Large breeds tend to be a bit less active than smaller dogs. Slow cooked in small batches to ensure optimal nutrition and maximum flavor, this recipe for large-breed dogs features whitefish, duck, and whole grains in a highly digestible meal that’s fortified with probiotics and leaves out fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. Formulated to support your large-breed dog’s digestion, skin and coat health, and hip and joint function during his senior years, this chicken and barley recipe blends lean protein and whole-grain carbohydrates, including fibrous and nutritious apples, spinach, blueberries, and carrots in the mix. An estimated 53 percent of American dogs are obese or overweight. All of that extra weight stresses their joints, muscles, and bones, which can lead to serious conditions that affect their quality of life and mobility. Dogs require a wide range of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, which is why feeding a complete and balanced commercial diet is the most reliable and convenient choice for most owners. This is an important consideration for anyone thinking about purchasing a large breed puppy. Best Large Breed Puppy Food: Quick Picks #1 Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large-Breed Puppy Food [Best Overall Large-Breed Puppy Food] — Made with nutritious chicken, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, and fortified with probiotics, this is our favorite food for large-breed dogs. December 2020 Wellness Core Grain-Free Large Breed Dog Food. Made with premium cuts of chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables, and infused with essential nutrients, this dry dog food will keep you – and your pooch – happy. This is an adult maintenance formula with no corn, wheat, or soy. It takes more than the right fatty acids and quality protein content to make quality dog food so finding the right one for your pup can be difficult. This “superfood” formula packs in a trio of proteins: chicken (the first ingredient), lamb, and salmon, along with nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin, sunflower oil, taurine and more, to ensure complete and balanced nutrition for your puppy. Here are our top picks for the best dog food for large breeds; we’ve included a few grain-free options in our list as well: This protein-rich recipe is supplemented with antioxidant-rich ingredients that include DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) and other omegas, vitamins, and minerals to support brain development and healthy skin and coat. These diseases are linked to excessive growth, hereditary factors, exercise, and nutrition. Her love for pets started with her first family dog, a golden retriever named Alexandra. Not necessarily. The Wellness Large Breed Complete Health dry dog food offers balanced everyday nutrition prepared with delicious deboned chicken and includes added DHA and regulated calories for a healthy brain, bone, and eye development. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food. Some common large breeds include Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, and Huskies. Large breed puppies have lots of growing to do, and that puts stress on bones, joints, and muscles. A large breed dog is any pup that weighs 50 pounds or more when they’re fully grown. Ask your veterinarian for help determining the appropriate weight range for your dog’s breed. The best place to start when looking for the best dog food for large breeds is a high-quality diet formulated for large-breed dogs. Large breed dog food can be expensive. If you instead take a closer look at the ideal diet for a golden retriever versus that of a Yorkshire terrier, however, the differences are more noticeable. Dog food designed for senior dogs is relatively new. This holistic, natural chicken and oatmeal recipe provides for those needs, with ingredients including pumpkin, papaya, and probiotics for digestive health and glucosamine for healthy hips and joints. This large breed puppy food utilizes multiple quality protein sources with nutrient-dense plant foods and added vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet that rivals most others on this list. Best Large Breed Dog Foods (2018 Recommended Brands) The sad truth is that despite all the complete and nutritionally balanced dog food that is widely commercially available, dog malnutrition (imbalance of nutrients: includes both nutrient … These formulas meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines for calcium and phosphorus, nutrients that need to be controlled in large breeds to prevent bone and joint issues later in life. 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. There is no one brand of food that is the best food for large breeds. There is no easy answer to the question: how much to feed a large breed dog? Best Large-Breed Dog Food – One of the best foods for large breeds is this Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Dry Food. A high-quality dog food combines sources of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in a manner that is easily digested by dogs to make sure your dog gets what she needs every day. Large breed puppies require special diets to avoid certain health risks, and large breed adult dogs require careful monitoring for signs of orthopedic disease, obesity, and bloat. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. Height is a determining category among breeders, pet owners, and food companies. Solid Gold’s large breed formula tops our list for all those reasons and more. 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. Blue Buffalo is one of the most popular dog food manufacturers in America, which many pet parents wholeheartedly accepted in their homes. Description: Diamond Naturals is the best inexpensive dog food for large breeds. Finding food that has specific ingredients aimed at joint and cartilage health is important. Sometimes a prescription diet is the best dog food option for large breed seniors, as these veterinary-approved foods are specifically formulated to address your dog’s needs. 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