Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppy: Complete Reviews & Tips
The best dog food for Golden Retriever puppies should be that particular pet food made to meet all the necessary requirements of an alert, large canine breed.
When making the decision of choosing on a type of dog food or another, it`s quite significant to take into account your canine`s age because your little pal it`s a puppy of a large breed.
Choosing just the right kind of pet food for your Golden Retriever is an essential decision as pups of this breed have an increased risk of experiencing a specific form of hip disease in case their diet includes large amounts of calcium.
They have to consume dog food that is especially made to be safe for pups of large canine breeds.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of options available on the market nowadays you only need to your own proper research in advance.
Things To Look For In A Dog Food
Having said that, there are some general guidelines one can follow.
For instance, less expensive dog foods typically have lower quality ingredients. The contents are often inexpensive, low-grade protein sources, like animal by-products, and fillers.
Fillers are frequently things like corn meal, rice flour, or seed hulls.
Best Dog Foods For Golden Retrievers
As one of the most popular dog breeds in the country, Golden Retrievers need a dog food formulated for their health needs. After consulting with your veterinarian, your Golden should be ready for adult food between 12-24 months. If youre searching for the perfect dog food for Golden Retrievers, weve rounded up the top-rated options based on customer reviews.
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Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken And Rice
Primary Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Ground White Rice
Diamond Naturals is one of the leading brands of holistic dog foods, producing kibble with high-quality ingredients like real meat and whole grains. This large-breed dry food can help your Golden Retriever maintain a healthy coat and great skin as well as smooth digestion.
Customer Review: I have six dogs ranging in weight from ~50 lbs to ~120 lbs. All of them love this food! Their coats are shiny and soft, and their poops are small!
Rating: 4.5/5
Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Formulated to support your dogs hip, joint, and digestive health, this nutritionally-balanced recipe will also help your dog maintain a healthy body weight. Fresh chicken and chicken meal provide a concentrated source of protein with wholesome grains for essential nutrients.
Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Formulated without meat byproducts, fillers, or artificial preservatives, this recipe features deboned chicken, whole grains, and a mix of fruits and veggiesincluding sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples.
If food allergies and sensitivities arent a factor, this dry dog food recipe is a protein-rich source of quality nutrition. It also contains limited fat and calories to help your Golden Retriever maintain their weight as they get older.
Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
This weight management dry dog food is intended for senior-aged dogs and contains ingredients to help support their joint health.
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Eating Their Way To Health
Puppies have their own unique nutritional requirements. They are growing quickly, so while they eat smaller quantities of food than adult dogs, they need to extract far more nutrients, like protein, minerals, and vitamins, to sustain their growth and development.
As such, the best food for a golden retriever puppy is packed with extra nutrition, things that adult goldens dont need.
Be sure to feed your puppy food that is specifically made for their age bracket and check the label to be sure youre getting the right formula.
Best Overall Dog Food: Purina Pro Plan Large Breed
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed provides an overall nutritious diet to your Golden Retriever. This food comes highly recommended by our staff veterinarians. The number one ingredient is chicken which provides the protein needed to help develop strong muscles and healthy body function. It is also formulated with live probiotics that helps with your dogs digestive and immune systems.
The Purina Pro Plan adult product line has 19 different dry foods to choose from. The food is specially formulated to fit your Golden Retrievers needs. You can choose food that is good for sensitive skin or stomach. It also has different choices of meat like chicken, beef, or lamb. Having a variety of different formulas to choose from is beneficial due to different medical needs that your dog may have at certain times in their life.
Purina Pro Plan is the highest quality line of Purina dog food apart from the prescription diets. This food is highly digestible promoting optimal nutrient absorption to give your Golden the energy they need.
Top Ingredients:
The nice thing about Royal Canin dog food is the exact calculations of how much to feed your Golden Retriever based on their activity level for the day . On the back of the bag, there is a chart that shows these exact amounts. They can do this because there is a veterinary nutritionist on staff who chooses high quality ingredients for a nutritionally balanced meal.
Top Ingredients:
Top Ingredients:
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Nutritional Requirements For Golden Retrievers
Any food that meets AAFCO standards for your goldens various life stages should provide adequate nutrition levels for major requirements, such as protein, fats, and carbohydrates, in addition to vitamins and minerals.
Although taurine deficiency has been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy in golden retrievers, dietary supplementation is not advised.
