Best Dog Foods For Golden Retrievers In 2022
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Luckily, we can help you with these decisions. We have reviews of the best dog foods for Golden Retrievers so you wont have to wander up and down the aisles at the pet store to choose your dogs food. As long as you know your dogs age and something about his health, you can use our reviews and your own personal preferences to choose the best dog food for him.
As you probably already know, the Golden Retriever can grow to be about 75 pounds as an adult . They are one of the most popular breeds in the United States and around the world. Goldens are beloved for their friendly, gentle, and devoted personality. They make wonderful family dogs and are good with children. They are large, active dogs so they do best in a home where they will have room to run and play. Goldens are also super intelligent and easy to train. Since they are big, active dogs, Golden Retrievers need good nutrition to help them grow from puppyhood into a mature adult. Your budget, your dogs age, and your own approach to feeding your dog will determine what kind of food you select. There are lots of good options and we can show them to you here.
The 10 Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are one of the most well known and loving breeds all over the world. They are jubilant, cheerful and your familys best companion. You literally forget how bad your day was after getting hugs and smooches from your retriever. They do not speak yet they understand everything. So as a responsible dog parent you need to take care of your dogs health providing proper diet and nutrition. We have done our full research to provide you the best of all so that you dont have to worry.
Here we represent your top 10 best Dog Food for golden retriever adults and puppies, that many dog parents trust. And which provides the best nutrition to your baby.
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%.
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Feeding A Golden Retriever Puppy: Your Goldie Feeding Guide
July 16, 2018 By Shannon Cutts
If you have questions about feeding a golden retriever puppy, you are in the right place.
In this article, you will find answers to so many important Golden Retriever puppy feeding questions, including how much to feed, what to feed, how often to feed and more.
- Dry or moistened kibble
- A combination of dry and wet puppy food
- A biologically appropriate raw food diet
- A homemade dog food diet
And if you are looking for a golden retriever puppy feeding guide or a golden retriever puppy feeding schedule, we have those for you too.
What Are The Benefits Of Homemade Dog Food
Surprisingly, after researching healthy homemade dog foods to put this guide together, I could not find any professional advice that proved homemade dog foods are any healthier than processed.
According to Dr. Cailin Heinze , studies show you are more likely to do more harm than good as most homemade or online recipes lack one or more important nutrients.
On the other side, commercial foods are legally required to meet nutritional standards that guarantee they can be marked as complete and balanced foods.
Healthy options for pets require very specific amounts of ingredients that I share below in this guide. But keep in mind that consistently feeding your pet a home diet may be well worth coming with commercial foods for the best results.
Also Read: > > What are the best well-balanced dog foods?
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How Much Should Golden Retriever Eat In A Day
Golden retrievers have an in-built clock in them, which propels them to have their meal at the right time. It is advisable to feed the golden retrievers 2 times a day and with an average intake of 1300 to 1700 cal according to their size and requirements. Make them eat with an interval of 12hrs in between.
In the case of golden retriever puppies, start by feeding them 3 times a day for three weeks and then turn into 2 times. You can give them ice cubes if they are thirsty, and treat them with crunchy vegetables like carrots, cucumber for short hunger pangs.
Why Raw Food Is The Best Diet For My Golden Retriever
When deciding on what is the best Golden Retriever food, it’s important to consider the canine anatomy and digestive system. Dogs’ digestive tracts have not significantly evolved from when they were undomesticated wolves, and are best suited to fresh, high-protein prey-based diets. We call this ‘species-appropriate nutrition‘ and is what a natural, raw diet seeks to replicate.
A dogs stomach is not anatomically designed to digest and ferment carbohydrates . Even grain-free kibble often contains high levels of starchy carbs, including legumes, peas & lentils. Feeding this to a dog puts their system under pressure, creating metabolically stressful insulin, glucagon and cortisol spikes throughout the day as well as causing inflammation and putting strain on vital organs, leading, in some cases, to a host of serious health conditions.
There’s no doubt the canine species is resilient, and despite eating a diet which isn’t providing the natural components they may need, they will adapt and survive for some time. Still, there’s a world of difference between surviving and thriving.
Whether you choose Prodog Raw’s no fuss, no-nonsense raw dog food or you decide to create your own DIY raw food recipes at home, you can be sure the move to a natural species-specific diet will fuel well-being for your dog regardless of breed.
Read on to find out more of why raw food is the best food for your Golden Retriever
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Primal Beef Formula Nuggets Grain
We always like including a product you might not be aware of, which is why Primal Beef Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Freeze-Dried dog food is on the list. Not only is it different to all the other products featured here, its also a good alternative to a raw diet.
