A Bichon Frise puppy diet is similar to a healthy adult Bichon Frise diet, and you need to get your new puppy started on the right track.
Have you been looking for Bichon puppies feeding advice? That is great because it shows that you have a genuine interest in your dogs health.
And, while some people advocate using raw dog food for their Bichon Frise puppy diet, there are still many who prefer to buy good quality commercial dog foods
Keep in mind that every Bichon Frise dog is different, so what is right for one, may not be best for another. Every dog is an individual, and it may take a little while to figure out what your dog’s food needs will be.
So what I am sharing with you is just my opinion and what has worked extremely well with our Bichon Frises. If you get your puppy started right on a good Bichon Frise puppy diet and feeding schedule, you both will have an easier time as your dog ages.
Healthy Diet Choices
Premium dog foods that are holistic dog food or organic dog food, have a good track record for commercially prepared dog foods.
Some excellent brands to look for would be Stella and Chewey’s Freeze Dried Dinner Patties (my favorite) or Merrick 1 Count Big Game Recipe. Neither of these two top quality dog foods use any ingredients from China.
These manufacturers strive to use only the best ingredients, foods scientifically proven to provide a healthy canine diet. They will use little to no fillers and do not use any by-products.
How a Bichon Frise Puppy Diet Affects Your Bichon’s Health
It is important to decide on a diet for your puppy and stick to it. Changing dog foods can lead to puppy diarrhea if you don’t do it gradually. Your puppy will be healthier if you feed her one healthy dog food, you don’t keep changing her foods and you stick to a feeding schedule.
Bichons have very sensitive skin and are prone to skin irritations and allergies. In many cases, these dog allergies are caused by an improper diet.
Improper diets are usually the result of feeding inferior dog foods that don’t consist of the proper nutrients and supplements required by your Bichon Frise puppy or dog.
Yes, it is true that a holistic dog food is more expensive compared to most dog foods but isn’t it worth it for the health of your “best friend”?
Raw Dog Food Diet for Dogs
Using a raw dog food diet has become popular with Bichon Frise owners.
Also known as BARF (Bones and Raw Food), this feeding method basically looks to return a dogs’ diet back to the way nature intended it to be.
Just as important to Bichon Frise puppy care, make sure that you give your puppy or dog plenty of fresh clean water each day.
Our family drinks purified bottled drinking water and so do our dogs. Some tap waters contain dangerous chemicals and contaminants. Why take that increased risk for yourself or your sensitive Bichon Frise?
A good Bichon Frise puppy diet is one of the best ways to show your dog how much you care for him.
Finding the Best Bichon Frise Diet
Most of us struggle with our first Bichon puppy’s diet–but we eventually do find a dog diet that works well for that dog.
And, of course, as with some other dog breeds, Bichons tend to have lots of dog allergies, even though they are great little dogs for humans who happen to be allergic to dogs!
The dog skin allergies so frequently seen in Bichons do dictate that we really watch what our dogs eat, which is part of the reason that Bichon diets are of such interest.
And with each new Bichon Frise dog, our knowledge grows–and we get a little better at understanding what each dog needs.
Bichon Frise Puppy Diet Tips from Readers
I often get letters from readers, and they do give good advice, based on their experience with their own Bichon Frise puppies and dogs. Here are a few that may be helpful to you:
Nulo for My Bichon Frise
by Emily (Fort Collins)
I started my Bichon Frise on a new diet, Nulo dog food
Their pet foods are 100% free of corn, wheat, soy, chemical preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.
After learning about the fillers which are placed in pet foods, I started reading the labels finding it was hard to find a natural pet food which is good for my dog.
My dog loves Nulo, and actually won’t eat anything else now. She has lost weight and gained more energy than ever! I would recommend Nulo pet food not only for Bichon Frises–but any pet.
Milo’s Forever Home
by Diana (New Jersey)
I adopted “Milo” from Connecticut. I believe I am his 4th home. For whatever reasons he was given up a few times. But please note he is a wonderful dog.
When we got him he was very quiet. I thought perhaps something was wrong with Milo. But after a week in my home he started to eat and play. He was being fed Iams food. But he had a “pink patch” on his back.
