a bright and alert mind that fuels their natural curiosity and vivacious personality.

Cavapoos also have soft and fluffy coats that need diets rich in omegas and healthy fats.

This helps prevent dandruff and unseasonal shedding, and also makes your puppy’s skin and coat softer and more radiant.

Based on these criteria, we are recommending 5 great foods for cavapoo puppies.

Real cavapoo parents and vets have recommended these foods for this awesome designer dog breed. (Don’t forget to check out our guide on the Best Food for Cavapoo).

Just in case you are in a hurry, click on our short summary below to view our Top 5 reviewed products for the best food for cavapoo puppy:

1. DIAMOND NATURALS Small Breed Chicken & Rice Puppy Food
2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Natural Puppy Food
3. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Puppy Food
4. Rachel Ray Nutrish Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Food
5. Hill's Science Diet Chicken Meal & Barley Puppy Food

Best Food for Cavapoo Puppy – 2022 Top 5 Picks

1.  Our Editor’s Pick: DIAMOND NATURALS Small Breed Chicken & Rice Puppy Food

Your cavapoo puppy will get all the delicious protein it needs from this great food.

Diamond Naturals uses cage-free chicken and conforms to AAFCO’s food nutrient profiles for growing puppies.

There is 32% crude protein in this food with plenty of DHA, calcium, zinc, vitamins, and balanced omega 3 and omega 6 ratio.

Majority of its protein comes from cage-free chicken, quinoa, and chia seeds which provide plenty of energy to your intelligent pet.

Moreover, Diamond Naturals have added 80 million CFUs of K9 Strain® probiotics which enhance your pet’s digestion.

Probiotics also help keep the stools firm, dry, and small which can prevent anal gland disease in dogs.

Salmon oil provides plenty of DHA and omegas for your pet’s healthy vision, brain development, as well as skin and coat.

Since many cavapoos have sensitive digestion, they will benefit from the pumpkin, chicory root, chia seeds, coconut, dried kelp, and prebiotic fibers in this food.

There are also many brightly colored vegetables and fruits like berries and papaya that provide phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals to your growing pet.

What we like about it

• Small kibble size packed with real nourishment: cage-free chicken and healthy superfoods
• No corn, soy, preservatives, fillers, and colors.
• Contains probiotics for easy digestion
• DHA for brain development as well as fatty acid blend for skin and coat
• Made in USA

What we don’t like

• Caused stinky poop in some dogs.

2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Natural Puppy Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Natural puppy food is packed with DHA and ARA which are present in the dam (mother’s) milk and which puppies need for brain and healthy vision development.

Blue uses the finest of ingredients without byproducts, fillers, or preservatives, making it ideal for sensitive dogs like Cavapoos.

This food consists of small yet crunchy kibble which is perfect for small jaws and also eliminates tartar on your pet’s developing teeth.

Your pup will also benefit from the healthy and balanced ratio of minerals like calcium and phosphorus in the form of strong teeth and bones.

The brand cold-forms the kibble to maintain its nutrition and also adds healthy antioxidants for your puppy’s overall health, immunity, and well-being.

Blue Buffalo also contains balanced ratio of Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids to provide your Cavapoo with a soft, shiny coat.

High-quality deboned chicken and eggs provide nearly 27% crude protein.

What we like about it

• Ideal nutrition for puppies – DHA, high-protein, balanced minerals for bones and teeth
• Small crunchy kibble

What we don’t like

• Caused stinky poop in some dogs.

Also Read: Best Cat Food Recommended by Experts for Smelly Poop

3. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Puppy Food

SmartBlend from Purina ONE consists of a delicious mix of crunchy kibble with tender and meaty morsels.

Your young puppy will love this interesting mix of food which is also so healthy for its growing body.

The crunchy kibble cleans teeth off tartar and plaque.

There is 28% protein in this kibble which comes from real chicken.

It also contains DHA which is found in mother’s milk for supporting your puppy’s brain development.

