Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Adult Natural Dry Dog Food contains all the things your doggie needs to stay happy and healthy, and none of the things he doesnt!
Rich sources of protein delivered by fresh, farm-raised chicken give him lean muscle, and lots of energy , while natural sources of chondroitin and glucosamine support healthy joints so he can keep on running all afternoon.
Made with non-GMO ingredients in the US, this blend contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives and is free from corn, wheat and soy proteins. You wont find any meat by-products here, either!
Specs
Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Best Dog Food For Smaller Golden Mixes
Small-sized golden retrievers are known to have a fast metabolism and high energy levels. Therefore, the best dog food for older golden retrievers is the Taste of the Wild because it is rich in nutrients, especially protein which comes from salmon. It contains a mix of lamb, venison, buffalo, and bison.
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie with ROASTED BISON & VENISON REAL MEAT is #1 ingredient optimal amino acid profile & protein rich for LEAN STRONG MUSCLES
- High protein ingredients with added vitamins & minerals fruits and vegetables as SUPERFOODS for hard-working ANTIOXIDANTS fatty acid blend for SKIN & COAT
- Ingredients From Trusted Sustainable Sources Around The World Made With No Grain Corn Wheat Filler No Artificial Flavors Colors Preservatives Added
- Nutrient rich and HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE with species-specific PROPRIETARY PROBIOTICS that survive and thrive in the GI tract
- MADE in the USA FAMILY OWNED & run food made with the most scientifically advanced food safety protocols Wed appreciate your CALL 800 342 4808
- Composed using a wide range of non-GMO vegetables, pulses, and meat
- Ideal for dogs allergic to grains
- Contains 70% meat content
- Made of very high-quality ingredients
- A costly option as compared to other dog foods for older golden retrievers
What To Look For
The reason I always recommend commercial dog food over homemade is that the former is carefully prepared to fulfill the dietary needs per meal. And it is all right there on the label. From the amount of proteins and fat to the total caloric content per cup.
Here is what you should look for on the label.
- Lean Meat The best food for Golden Retriever is one that has meat as its first ingredient, and that meat should be lean. Poultry is preferable over red meat because it has the right amount of fat as well.
- Low Fat Keep in mind that large breeds have a slower metabolism, which means they are more susceptible to weight gain. I would say go for anything that has around 10 to 15% fat. However, you should focus on fiber as well because it can help with fat metabolism.
- Good Carbs No active breed can thrive without carbs. Look for quality vegetable sources such as potatoes or other tubers. These sources are also rich in minerals and vitamins essential for healthy bones and teeth.
- Fatty Acids Goldies are quite furry, which means you should look for fur-friendly ingredients as well. Fatty acids from fish can do wonders for the skin and coat of your baby.
- Fillers and Additives: Go for a filler-free food that doesnt contain artificial flavors or additives. This should also be your criteria for snacks and treats.
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Can I Feed Homemade Food To My Golden Retriever
Yes, cooking and feeding your Golden Retriever homemade food is a great way to give him the levels of nutrition your dog needs to live a healthy, allergy-free life.
As a Golden dog parent, your number one priority is to ensure that all the ingredients used are safe to eat and that all of your Goldens nutritional requirements are met with every single meal.
Remember, switching your Goldens food to homemade from kibble is a slow process and should be done progressively. You need to take into account factors like your Goldens eating history, weight, and overall health before giving homemade food to your pet.
What Makes The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
The Golden Retriever is a large-breed dog with a long body, soft medium-length coat, and a characteristic golden or golden-red color. Goldens excel at retrieving, swimming and hanging around the house. They typically live 11 years on average.
Goldens tend to be more moderate in energy level, depending on their personality. Some are go-go-go while others would prefer to be couch potatoes. Most prefer to spend their time playing fetch, Frisbee, swimming and snuggling.
Goldens tend to be very bonded to their family but friendly with strangers. They make the perfect companion for the active, outdoorsy family, ready to go on a hike or to the beach at a moments notice.
Golden retrievers also tend to be chow hounds and may want to eat you out of house and home. They can easily become counter surfers jumping on counter tops in the kitchen for an unsupervised snack or get caught chomping on a discarded apple core on the sidewalk.
Their healthy appetite can be a blessing and a curse. Most Goldens are not picky eaters, so they will typically enjoy any dog food you decide to give them. Golden retrievers are one of the easiest breeds to overfeed. Ive met many that are bottomless pits and will continuously beg or scavenge for whatever food you can provide.