Golden retrievers bring joy to everyone they meet and radiate happiness and affection. When you feed your golden retriever the best food possible, you are providing more than a bowl of the best dog food. You also are giving them a longer and healthier life, full of memories with their favorite personyou.
Adults: What Is The Best Food For Golden Retrievers
Adult golden retrievers need less protein and fat concentrations than growing puppies. When choosing a food for an adult golden retriever, consider these factors:
- Sustaining a healthy weight: Though dogs need fats in their diets, a diet too high in fat can cause unhealthy weight gain. Choose a food option with a reasonable ratio of fat to protein. One of the best foods to sustain a dogs healthy weight is Orijen Fit & Trim, which includes chicken, turkey, fish and eggs.
- Preventing health problems: Your dogs food should be well-rounded to boost the immune system and keep your pet healthy make sure it has enough vitamins and minerals. You might opt for Blue Buffalo Livin Large Food, designed to support large breed bone and joint health.
- Staying full and energetic: Look for natural ingredients. Foods with a lot of palatable fillers are unlikely to keep your dog full and energetic. For a very active dog, try Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula.
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Best Dog Food For A Golden Retriever
The beautiful, gentle Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the world today. They are noted for being smart and easy to train, as well as being good with children. For many people, they make an ideal family dog, especially for an active family. Goldens are large dogs and require plenty of exercise, as well as a healthy, nutritious diet. So, whats the best dog food for a Golden Retriever?
Check out our recommendations below to help you select the right formula for your pup.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Food
First five ingredients Brown rice, chicken by-product meal, oat groats, brewers rice, and wheat.
Type Grain Inclusive
Best for Golden Retriever Adults
This adult dog food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of a purebred Golden Retriever. It contains 23 % protein, 11 % fats, 5.7 % fiber and 10 % moisture.
Why we like this product
- Contains taurine, DHA and EPA that promotes heart health
- Contains the required calorie and fat content to maintain their weight
- Unique kibble shape that encourages chewing
- Enriched with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to support skins barrier
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Things To Look For In The Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Golden Retriever puppy:
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Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
High-quality proteins are the foundation of any healthy diet for a Golden Retriever puppy. Whole meats are best, but meat meals also offer an excellent source of condensed proteins.
- Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
All foods benefit from enrichment from helpful supplements which can help the diet to be more balanced and effective. The supplements to look for in a puppy food for a Golden Retriever are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
DHA is also an excellent addition to a puppy food, assisting with brain development.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Golden Retriever puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.
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Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers : Adults And Puppies
As a large breed dog, Golden Retrievers are prone to many health problems, so its important that we consider expert nutrition opinions when choosing Golden Retriever food, although it may seem easy and dont need a lot of research but selecting Golden Retriever food is a very complicated task especially for new owners, they can be easily overwhelmed with how many food options are out there.
Luckily in this article we are going to help you choose food for Golden Retriever puppy as well as for an adult, we also are going to answer some of the questions that you may have about Golden Retriever food, such as
How often do you need to feed your Golden Retriever?When Should Golden Retriever Puppies Switch Food?What is the best Golden Retriever food?How to make homemade food for Golden Retriever?
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Is It Cheaper To Feed Your Dog Homemade Food
Homemade dog food is more affordable than you might think. Its very relative to how large your dog is, but Ill break down the numbers for you The last dry kibble dog food Rascal was prescribed was over $90 a bag. A homemade batch costs us roughly
- 3 lbs ground turkey- $10.49
- 2 lbs sweet potatoes- $5.19
- 3 carrots- $1.04
- 2 lbs macaroni noodles- $3.34
Grand total: $21.87 per batch
Your meat/protein will be the largest cost. I always pick up ground turkey when its on sale and freeze it until we need it for a batch.
Best Dog Foods For Golden Retrievers Reviewed
All dog foods included on this list meet the standard AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines for dogs. Always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your dogs diet.
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Barley, Peas
- Key Feature: Comprehensive formula meets the specific needs of large breeds
- Guaranteed Analysis: 26% Crude Protein, 12% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 340 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Overall
The complete health formula features a 26% crude protein content from four animal sources. This helps build lean muscle in athletic dogs like Golden Retrievers. Chicken is the first ingredient, and this recipe does not contain any by-products.
Mixed tocopherols help prevent eye problems in predisposed breeds by protecting eye tissues. Plus, this dog food also contains additional glucosamine to help ease joint discomfort in Goldens.