Vitamins A and E support healthy vision while calcium and phosphorus provide healthy bones and teeth.

Many vets recommend this great food for puppies because it is easy to digest for sensitive Cavapoos.

Every ingredient in PURINA ONE has a purpose and it is free from fillers and preservatives.

There is also a wet version of this food. You can check it out here: Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Puppy wet Food.

What we like about it

• Vet-recommended high protein and DHA-rich food for puppies
• Suitable for sensitive tummies
• 0% fillers , 0% preservatives, 100% balanced nutrition
• Crunchy and meaty texture which puppies love

What we don’t like

• Quality inconsistencies.

4. Rachel Ray Nutrish Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Food

Rachel Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy contains DHA from fish meal for healthy brain and vision in your puppy.

Real chicken from US-raised farms provides nearly 28% protein for your pet’s lean muscle development. Chicken meal also provides calcium for healthy bones and teeth.

Your pet will also benefit from the food’s balanced ratio of omegas in the form of a radiant coat.

Fruits like cranberries provide phytonutrients and antioxidants to your pet. Brown rice and peas provides fiber for your Cavapoo’s healthy digestion.

What we like about it

• 100% balanced nutrition for optimal growth in your Cavapoo
• Natural food without preservatives, colors, artificial flavors, etc.
• Fruits provide antioxidants and also impart taste for picky eaters.
• Tiny kibble is ideal for small jaws
• The brand supports charity and animal rescue shelters

What we don’t like

• Tiny kibble tends to crumble and powder- causes wastage.

5. Hill's Science Diet Chicken Meal & Barley Puppy Food

With Hill’s Science Diet, you know your puppy is sure of getting nothing but the best. This food is formulated under the guidance of vets and canine nutrition experts.

We also love the fact that Hill’s Science Diet uses high-quality chicken as its number one ingredient.

All other ingredients are completely natural and without by-products or preservatives.

There is fish oil in this food that provides omegas and DHA for your pup’s brain and vision.

It also contains balanced quantities of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth.

What we like about it

• Vet recommended food for puppies
• High-quality, all-natural ingredients
• Contains healthy DHA for brain, vision

What we don’t like

• Contains wheat which some Cavapoos are allergic to.

How To Select the Best Food for Cavapoo Puppy?

Cavapoo puppies sometimes have sensitive tummies and could be allergic to certain proteins in dog foods.

Common allergens for cavapoos are lamb, beef, fish, poultry, and grains like wheat, corn, and soy, etc.

Not all Cavapoos are allergic to these ingredients though, so you might want to discuss it with your vet before selecting the best food for cavapoo puppy.

In general, look for the following features in your pet’s food:

1. High amount of easy-to-digest protein

As stated before, if your pet has an allergic reaction to certain protein, then it is important to avoid that protein in its diet.

Look for food with limited ingredients. The food should ideally contain easily-digestible protein as its number one ingredient.

All the foods in the best food for cavapoo puppy above contain chicken from US-farms – chicken is generally well-tolerated by most Cavapoos.

In case your pet is allergic to chicken, you can look for food containing salmon, lamb, turkey, or duck.

2.  DHA

Puppies need DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid (an essential fatty acid) for optimal cognitive development as well as healthy vision in developing puppies.

DHA is present in the mother’s milk but once your puppy is weaned off, you need to ensure it gets this vital nutrient through its diet.

DHA is present in fish, fish meal, and fish oil. Most high-quality dog food brands add DHA to their products.

All the foods we have recommended above contain DHA for healthy brain development as well as for healthy eyes.

3.  Calcium and other minerals for healthy bones and teeth

The selected puppy food should also contain calcium and phosphorus in balanced ratios.

These minerals are vital for your pet’s developing bones and teeth.

4.  Balanced Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat

Cavapoos have a gorgeous coat and to maintain it, you must feed your pet a diet rich in healthy omegas.

All of the foods above contain a balanced amount of Omega 3 and 6 which nourish your pet’s coat from the inside out.

