General Dog Food Considerations
There are a couple of key points to keep in mind while finding the right dog food for any furry friend. Any meal for your canine companion should check the following boxes:
These three mandatory characteristics make it relatively easy for you to find a good food for your pooch. But in order to take it a step further, consider the following factors to find your furry friend the most nutritious food for his needs:
Kirkland Signature: Nature’s Domain
Our fifth and final recommendation is Kirkland Pet Foods. Kirkland Pet Foods is Costco’s brand. However, it was created by Diamond Pet Foods which created Diamond Naturals, Taste of the Wild, and 4health.
The ingredient panel for this brand is consistently heavier on protein vs carbohydrates which is always a good thing unless your dog has a renal condition.
Purina Pro Plan Adult Dog Food
Rating:
Adult Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice is one of 19 dry recipes included in our review of the Purina Pro Plan product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal
- AAFCO: All Life Stages
- Options:See all available recipes
Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend combines a hard kibble with tender, pieces of real, shredded chicken for enhanced flavor and texture.
A classic, grain-inclusive kibble that derives the majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken and poultry by-product meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 18% fat and 44% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
| Key Facts |
|---|
| Live probiotics to support healthy digestion |
| Omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat |
| Highly digestible recipe for optimal nutrient delivery |
| No artificial colors or flavors |
This Purina Pro recipe is recommended by 96% of actual buyers on Chewy.com and is a top pick for large breed adult dogs.
- Options:See all available recipes
Merrick Grain-Free Large Breed recipe is a high-protein formula with sweet potatoes, peas, apples and blueberries. These fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants to help fight disease resistance while the significant protein is included to help larger breed dogs retain lean muscles.
| Key Facts |
|---|
| Grain-free. No corn, wheat or soy |
| 60% protein and healthy fats |
| No by-product meals |
- Options:See all available recipes
- Options:See all available recipes
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Best For Weight Loss: Hills Prescription Diet Metabolic Dry Dog Food
For dogs that need a food designed for weight management, Hills offers their Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Dry Dog Food. This dry food was developed by Hills nutritionists and veterinarians to support your dogs weight loss and maintenance by naturally working with their unique metabolism.
Hills Metabolic Weight Management recipe contains a synergistic blend of ingredients and nutrients, a unique fiber blend from fruits and vegetables, and powerful antioxidants that help your dog avoid weight regain after weight loss plus, help your pup feel full and satisfied between meals.
And, these ingredients chicken meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, pea fiber, flaxseed, coconut oil, carrots, and more generally support your dogs wellness and health.
Like other Hills Science Diet dog formulas, this food should be used under the supervision of a veterinarian and youll need a prescription if you want to order it online. If you think your dog needs to lose weight, your veterinarian can help you decide the best plan for dietary changes.
Castor & Pollux’s Organix Organic Adult Canned Dog Food Is Our Top Pick
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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
Our favorite natural dog food is Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Butcher & Bushel Organic Adult Canned Dog Food, which uses high quality ingredients, including USDA-certified organic chicken. If your dog prefers dry food, try Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Original Recipe Dry Dog Food.
It takes more than a name to find a truly “natural” dog food.
There is no regulation when it comes to using the definition, and all foods that call themselves natural are not necessarily created equal, points out Jamie Richardson, the medical chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary, a NYC-based practice.
We evaluated natural dog foods for products that are responsibly formulated: free of pesticides, artificial preservatives, and genetically modified ingredients. Here are the best natural dog foods.
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Is A Raw Diet Good For My Dog
Insider Reviews spoke to veterinarians who said that even though there are some reported benefits of raw diets, they’re just too risky. They put pets at risk of nutritional deficiencies, bacterial infections, and possibly even injuries from bones in the food. Plus, there are risks to humans. Those who are immunocompromised, elderly people, and young children are at risk of bacterial infections if they live in a household where a dog is fed a raw diet. If you want to learn more, you can check out the statements from the FDA and CDC on the health and safety risks of raw dog foods.
Good For Dogs And The Environment
Open Farm
Rarely do the words ethically sourced and dog food appear in the same sentence, but Open Farm changes that. The Canadian-based company is committed to sourcing ethical, sustainable and traceable ingredients , which has two major benefits: It ensures that pups are getting the best nutrition and lessens negative impacts on the environment. Open Farm kibbles are also free of chemicals, artificial preservatives and cheap fillers. The brand has both grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes, as well as a wholesome puppy formula for new four-legged additions.