It looked sore and he came with some medication for it. I took him to the vet and our vet said that it could have been caused by fleas, food, etc. So I started to do the elimination process. Also, Milo had gained too much weight. I talked to the vet about food. I also talked to friends and family about dog food for him.
A Better Diet Helped Milo
My daughter told me that her dogs were thriving on Blue Buffalo. I took a trip to Pet Smart and actually spoke to the Blue Buffalo representative about Milo.
She recommended the special food for weight control and also she told me to eliminate other foods like dairy and cheese. So I did. Well, Milo’s patch started to disappear without the medication. I now feed him the Blue Buffalo Small Breed Chicken & Rice Dog Food that she recommended. I give him vegetables but do not give him cheese or dairy.
His coat is thick and white now. It seems to agree with Milo. Now the only two problems I have with Milo are the fact that he thinks he is “everyone’s friend” and must greet every dog and their owner when I walk him. Sometimes people do not want a dog jumping on them!
There is always someone out there who pets him when we are walking and he jumps up on them.
And the other problem is he destroys all of his toys. He chews them and takes the “squeaker” out and never has a toy more than 30 minutes. Yes, even the “kong”.
He has the “Nylabone chew bone” and that is ok and one black kong ball and they are the only toys not destroyed.
But other than that he is a “Wonderful Pet and Companion” He follows me everywhere. I LOVE HIM! Diana
Our Bichon Frise Puppy Diet
by: Carole
Since the Chinese dog food ingredient scare a few years ago I only buy my foods and supplements for my Bichon Frise (Daisy) at Murphy’s — a neighborhood holistic pet store in Winter Springs, Florida.
They keep a careful watch on ingredients, recalls and they offer nutritional advice as well.
Since that time Daisy has not had any hot spots and enjoys excellent health. She developed spinal spondylosis early this year since she turned 8 yrs old in the L4-L5 section of her spine, and Murphys highly recommended Lubriflex, which I’ve been giving her since–and she’s just like her old self again.
Daisy’s New Diet
We give her 1/2 tablet a day dipped in all natural Publix deli freshly ground peanut butter (no salt or sugar).
I buy are Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Real Salmon and Potato Recipe (dry) for Daisy. And I also buy a couple cans of Mulligan Stew for variety. I mix about a tablespoon into her dry dog food. Sometimes I mix a few drops of anchovy liquid into her dry kibble.
Daisy’s treats consist of Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats and small homemade natural dog biscuits I buy at Murphys — banana, sweet potato, peanut butter flavor.
I used to have so many problems with her skin as well as allergies before this diet — none at all since she’s been on this diet.
Also, we only give her bottled water & she gets no tear stains below her eyes like so many other Bichons.
My Raw Food Diet
Clio the Bichon Frise
Hi, my name is Clio and I am fed a raw diet. I eat Stella and Chewey’s dog food. The variety pack has chicken, beef, duck, lamb and surf ‘n turf. My dinners are fortified with a dried ground bonemeal supplement which my mom sprinkles on top of the meat. I am given raw egg and sardines once a week mixed with rice or potato.
As a treat I have raw apple, carrot, dried cranberries and blueberries. Once a week I get a raw bone which is usually a pork rib bone – I love these sooo much. Mom does not give me any cows’ milk products but, I am given small amounts of goats milk, cheese or yogurt.
I am a 2 year old Bichon Frise and I have no tear stains around my eyes, my skin is healthy and I only go to the vet for annual boosters. And I don’t chew my feet or have ear problems. Of course I am not overweight, as the meat is not full of fat. I have no problems with my poops either!!
My family had a Westie before me and she suffered all her life with skin problems. She had endless trips to the vets and was on medication pretty much all the time. If the family had known about the raw diet back then, she might have lived a better life. My Mom is taking no chances with me. I am a calm little dog and very contented, amazingly healthy and very very happy.
As for the worry about bacteria – follow usual food hygiene rules, its common sense really.
I would recommend you try my Bichon Frise puppy diet. Good luck Bichons! Clio
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