Eukanuba Senior Lamb & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food By Eukanuba
Their joints begin to ache and their mental function deteriorates, which is why getting dog food with certain active ingredients is important.
The Eukanuba Senior range of dog foods have high levels of antioxidants that support cell functioning and reduces tartar buildup on their teeth by up to 46%.
How We Chose Our Top Picks
We compiled a list of the best dog food products for Golden Retrievers on the market with the help of our vets and dog lovers community. We had several mandatory requirements while testing these products. They needed to:
Remember that our results are not biased. We dont have any benefits from promoting these products. According to our research and honest opinion, these formulas will be highly useful for your pooch.
Choosing A Dog Food For Golden Retrievers With Health Problems
Golden Retrievers are predisposed to allergies, hot spots, sensitive stomachs, heart diseases, and obesity. Luckily, there are dog foods and certain ingredients that will help keep their health issues manageable.
For dogs suffering from obesity, you can swap half of their kibble for sweet potatoes, green beans, or peas to help them feel full. If you want to find out if your Golden Retriever is overweight, read this article.
Hot spots and sensitive stomachs are caused by the environment, food, or specific ingredients like wheat and dry kibble. This is where grain-free and home-cooked recipes become a solution.
As we mentioned earlier, food allergies can manifest at any age. Just because your Golden was doing well on one kibble doesnt mean it will suit him forever.
Seek your vets counsel if you notice symptoms of allergies such as itchy skin, itchy and watery eyes, frequent ear infections, dull coat, hives, red underbelly, swollen ears, lips, eyelids, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Read Also: Golden Retriever Club Of America
Senior Golden Retriever Nutrient Needs
Just as a Golden adult needs plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin to keep their bones and joints supple and strong, senior Goldens need much more of it, so meat and fish meals are crucial. Senior products have the correct levels of these ingredients, which is why it is so important to feed him a formula specifically designed for seniors, or others that have suitable levels of them.
Because a senior pooch is less active compared to his younger days, he should have a nutrrition that has less energy and calories, otherwise, there is a risk that he will put on far too much weight, which will put a strain on his weakening bones. His slowing metabolism will find it much harder to digest fat so this should be lower too.
It is also important to look for antioxidants and superfoods in the ingredients as they will keep his weakening immune system strong and being a larger dog a high protein content is still essential for muscle maintenance.
Orijen Large Breed Puppy Food
Image courtesy Orijen
Orijen Large Breed Puppy Food is a great food for golden retrievers. It is made with real chicken, which is a source of high-quality protein. This food also contains sweet potatoes, which are an excellent source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
The first ingredient in this food is chicken, which provides your dog with high-quality protein. This is a necessary part of your golden retriever’s diet to ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients that they need.
The other ingredients in this food are all natural and are great sources of carbohydrates and dietary fiber, which can help to keep your dog’s energy level up and their digestive system healthy.
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The Best Food For Golden Retrievers: Nutrition And Diet Tips
The Golden Retriever is one of the most lovable, loyal, and fun-loving dogs. It’s no wonder this breed is so popular! If you’re the proud owner of a Golden, you want to keep them as healthy and happy as possible for as long as possible. And one of the best ways to do that is through proper nutrition.
Take a stroll through the dog food aisle at your local pet store or supermarket, or scroll the products on sites like Amazon and Chewy, and you’ll easily be overwhelmed by the amount of choices you’ll see. There are all sorts of different brands Blue Buffalo, Purina Pro Plan, and countless others not to mention grain-free diets, diets made for different types and sizes of dogs, and foods made for puppies or senior dogs.
How do you know what to choose?
Read on as we learn why good nutrition is so important for your pet as well as what you should look for and avoid when selecting your dog’s kibble. Then, you’ll be able to decide on the best food for your Golden Retriever.
The Ultimate List: Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever
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Golden Retrievers are like golden orbs of sheer delight. From the moment theyre born, the Golden Retriever puppy is a sweet and silly ball of concentrated fun. Theyre friendly, incredibly smart and love being with other animals, adults, and children. This large breed is easy-going and a pleasure to have around but they do have special dietary requirements that need to be taken into account.
