Top Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

When Should I Feed My Golden Retriever

Your Golden Retriever should be fed at least twice daily. Once in the morning and then once in the early evening. If you go to work, feeding them before you leave and then when you get home is an example of a good schedule. Oftentimes, people like to feed them when they eat breakfast and dinner themselves.

If your dog seems hungry during the day, giving them a healthy snack can tide them over to their next meal. For healthy snack ideas, check out our article Best Dog Treats For Golden Retrievers.

Keeping your Golden Retriever on a feeding schedule is going to make it easier for you and healthier for them. If they are getting fed at different times it could throw off their routine and ultimately their health. Sometimes it could cause obesity as well. Using an automated feeder can help if your schedule is different from day to day, then you do not need to be home for the feedings.

Our Third Choice: Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy

3rd Choice

Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Food uses high-quality ingredients and is made in the USA. Its high-quality chicken is the first ingredient for protein that will power your Golden Retrievers day.

This puppy food supports muscle growth and bone health in active puppies with optimized levels of calcium and phosphorous. It also supports healthy brain development with clinically proven levels of DHA for a smarter, more trainable Golden Retriever puppy.

If the two choices listed above were not to your liking, this option is also highly recommended by our veterinarians. Choosing Eukanuba for your dog will leave you confident they are getting the nutrients they need.

Top Ingredients:

• Complete balanced nutrition for large breeds
• Added omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E
• Comes in 3 bag sizes 5lb, 16lb, and 33lb.

Dog Food & Feeding Pattern For Golden Retrievers Age

A) For New Born

A mother dogs milk fulfils all the nutritional demands of the pup during their first four weeks of life. If for any reason, the maternal milk is not available, the newborn Golden Retriever pups can be fed a high quality commercial puppy milk replacer, which imparts all the nutrients provided by the mothers milk.

Nutritional Profile of A Baby Dog Milk

• Omega 3 Fatty Acid: Boosts Cognitive skills and eyesight in pups.
• FOS Prebiotics: Keeps excellent digestive health and regulates bowel movement.
• Highly Digestible Proteins: Build healthy muscles and fortify the nervous system in puppies.
• Essential Vitamins and Anti-oxidants: Vitamins like A and D strengthens bones and joints, whereas anti-oxidants boost the overall immunity of the pups.

Which Milk Replacer Is Ideal For Newborn Golden Retrievers?

A diet like Royal Canin Baby Dog Milk has all the vital nutrients in it to support steady and harmonious growth in newborn pups. The benefits of Royal Canin Baby Dog Milk:

• Exclusive homogeneous formula makes the milk powder get dissolved instantly.
• Ultra-digestible proteins enhance muscle mass and bone density in pups.
• DHA promotes learning functions and excellent eyesight in pups.

How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Newborn Pup?

The Golden Retriever at birth averagely weighs around 500-600 grams. As the pups gain weight daily, their feeding amount changes from week to week.

Puppy Age Feedings Per Day Amount Per Feeding Time Gap

Also Check: How To Draw A Golden Retriever Face

What Brand Of Dog Food Do Vets Recommend

Its always the intention of every pet parent to wish the best for his furry friend. With that, veterinaries have lined up for you some of the dog foods. You will never go wrong when you offer them to your lovely pet.

So which are the brands most vets recommended as the best dog food for Golden Retrievers? Lets have a look.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Recipe

Formulated specifically for highly active, very playful Goldies, the Blue Wilderness Natures Evolutionary Diet High Protein dog food is a smorgasbord of delicious duck meat mixed with premium chicken and Menhaden fish meals to go with its peas and pea protein ingredients. A single cup of the NED delivers at least 34% proteins that is made even more special by the inclusion of amino acids and omega fatty acids for continued tissue growth and healthier skin, coat, and nervous system. The probiotics in the formulation further enhance the immune-boosting properties of omega fatty acids while the glucosamine in chicken meal can help strengthen the different structures that make up the joints. Overall, its a meal thats perfect for the active Goldie.

You might also want to have a look at our detailed review of Blue Buffalo Dog Food.

Calorie content: 416 per cup

Minimum amount of proteins: 34%

Minimum amount of fats: 15%

First 5 ingredients: deboned duck, Menhaden fish meal, chicken meal, pea protein, and peas

With glucosamine, omega fatty acids, prebiotics, and 5 strains of probiotics

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What Is The Best Food For Golden Retrievers

In the table below, youll find the top five best food formulas for your Goldy. We chose these products based on our thorough research and advice from the experts.

Ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat , Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Chicken Flavor, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lecithin, Menhaden Fish Oil, Kelp Meal, Sea Salt, Flax Seed, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Canola Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, New Zealand Sea Mussel, Dl Methionine, Ascorbic Acid, Glucosamine, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Garlic Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide.

Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers: A Review

Finding the right food for your Golden Retriever takes a lot of time and research.

I tried to make things easier for you by making a list of the top five dog food options available and reviewing them in detail.

Take a look:

When we take a look at just the ingredients and assess the Nutro Dry Dog Food on that basis, it looks like an average dog food product.

We should go through the macros on this one. Lets take a look.

• Protein: 24% which is average
• Fat: 16% which is near-average
• Carbohydrates: 42% which is above-average

But, thats not all we should be looking at.

After singling out the effects of the plant-based protein sources such as lentils and peas, this dog food has a moderate amount of it from animal sources. This kibble also contains Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids which give your dog a healthy coat and skin.

To make the final assessment, we also need to know the pros and cons of this kibble.

Lets take a look:

When assessing the Blue Buffalo Protection formula just by the quality of its ingredients, it comes out to be an above-average kibble.

Lets first take a look at the macronutrients this dog food is known to contain:

• Protein: 27% which is near-average
• Fat: 16% which is below-average
• Carbohydrates: 50% which is above-average

But, thats still not all.

Now, lets look at the pros and the cons of this kibble:

Moving on

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Taste Of The Wild Southwest Canyon

Rating:

Southwest Canyon is one of 9 dry recipes included in our review of the Taste of the Wild product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Beef, peas, garbanzo beans, lamb meal, canola oil
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: All life stages
• Best for:Golden retriever adults and puppies

Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon acquires the bulk of its animal protein from fresh beef and lamb meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 17% fat and 43% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.

Southwest Canyon also contains salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs. They help deliver better joint health and a lustrous skin and coat. A super popular brand. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewTaste of the Wild makes both me and my dogs very happy. I have a pack of three that all love it and have beautiful coats that I can only attribute to their diet. As for me, its cost-efficient and doesnt stink like other dog foods. Id recommend it to any of my friends.

Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain

Primary Ingredients: Herring Meal, Peas, Dried Eggs, Canola Oil, Tapioca, Pea Starch, Flaxseed, Pea Protein

This dry food from Earthborn Holistic is an excellent option for Golden Retrievers with food allergies. With fish as the main protein, this kibble promotes a gorgeous coat and healthy skin and improves digestive issues.

Customer Review: Both my dogs have sensitive skin and sensitive stomachs they used to have lots of runny poop and dry skin. After switching to earthborn holistic, theyve had nothing but solid poops!

Rating: 4.7/5

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Sport Dog Food Active Series Dock Dog

Sport Dog delivers your energetic large breed dogs the healthiest nutrition they need to complete their day. The main ingredients being Buffalo and oatmeal. The first 5 ingredients are Buffalo Meal, Oatmeal, Dried Sweet Potato, Pork Meal, Coconut Oil . This formula is non-GMO based. It has no wheat, soy, corn, pea, flax free, and gluten-free.

Buffalo meat is lean which is super high in protein, healthy, and very digestible for your dog. Free of any legumes such as peas. Taurine keeps the cardiac muscles and eyes healthy. Itâs nutrient-filled to keep your dog moving. This is a product of the USA.

• Contains 30% protein minimum, 15% fat minimum, 3.3% fiber max, and 9% moisture/water content max.
• Chewy rates Sport Dog at 4.6 stars out of 5 stars.

Best Food For Golden Retriever Puppy Tasty & Nutritious

Excuse me! Bowls empty!

Energetic, playful, and goofy golden retriever puppies burn a lot of calories and need highly nutritious food to grow and develop properly. The food you decide to feed to your puppy now can affect them as an adult and put their health at risk. Finding the best puppy food for golden retrievers is your best bet for preventing these problems from happening.

There are many high-quality puppy foods you can choose from, not all are formulated to meet your pups dietary needs. Choosing the wrong formula can be detrimental to your pups health and cause nutrient deficiency, musculoskeletal problems, heart disease, or cancer.

While these arent things you want to hear, you need to understand the full effect of unhealthy puppy foods. On the other hand, high-quality food that is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a still-growing golden retriever puppy will give your pup a good start in life.

To help you do just that, Ive found and reviewed the seven best foods for golden retriever puppies!

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Best Food For Golden Retriever Puppies

These dog foods for puppies will start your Golden Retriever off right:

This dog food is formulated to support your Golden Retriever puppys growth and development without going overboard on fat or calories the recipe features fresh chicken and digestible brown rice.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large-Breed Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe

Featuring deboned chicken as its first ingredient, this puppy recipe offers a wholesome balance of protein, whole grains, and vitamins and minerals.

Made with fresh chicken as a lean source of protein and chicken meal to provide glucosamine and chondroitin, this dog food for puppies will get your Golden Retriever off to a healthy start in life.