That being saidit is important to prevent your Golden from becoming overweight or obese, and that starts with finding the best dog food for Golden Retrievers.
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Taste Of The Wild Dog Food
Taste of the wild is a high-quality dog recipe rich in quality meat proteins essential for your dog. This brand has strict and safety protocols that ensure everything your dog consumes is safe. As a highlight, the taste of the wild formula has breed-specific formulas that will be good for your Golden Retriever.
Key Benefits
- This roasted bison and venison dry dog food is crafted with real meat as the #1 ingredient and is high in protein to help support bones, joints, and lean muscles.
- Crafted with vitamins and minerals from real fruits and superfoods, omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and nutrients for the energy your furry friend needs to thrive!
- Contains species-specific K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics, along with antioxidants and prebiotics to help support healthy digestion, immune system health, and overall health and wellness.
- Made in the USA by a family-owned brand that only uses quality ingredients from trusted and sustainable local and global sources.
- Made without grains, corn, wheat, artificial flavors, or artificial colors.
The Doggy Bag Take Home Message
Golden retrievers tend to live the longest, healthiest lives when they are kept in a leaner body condition, receive life-stage-appropriate balanced nutrition and routine veterinary care.
Regardless of which dog food you choose for your furry family member, it is important to follow feeding instructions carefully and consult with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dogs health or nutrition.
Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you from the links on this page. This did not affect our assessment of products.Read more here and findfull disclosure here.
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How Much And When Should You Feed Your Dog
This will vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 lbs your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food.
For our 80 lb Hooch, that means 2 meals a day each containing 4 cups of food. It is important to note that, dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the dayrather than just one or two large meals, so you may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on accordingly to keep your pup comfy!
Your Guide To The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are one of the top choices as a family pet. Theyre known for their playful, loving personality, and their luscious golden coat.
Whether youre planning to get yourself this pooch or you already have a Goldie of your own, responsible paw parents always provide yummy and healthy meals for their fur babies.
But, which is the best dog food for Golden Retrievers? Keep scrolling and find out!
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Nutro Large Breed Senior
- Contains one 30 lb. bag of NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Large Breed…
- Made with non-GMO ingredients* no chicken by-product meal, corn,…
- High quality protein source is the #1 ingredient in the delicious…
- Natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin formulated to…
If you click the link above and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Made with real Chicken and Chicken meal, this recipe, with the second highest protein content, is made with the large breed senior in mind so you can be sure that his bones and joints are in safe hands. Sweet potato and brown rice offer him healthy carbohydrates that will keep him sustained for longer, and blueberries and carrots will keep his aging immune system strong.
We love that this has the lowest calorie count per cup, which is ideal for those inactive Goldens who prefer to snuggle rather than play.
Do Golden Retrievers Have Any Specific Dietary Requirements
In some cases, it can be helpful to feed a dog food thats suitable for the breed you own, so that begs the question, do golden retrievers have any specific dietary requirements?
Well, yes and no. Of course, based on factors such as their age, weight and activity level, your golden will have specific calorie and protein requirements. Plus, some goldens may thrive on foods designed for large breeds. However, most will be perfectly healthy on a quality food designed for any adult dog.
According to Dog Food Guru, the National Research Council of the National Academies recommends an active 70-pound golden retriever needs around 1700 calories a day. And the Association of American Feed Control Officials says they need around 18 percent protein in their diet . So, youll need to pick a food that can meet these needs.
Both hip and elbow dysplasia arent uncommon in golden retrievers. Appropriate feeding during the puppy stage is deemed more important in preventing it than adult dietary choices. However, maintaining your golden at a healthy weight will help keep undue pressure off their joints.
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Possible Golden Retriever Food Allergies
Its a sad fact that all furbabies can develop allergies at any age and at any time. Grains are the most common cause of allergic reactions, but other ingredients could also start it. So, its best to talk to your vet when an allergic reaction occurs to diagnose its cause.
Symptoms of allergies are itchy skin, vomiting, diarrhea, dull coat, watery eyes, hives, swelling, and frequent ear infections. If your buddy develops a few of those, check with your vet as soon as possible.
Other golden retriever health issues include hypothyroidism, lymphoma, eye disorders, obesity, diabetes, and hip and elbow dysplasia. These can be prevented with proper nutrition, and thats why picking the right dog food for your golden retriever is important.