The Golden Retriever puppy is a rambunctious pooch with a voracious appetite, and goes through puppy food as soon as you put it down in front of him. However, as they get older their energy levels drop but their appetites remain the same, which is why a lot end up overweight or even obese.
The right diet for this large breed, from the Golden Retriever puppy phase to full-grown adult, will help keep your dog lean and active, and prevent, or at least slow down, hereditary joint problems like hip and elbow dysplasia.
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The trickiest thing when it comes to the correct diet for Golden Retriever dogs is his changing needs. Also, the breed is prone to developing allergies to any foods in their diet and these can include protein or grains found in pet food. More often than not, these allergies show up as skin irritations.
Because his diet is dependent on his age, our list of recommended dog food for Golden Retrievers includes something for every stage.
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Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
If youre looking for a healthy, balanced diet for your large-breed dog, this Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a great option. It features fresh chicken as a lean source of protein with digestible whole-grain carbohydrates like brown rice, barley, and oats. It offers moderate fat content with optimal protein to help your dog maintain a healthy body weight as well as lean muscle mass. This recipe promotes joint health in dogs thanks to glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, not to mention chicken meal which is a natural source of joint-supporting nutrients. This formula also contains a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for key nutrients with vitamins and chelated minerals to ensure nutritional balance. Overall, it provides 26% protein and 12% fat at 340 calories per cup.
Pros: Formulated for large breeds, optimal protein and fat for healthy body weight, joint-supporting nutrients, fresh fruits and vegetables, probiotics, chelated minerals, nutritionally balanced
Cons: Not a grain-free recipe
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult
Primary Ingredients: Brown Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Oat Groats, Brewers Rice, Wheat
Royal Canin specially formulated its dry food for the unique needs of Golden Retrievers. With a blend of natural flavors, it works to improve your Goldens coat, digestion, skin, and bone health. Its also highly recommended by many veterinarians!
Customer Review: Our current 9-year-old Golden is flourishing on the Golden Royal Canin: her nose has returned to coal black, her gas is greatly reduced. She is a much happier dog.
Rating: 4.6/5
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Rating Of Labrador Retriever Foods
The rating was based on the reviews of owners of Labrador Retriever breed and veterinarian recommendations regarding the proper nutrition for Labradors at different ages puppies up to 1 year, adults up to 6 years, seniors. The construction of the rating was made possible after studying a number of product characteristics and comparing products for each of them.
The selection parameters were:
- The need to increase the amount of water consumed Calories and satiety of the body
- Amount of packaging
- Shelf life.
The key point was the reaction of the dogs to the food and the lack of habituation, i.e. the possibility of a painless change of diet.
Taste Of The Wild Southwest Canyon
Primary Ingredients: Beef, Peas, Garbanzo Beans, Lamb Meal, Canola Oil, Egg Product, Wild Boar
The unique ingredients in Taste of the Wild promote ideal immunity for your Golden Retriever. They also work together with a blend of minerals and marine-sourced omega-6 fatty acids to improve your dogs skin and coat health as well as increase their nutrient absorption.
Customer Review: My dog loves this food! He eats it enthusiastically, and it has really helped him thrive! He is energetic, has a gorgeous coat, and devours his meals!
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
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Purina Pro Complete Essentials Dog Food
- Budget-friendly.
This recipe is designed for those dogs who do not enjoy a lot of fiber in their diet, but who still have a sensitive stomach, and many Goldens find themselves in this category. Beef tallow is also listed, which is a saturated fat that is much more palatable than most other fats, which again aids a healthy digestive system.
Chicken, fish meal, and poultry by-product meals provide protein and high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin for his larger bones and joints and energy, and dogs find the extra meaty shredded pieces tasty too. Vitamin A, linoleic acid, and fish oils provide plenty of nutrients for his beautiful coat.
We love that this recipe has the lowest fiber content for those who do not do well on a highly fibrous diet, but it focuses on gut health with added and guaranteed probiotics in every bite.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large
- Type of Product: Natural Dry Dog Food
- Life Stage: Large Breed Adult
- Best for: Overall Pick for Best Dog Food
- AAFCO Statement: formulated to meet the nutritional level established by AAFCO Dog food nutrient profile for maintenance
Nutro wholesome essentials feature deboned lamb as the first ingredient. The protein-rich kibble provides support for your dogs lean muscle mass. With 12% crude fat, the energy content is appropriate to fuel an active golden retriever without adding extra pounds.