Added omega-3 fatty acids help promote a shiny coat, brain function, and cardiac health. Healthy fats and taurine are essential for limiting the risk of heart problems in Golden Retrievers.
Whole food ingredients include sweet potatoes and barley as sources of complex carbohydrates. The formula does not contain any common allergens or fillers that may cause reactions in sensitive dogs.
- Life Stage: Growth
- Best For: Golden Puppies
- Type of Product: No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy
- Life Stage: Senior
- Best For: GoldenSeniors
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Dont Give Them Too Much Of A Good Thing
Overfeeding your puppy can undo all the benefits of breed-specific golden retriever puppy food. By consuming too much food, your puppy will have elevated levels of the very nutrients that should be limited.
Additionally, overweight puppies may develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Good eating habits developed during puppyhood will lead to a healthy mature dog in the years to come.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula
Are you running out of money? Diamond Naturals large breed puppy formula is one of the budget-friendly dog food. Although it is available at an affordable price, the manufacturer never compromises the food quality. The lamb and rice formula consists of premium quality ingredients that are extremely safe for a growing puppy. Very importantly, this recipe is free from artificial preservatives and fillers.
The primary ingredient of this recipe is the lamb and the lamb meal. These two ingredients are the main source of protein, thereby helping in lean muscle development. Next, secondary ingredients like brown rice and barley provide sufficient carbohydrates. These carbs are easily digestible and keep the pup energetic throughout the day. To be honest, you can turn your head towards other brands if your golden retriever has a sensitive stomach. Yes, this recipe contains grains and might trigger allergies. So, it is better to look for other grain-free options.
What we love in Diamond Naturals Large breed puppy formula
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Golden Retriever Diet And Nutrition
Golden Retrievers typically weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and stand between 21 ½ and 24 inches tall at the withers. Male Goldens are usually larger than females. Golden Retrievers are members of the Sporting group. As a breed, Golden Retrievers have an average lifespan for dogs of their size, reaching about 11 years of age.
By weight, the National Research Council of the National Academies recommends an average daily caloric intake of 1740 calories for an active adult Golden Retriever weighing 70 pounds. Dogs that have been spayed/neutered, or that are older, may need fewer calories. Some dogs may need more calories depending on their level of activity and their individual metabolism. Growing puppies, for example, consume more calories than adult dogs and so do young adult dogs. A young adult Golden Retriever weighing about 70 pounds, for example, and getting lots of exercise would need about 1876 calories per day. However, if your Golden tends to lie around the house all day with little opportunity to exercise, he would need fewer calories. Goldens, in particular, can excel at many dog sports such as hunting, agility, obedience, water sports, tracking, search and rescue, guide dog work, and many other things. Dogs that are putting in lots of hours in training and exercise often need more calories in their diet.
Best Dog Foods For Golden Retriever Puppies
These foods are selected for large breed puppies and are without soy, corn, and wheat. Its also very important for puppy foods to have the proper ratio of calcium to phosphorus. Nutritionists recommend that dogs have calcium and phosphorus in the ratio of 1.2 parts of calcium for each 1 part of phosphorous . This is particularly important while puppies are growing. You can usually find the calcium to phosphorus ratio for a puppy food on a pet food companys website. Note, you should not need to add any supplements to your puppys diet as long as youre feeding him a high-quality food.
Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
The Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy food is a new formula thats AAFCO-approved for gestation/lactation and growth. Its loaded with health benefits like probiotics for digestion and salmon oil for a healthy skin and coat. With plenty of meat protein to nourish your growing Golden Retriever, this is a nutritious option.
Calories: 346 kcal/cup
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Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy Food
The top five ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal, peas, ground brown rice, and salmon meal. The recipe contains a minimum of 32 percent protein.
It has 14 percent fat, and 45 percent estimated carbs and has a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44percent. It also has a safe, balanced amount of calcium.
Its also a relatively inexpensive food for the quality of its ingredients.
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large
The top five ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. The food contains a minimum of 38 percent protein.
The Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large Breed recipe contains added glucosamine and chondroitin to help support healthy hip and joint function, essential for large-breed dogs.
Omega fatty acids from salmon oil help ensure a healthy skin and coat.
A unique raw-infused kibble recipe is loaded with protein.
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, apples, and blueberries are also included to boost your dogs immune system
This formula has a large kibble size.
The recipe has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and is gluten free.
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