Canine hip dysplasia is especially common to golden retrievers, starting even when theyre just puppies. This happens when your dogs thigh bone cant properly fit his hip socket. You can generally avoid it by being mindful of your puppys calcium intake.
The Best Budget Food For Golden Retrievers
Lets face it, high-quality dog food has some high costs associated with it and not all of us can afford to pay for it. Thankfully, there are a couple of foods out there that are still great for your Golden but wont break the bank.
Our personal favorite for Goldens was this option from Purina. Coming in at 23% protein and 13% fat its not quite as ideal as many of the others we looked at, but its definitely enough to keep your Golden healthy once theyre an adult.
It also has 4% fiber, which is pretty much the way to go until your Golden gets into their senior years. It does lack some of the glucosamine and other nutrients which make keep dogs healthy into their later years.
All of this comes in at a cost about half that of our other favorites.
If youre on a tight budget but still want to feed your Golden a quality food, this one from Purina is the way to get.
Pros:
- No taurine or EPA
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Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs
While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made the world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.
On traditional dog food Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. He was also low in his weight class, weighing in at just 64 pounds for a full sized male Golden Retriever.
Since the dog food switch he has been energetic, focused, and calmer. He has also put on about 15 pounds in just one year after switching to homemade food. On a traditional diet were vacuuming at least once a day but now 1-2 a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.
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.
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Best Supplement For Your Goldens Eyes
Perhaps the most unfortunate, and common, ailment which afflicts Golden retrievers is cataracts and other serious eye problems that can cause blindness as your Golden ages. Fortunately, there are supplements which can help to prevent these from forming although youll want to start your Golden early.
Ocu-GLO has released this multivitamin which contains the essential nutrients required for your Goldens health, with a special emphasis on their eyes. Even foods formulated for Goldens often dont contain the right ingredients to ensure eye health, and those that do often dont have them in the right amounts.
Fortunately, this supplement contains 25 balanced nutrients specifically designed to keep your Goldens eyes healthy and also contains many of the nutrients which arent present in appreciable quantities in dog foods or even other multivitamins.
If youre worried about your Goldens eyes as they age, this is a fantastic supplement to pick up. Get it now and start adding it to your Goldens diet for the best effects.
Best Overall: Royal Canin Golden Retriever Dog Food
If you cant decide on which dog food to buy, consider Royal Canin Golden Retriever Dog Food. Its the best golden retriever food overall due to its nutritional value and food shape.
If youve been paying close attention to your retriever, you know just how important it is to have a healthy and shiny coat. Similarly, you know its crucial for their hearts to be optimized to function properly. This food features taurine, EPA, and DHA, which will help with that.
Likewise, its packed with the necessary daily vitamins and minerals golden retrievers should have. You wont find any fillers or unnecessary ingredients in here.
Consequently, if your buddy has been having gastrointestinal issues, Royal Canin may solve your problem. Quite a lot of fur-parents had noticed a great deal of relief from gastrointestinal issues from their retrievers after switching to Royal Canin.
Moreover, they have this exclusive kibble shape designed with the retrievers mouth in mind. Theyre big, and they encourage chewing and actual enjoyment of the meal.
However, note that this food comes in just one flavor. If your buddy loves variety, he can get bored pretty quickly on having chicken-flavored meals every day. Your buddy also needs to be at least 15 months old before you start him on this.
Key Features:
Key Features:
Another great dog food for golden retrievers is Taste of the Wild. Its a dry food that comes in both a grain-free and grain-packed version.
Key Features:
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Golden Retrievers Adult Food Chart
An adult and active Golden Retriever dont require as many calories as a puppy, in fact, they only need to eat between 1,300 to 1,700 calories per day, however, note that weight, age, activity level, overall lifestyle will determine the calories your golden needs per day.
For example a dog with high energy who plays a lot and performs heavy work may need up to 2,000 calories and sometimes even more in order to maintain their weight, on the other hand, if your golden is lazy and barely moves, they will probably need around 1,000 calories to maintain weight.
During adulthood, you should serve two equally spaced meals for your Golden Retriever, one in the morning and another one later in the evening.
Here is a golden retriever food chart that you may want to follow:
- Male: 3 to 3 ½ cups a day
- Female: 2 to 2 ½ cups a day
- Active Male: 4 cups a day
- Nursing Female: 5 to 6 cups a day