This food includes omega fatty acid supplements for healthy skin and coat. It also has ingredients to provide natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
Whole grains and prebiotic fiber allow for easy digestibility in this kibble. The ingredients are free from corn, wheat, soy, or by-products for natural, clean food.
Owners report that their dogs love the flavor and have healthy skin and soft, shiny hair with this food.
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Best Food For Labradors With Sensitive Stomachs: Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain
Any dog has the potential to develop food allergies, though they usually dont present until the second year of life. In addition to food allergies, Labs are also at risk for skin allergies. Fortunately, the best dog food for labs with skin allergies will also be good for food allergies, in most cases. The key is to choose a recipe that is highly digestible and made with a limited number of ingredients like this Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe. This formula features fresh deboned lamb as the main ingredient, which is a rich source of complete protein it is supplemented by lamb meal as a concentrated source of protein. This recipe contains grain-free carbohydrates like chickpeas and dried potatoes with plenty of fiber for healthy digestion. It contains a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well for skin and coat support. Overall, this recipe provides 20% protein with 13% fat at 475 calories per cup.
Pros: Made with 10 main ingredients, fresh lamb main ingredient, digestible carbohydrates, rich in fiber for digestion, contains 20% protein, blend of omega fatty acids for skin and coat support
Cons: High in calories compared to other options, some dogs may not need grain-free
Diamond Naturals Large Breed
This brand does have the lowest protein content of our puppy recommendations, it is still considered to have a high protein content compared to most other kibbles out there. Fish meal and Salmon oil provide Docosahexaenoic Acid which is found in mothers milk, and it is crucial for brain and eye development.
This recipe also has the lowest fiber content, which is perfect for those Labs who do not do well on a highly fibrous diet, but it still provides him with superfoods such as oranges and spinach for his oxidative needs.
We love that this recipe is lamb based, so it is the better option for those puppies who do not like, or are intolerant of, the most popular protein source Chicken.
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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.
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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Why Choose Specific Food For Labrador Puppies Or Large Breeds
It should be obvious that a Chihuahua and your Lab have very different nutrition and health requirements due to the huge difference in the eventual size and structure of their adult bodies. This is why you find breed specific foods available.
Large breeds grow faster and have far more growth to go through than smaller breeds, with a Labrador going from under a pound at birth to perhaps 75 pounds as an adult.
This means their bones and joints change quickly and dramatically as they grow from a puppy to adult, increasing in over 75 times their initial weight. This is one reason large breed puppies are more sensitive to nutritional imbalances, perhaps the most important of which is avoiding an excess of calcium.
Too much calcium in a Labrador puppys diet increases the risk of musculo-skeletal deformities, particularly hip and elbow dysplasia, because their bones grow so quickly and with excess calcium are prone to forming incorrectly.
However, lacking calcium can also result in problems, so Labrador puppy food contains a safe amount for a puppy to grow correctly without having unsafe excess amounts.
But not only this, excess calories can result in a puppy becoming overweight and in a growing puppy, excess weight puts undue stress on their growing, forming bones. To combat this, Labrador specific puppy food is somewhat restricted in calories and fats compared to smaller breed puppy food.
Senior Labrador Nutrient Needs
Similar to adults, a senior Labrador Retriever will need plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin to keep their aging joints supple and strong, so be sure to look for the protein meals as described above, as well as extra added supplements.
Labs are prone to obesity, and seniors even more so, so be sure to feed him kibble that is low in calories, and any treats or dental sticks should be included in his daily food allowance if your are concerned about him getting slightly chunky. Fat content should also be much lower as his slowing metabolism will find this harder to digest.
While high protein content is still important in his bowl, superfoods and antioxidants are very important to ensure that his weakening immune system is supported as much as possible. As your Labrador ages, they are notorious for getting a case of bad breath. If your pup suffers from this, you may want to look into a formula specifically made for foul-smelling breath.
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