5.  No chemicals, fillers, preservatives

Puppies do not need any of thees junk ingredients present in low-quality dog foods.

Look for top-rated puppy foods wherein every ingredient serves a purpose.

Avoid foods with fillers, chemicals, colors, or preservatives.

All of the foods above conform to this important point.

6. Small and easy to eat kibble

Depending on the poodle parent, your cavapoo could be a small or a medium-sized dog.

In any case, cavapoo puppies have small jaws and smaller kibble is easy for them to pick up and crunch.

What Human Food can Cavapoos Eat?

While most human foods are harmful for puppies, you can safely feed a few to your Cavapoo. These foods are approved by vets and most cavapoos are able to tolerate them well without any allergic reactions.

(A word of caution: no two puppies are the same. What suits one may not suit another.

Always check with your vet before feeding these human foods to your furbaby).

A. Carrots

Carrots are a great source of beta carotene and fiber. Many dog foods contain dried carrots in them.

They can be used as healthy treats during training.

Feed small carrot pieces post-meal- the crunchy texture will also clean your pup’s teeth.

You can also make a delicious stew with carrots, chicken, etc. to add over your pet’s kibble.

B.  Pumpkins

Pumpkins are an excellent source of fiber. They are generally well-tolerated by most puppies.

Apart from providing fiber to relieve constipation and diarrhea, pumpkin also eliminates worms from your pet’s tummy and enhances its digestion.

C.  Apples (without the seeds)

Apples are an excellent treat for your Cavapoo.

Just make sure you do not feed the core of the apple with its seeds. Apple seeds contain cyanide and in large quantities, could be harmful to your young pet.

D. Peanut butter

Dogs love peanut butter. It is full of protein and you can stuff it inside kong toys to keep your pet engaged for hours.

Apart from these human foods, you can also safely feed rice (brown or white), oats, poultry, fish, lamb, beef, etc. as long as your pet is not sensitive to these foods.

How to Make Homemade Dog Food for Cavapoo?

Apart from feeding the best food for cavapoo puppy, you can occasionally feed homemade food to your pet. Here is an easy recipe:

1. Choose high-quality, easily digestible protein

Select a high-quality protein that your pet can digest with ease: chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, lamb, etc.

Choose 3 lbs of the chosen protein (This should provide at least 35-40% protein).

 If using meat/poultry, use boneless, ground meat.

2.  Choose healthy fats

We recommend 2 tbsp. of olive oil. This will provide Omegas and will nourish your pet’s skin and coat.

3.  Select healthy grains

We recommend rice. Brown or white rice will do. You can also use oats or barley.

Use at least 2 cups of brown rice in this recipe.

4. Choose your vegetables

Veggies provide fiber as well as vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Use about 3 cups of baby spinach, 3 carrots shredded, 1 zucchini-shredded, and some canned pumpkin.

Steps

1. Cook the rice as per package instructions.
2. In a saucepan, add the olive oil. Heat and add the chosen meat.
3. Brown the meat by stirring continuously for 3-5 minutes.
4. Now add the veggies. Let the spinach wilt and cook the carrots slightly.
5. Next, add the cooked rice and mix well.
6. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
7. Cool slightly before feeding this delicious food to your pet.
8. Refrigerate leftovers right away and use them within 2-3 days.

This is a balanced recipe for healthy homemade dog food for cavapoo but we recommend feeding it only after consultation with your vet.

Conclusion

The best food for Cavapoo puppy contains an easy-to-digest protein as well as DHA, omega fatty acids, and calcium.

If your pet has sensitive tummy, then you need to ensure limited ingredient foods with a protein source your pet can tolerate.

The chosen food should also have small kibble size.

We recommend DIAMOND NATURALS Small Breed Chicken & Rice Puppy Food which conforms to AAFCO’s food nutrient profile for puppy.

 It is rich in protein, free from filler ingredients, and also contains probiotics for enhanced digestion. It also checks all of the other requirements above.

Do check out our other recommendations as well.