Nutro Ultra Large-Breed Puppy Recipe

This chicken-based puppy recipe is formulated to support the energy needs of young Goldens and other large breed puppies.

All dogs have the same basic nutritional needs when it comes to protein, fat, and essential nutrients. As youve learned here, however, there are some disparities among breeds of different sizes.

To learn more about the nutritional needs of large dogs, check out our guide to the best dog food for large dogs here.

What Are The Nutritional Needs Of Golden Retrievers

Golden retrievers as a breed are larger and tend to be more active, and those factors have an impact on their nutritional needs. Because they play so much, they tend to have large appetites, so you can expect them to want to eat a lot.

When it comes to calories, the average amount of daily calories for a golden retriever can fall between roughly one-thousand and 1300 per day. These numbers can depend on the size and weight of your pup. Activity levels also have a substantial impact golden retrievers who are more active can need between 1300 and 1700 calories in a single day.

Other essential nutrients you should look out for when it comes to your golden retrievers diet are proteins and carbohydrates. Values for these nutrients should be at least thirty percent, and your pup may need more carbs when theyre on the active side. Fat levels for golden retriever diets should be closer to 12 and 18%. Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids make for a healthy coat.

If your golden retriever is more sedentary, their diet needs will be closer to the lower end of these numbers. Older retrievers will also need fewer calories since they tend not to be as active. Overfeeding your dog or giving them a substantial amount of human foods can make them overweight, posing several health risks.

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Golden Retriever Health Problems And How Food Can Help

Golden retrievers may be described as playful, energetic, and very active pooches that love nothing but life and family. However, this doesnt mean theyre completely immune to diseases. Like all breeds of dog, Goldies are prone to certain health issues more than other breeds. Here are some of them.

• Cancer

Two of the most common cancers found in Golden retrievers are hemangiosarcomas and lymphomas. Hemangiosarcoma is a very invasive type of cancer that is found almost exclusively in canine populations. Hemangiosarcomas affect the blood vessels while lymphomas target lymphocytes in the immune system. Nutrition can play a role in improving the signaling pathways of cells so that they dont differentiate into neoplastic ones.

• Aortic stenosis

In this condition, the valve where blood exits the heart to be delivered to the rest of the body gets narrower, restricting the flow and delivery of blood towards the rest of the body while also congesting the heart with blood because of the limited forward movement of blood. Omega fatty acids and other nutrients that can lower blood lipids can also help. Fiber has always been an integral part of aortic stenosis diet in human populations.

• Hip dysplasia

Find out more about Calcium Supplements for Dogs.

• Elbow dysplasia

This is almost similar to hip dysplasia except that the affected joint is in the elbow of your Golden retriever. Again, nutrients are important to minimize the impact of such degeneration of the tissues.

• Eye problems

• Bloating

Purina Pro Plan Large

The top five ingredients are chicken, rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, and poultry by-product meal. The dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32 percent protein.

It also contains 15 percent fat and 45 percent estimated carbs. This yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47 percent.

Its listed as a time-proven field-tested formula with balanced calcium levels ideal for large and giant breed puppies.

This is a budget-friendly food that many people recommend. This formula is highly-ranked and has been a favorite with consumers.

Purina Pro Plan is what we are currently feeding our guide dog puppies.

But, as is true of the adult Pro Plan food listed above, please note that it contains poultry by-product and soybean meal, both of which are often considered to be inferior ingredients.

But apparently many consumers have found that their dogs are doing well on this food.

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Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy Dry Food

Top Ingredients: 1. Chicken By-Product Meal, 2. Corn, 3. Wheat Gluten, 4. Chicken Fat, 5. Wheat

Golden Retriever pups tend to have a different dietary requirement which a regular puppy food might not be able to fulfill. This Royal Canin recipe is formulated to cater to their specific needs. It is created to meet their nutritional requirements during the development stage, without expediting their physical growth. You get all a delicious meal with all the nutrients necessary for the pup to grow into a healthy, active, and beautiful adult. As with the adult formula, this puppy food is also among the best dog food for golden retrievers.

Q: How Often Should I Feed My Golden Retriever

During the first month of their life, Golden Retriever pups should only consist of their mothers milk. By the time they are five weeks old, this is the time that you can add in some solids. Until they reach their 9th week, you can feed your pup four times a day, but you can then reduce this to three times a day in the third month of life. The next reduction will be at the fourth month when you feed them twice a day, and this is the number it can stay as your pooch advances into adulthood.

If you are worried that your dog is gaining weight, you can give them a simple hands-on test. This involves putting your hands on their back with your thumbs down their spine and your fingers spread downwards. You should be able to feel their ribs without needing to press down too hard.

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