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food
The top-notch dog food for large breed adults prone to allergies. Its formula is grain-free and with real meat as the first ingredient. The dog food is available in three recipes. Its made in the US and comes in 15 lbs or 30 lbs packaging.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is climate pledge friendly and compact by design and offers 15 lb and 30 lb packages. It uses real meat as the first ingredient, followed by whole grains, veggies, and fruit. Also, you can choose between three recipes chicken and brown rice, lamb and brown rice, or fish and oatmeal.
Its an excellent grain free large breed dog food for pets prone to allergies. Plus, its free from artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors. The formula is rich in glucosamine, chondroitin, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The ingredients help improve joints, muscles, bones,teeth, skin, coat, and boost the energy levels and overall immune system.
Product Specifics:
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Food
Image courtesy Purina
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Food is a great food to give your large breed puppy. This diet contains chicken as the first ingredient, which is a great source of protein for dogs.
Carrots and sweet potatoes are included in this food, both of which are high in carbohydrates and dietary fiber. These can help your big dog’s energy levels stay up and their digestion run smoothly.
This food also contains DHA, an omega-fatty acid, which is great for your dog’s coat and general health. Overall, the Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Food is a great pick for large breed puppies.
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What About The Worst Dog Food Brands
Some of the worst dog food brands in Australia are actually the most well known. What ads have you seen recently on TV featuring a cute dog apparently loving some brand of dog food?
The reason for this is the big players in dog food make the some of the worst foods. Its why they make so much profit selling a cheap formula with impeccable marketing is a business strategy which works.
Those companies have huge budgets for marketing their products, and not just for ads either by influencing breeder communities, dog shows, University sponsorships and endorsements.
If youre feeding one of those best-selling dog food brands, then read the review on this website, or at the very least look at the ingredients what does it really say about the product?
The Health Of Your Dog
If your large breed dog has any health problems, it’s important to choose a food that will help them stay healthy. For example, if your dog has joint problems, you may want to choose a food that is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin.
Some large breed dogs are also prone to obesity, so it’s important to choose a food that is lower in calories if your dog is carrying around extra weight.
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and find the best dog food for large breeds in 2022.
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Complete And Balanced Dog Foods
One of the first things you should look for on a dog food label is the statement is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. This isnt just an advertising slogan. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs . Complete and balanced diets must contain the minimum amount of all of the nutrients necessary for dogs, which is also indicated in the guaranteed analysis. This analysis gives the minimum amount of crude protein and fat, along with the maximum amounts of water and crude fiber. The analysis does not, however, give the exact amount of these components, which means there is room for considerable variation. The manufacturers average nutrient profile is often a better tool for evaluating a product.
You can always contact the dog food company directly to get more information about its product. A reputable company that has your dogs interests at heart should be happy to answer your questions and in many cases will give you more information than what is available on the website or product label. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has a helpful sheet with questions you can ask a company representative.
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Antioxidants And Omega Fatty Acids Support Senior Pups
Chewy.com
Senior dogs may spend more time in their dog beds than younger pups, but this makes proper nutrition even more important. This American Journey Active Life Formula Senior Dry Dog Food has everything your aging companion needs . It combines real chicken with antioxidant-rich ingredients, like sweet potatoes, blueberries and marine algae to help support healthy aging. It also has a handful of specially selected nutrients, like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility, vitamin A for healthy vision and omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
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Recommended Best Puppy Food For Labs And Large Breeds
In this next section we give you 4 of the best foods on the market made from high quality ingredients but still available at a reasonable price.
These foods will provide your puppy with all the nutrients they need in just the right mix and quantities, not just so they survive, but so they can truly thrive.
The Verdict Could Dried Food For Dogs Be Healthy And Tasty
It sure can! With these outstanding ten options, it’s nearly impossible to choose the best. Still, I’ve tried to identify my personal favorites in each category.
Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Canine Recipe is the best among high-protein formulas with a rich assortment of protein sources, no grains, and delicious flavor loved by most breeds.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Salmon & Rice Formula is the top choice among best-tasting recipes, as it relies on allergen-free ingredients and boasts outstanding flavor without synthetic flavors or components that might lead to digestive issues.
Earthborn Holistic Large Breed Grain-free formula is the best among high-energy options with its high protein and medium fat content that’s supplemented with joint-centric additives and L-carnitine for weight management.
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Nomnomnow Fresh Food Delivery
Overall Best Large Breed Dog Food: Large-breed dogs need a larger volume of food than small dogs, but the quality of their diet is just as important. When it comes to high-quality nutrition, fresh food is best because the ingredients retain more of their original nutritional value. If youre looking for a high-quality, fresh food diet for your large dog, consider NomNomNow. NomNomNow is a fresh pet food delivery service that sends pre-portioned packages of fresh food right to your door on a monthly basis. Choose from four different recipes and know that the company will cater the portion size to meet your dogs specific needs for calories and nutrients, based on his age and weight. You cant do better than fresh food and NomNomNow is fresh pet food at its finest! Give it a try and you wont be disappointed.
- Pros: Fresh food sent right to your door, choose from four recipes, catered to your dogs calorie needs, made from wholesome natural ingredients, complete and nutritionally balanced
- Cons: More expensive than typical kibble
How To Read A Pet Food Label
Just like human food brands, dog food brands use marketing to make their products more appealing. That means they’ve got nice-looking images and aesthetically pleasing color schemes on the packaging that are meant to signify the healthfulness and quality of the food. But in order to know the truth about the appropriateness of a dog food, it’s essential to learn what to look for on the nutrition label.
One place to get started is this handy reference from the WSAVA about interpreting food labels. The top things to look for are the AAFCO complete and balanced statement, the guaranteed analysis , and the calorie content.
Next, read the ingredients list. It’s tricky for the average dog owner to make a decision about a dog food based on the ingredients alone though. “Although many pet owners make their decision based largely on the ingredient panel, it is only one of many considerations,” Swanson says. “Without knowing the exact formula and percentage of each ingredient, it is not too useful. What is more important is that the dietary formula is complete and balanced.” So basically, as long as the food is complete and balanced, don’t stress about the individual ingredients too much.
If reading pet food labels proves to be more confusing than helpful, check in with your veterinarian. They can help you determine your dog’s specific needs, guide you toward the right food for your pet, and give you advice on how much to feed them.
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Do Large Breed Dogs Have Different Dietary Needs
All domestic dogs are descended from wolves but have evolved over the course of thousands of years into a vast array of distinct breeds. Because all dogs come from the same species , their bodies are evolved to follow the same kind of diet made up of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and essential nutrients.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, an adult dogs minimum protein and fat requirements are 18% and 5%, respectively. Generally speaking, higher protein content is good for dogs to build and sustain lean muscle mass, while more fat means more calories, which are used as energy.
While all dogs have the same basic nutritional requirements, you wouldnt feed a Yorkshire terrier the same thing you feed a German Shepherd because the two breeds have drastically different calorie requirements.
Biologically speaking, large breeds have slower metabolisms than smaller breeds. The average adult dog needs about 30 calories per pound of body weight per day while small breeds may need as many as 40 calories per pound and some large breeds may use as little as 20 calories per pound. Your dogs activity level certainly comes into play in determining his daily calorie requirements, but this is the biggest difference in large versus small dog nutrition.
In addition to requiring fewer calories than smaller dogs, large breeds have a higher risk for certain health problems, including bone and joint issues, obesity, and bloat .
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein
Image courtesy Blue Buffalo
The flavor of Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Wet Dog Food is delicious as well as nutritious. This grain free wet food includes potatoes, peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes in addition to real chicken and turkey.
If you want to provide your dog with a nutritious meal that will keep his energy and health up, this is the option for you. It also contains all of his nutritional requirements for long-term vitality, including vitamins and minerals. This grain-free wet dog food is free of artificial aromas and preservatives as well.
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Best Premium Dry Food For Adult Dogs: Royal Canin Large Adult Dog Food
Royal Canin is a quality brand, so when your large breed puppy reaches adulthood at 15 months, you can graduate to this formulation. I like it best because its formulated to be easily digested while supporting healthy bones and joints, says Dr. Burch. It also has added the fatty acids of EPA and DHA, which help promote healthy joints, skin, and coat. Depending on your dogs energy level and weight, you can customize the portion size using Royal Canins feeding guide, which recommends feeding 75-pound dogs that are moderately active four cups per day. Speaking of maintaining your pups coat, youll want to bookmark these tips on how to groom your dog.
Highlights:
via chewy.com