This formula is not wet or a kibble, instead its a freeze-dried raw food that is hydrated to make it almost wet. If youre keen to try a raw diet for your dog, this is probably the most hassle-free way of doing it. The food is 77% beef and 23% supplements and plant-based foods, so theres very few fillers or unhealthy additives. With the beef, there is also fruit and vegetables including kale, broccoli, apple, blueberry, and yam. And the plant foods are organic, so there are fewer pesticides
If youre new to this type of dog food, the biggest challenge will be in preparing it correctly. Weve included a quick clip to show you how
How Often And How Much To Feed Your Golden Retriever
It depends on your dog! A puppy can eat up to four times a day until theyre 6 months. After that, reduce the number of feedings as your dog ages, until about 1 to 2 feedings a day by adulthood .
The frequency, as long as they are fed at least once a day, isnt as big of an issue as much as how much they eat in total each day.
Your dogs total intake should be based on their size and activity level. Dogs who have an active day outside should eat more, while dogs inside should see a reduction of food. You as the pet parent are the best judge for the amount.
Once you know what your dog looks like at a healthy weight, you can use common sense: Is he looking thin? Average? A little fluffyand not in the furry kind of way?
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Golden Retriever Calorie Requirements
Golden Retrievers generally range in weight between 55 and 75 pounds. Based on the average weight of this breed, the National Research Council of the National Academies recommends between 989 and 1,272 calories daily for sedentary Golden Retrievers and between 1,353 and 1,740 calories per day for active Goldens.
Pregnant and nursing Goldens may require 2 to 4 times the calories of a normal healthy adult Golden as the mothers energy requirements increase after delivery and during lactation.
Why Give Dog Supplements To My Golden Retriever
Dietary supplementation will take your dog’s nutrition to the next level. By making certain additions for specific Golden Retriever related conditions, or for your dog’s individual needs, supplements will act as a complement to food. Added support which will bolster, fuel and nourish your faithful friend and fine-tune their nutritional intake.
With all breeds, there are certain health conditions more prevalent to that specific breed. It’s important to acknowledge here that the right diet, providing all essential vitamins and minerals, will go a very very long way to mitigating against and minimising the severity of breed-related conditions.
The key is to select natural, whole food supplements that have no chemicals, synthetics or non-species appropriate ingredients.
ProDog offers a range of natural nutritional supplements that are the perfect way to bridge that gap! A convenient, simple way to enhance the nutrient density of their food, giving you peace of mind that all health and happiness bases are covered.
For your Golden Retriever using our Complete formula raw dog food range and/or our Pure 80:10:10 raw food range would be a huge benefit.
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What You Need To Know About Commercial Kibble
Its recommended that Golden Retriever owners fed their dogs a high quality commercial dry dog food. Owners should look for a dog food formulated for large dogs, keeping in mind that as a young adult their Golden Retrievers diet, should be rich in highly digestible forms of protein and fat, as well as vitamins and minerals, for muscle-tissue growth, overall health, and high energy. Avoid foods that are high in cheap fillers like corn meal, meat by-products, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. As a rule of thumb, avoid bargain or grocery store brands and go for something a little more expensive. In the long run youll be paying the same because it takes more cheap food to give your dog the nutritional value it needs and less of the premium brands. One way to tell if a commercial kibble is worth buying is if the company says they meet the recommended minimal nutrient levels set by AAFCO. If you want to keep your dog on the same food, look for one formulated for all life stages. For extra reassurance, look for proof of testing and feeding trials and check the first 3-5 ingredients for things like named meat and healthy sources of carbs.
Purina Pro Plan Savor Shredded Puppy Blend With Probiotics
Primary Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat, Soybean Meal
Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the industry, thanks to products like this puppy chow. The Save Shredded Puppy Blend includes probiotics to help ease the digestion in growing Golden Retriever puppies with sensitive stomachs.
Customer Review: My puppy with a sensitive stomach loves this food. I mix it with wet food, and he loves it. He loves the chunks of shredded chicken!
Rating: 4.6/5
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Labrador Retriever Feeding Chart
Food portions can vary depending on a few different factors including life stage, gender, and activity level. Work with your vet to find the best path for your particular Lab.
Here are some general feeding guidelines:
- Puppies: Puppies go through a lot of changes as they mature, so its crucial that you follow your veterinarians instructions carefully so as not to over or under feed.
- Adults: Typical adults receive between three and four cups of kibble per day depending on the brand and body type of your pet.
- Seniors: Your senior dog should have about the same serving sizes as it did during its adult life, but if theres a weight or severe health issue, your vet may decide on a different path.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Recipe Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Duck, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Peas, 4. Pea Protein, 5. Chicken Fat
A wilderness-focused diet is the best choice for retrievers with sensitive stomachs and a high craving for a natural diet. With Blue Buffalos Wilderness Duck Dry Food, that diet can be executed perfectly. The dog food incorporates a variety of all-natural and wholesome ingredients such as meat, fruits, and vegetables that provide lots of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, omega fats, and other micronutrients necessary for a dogs health.
More than that, the dog food is also focused on high-digestibility and features a grain-free recipe. It uses real deboned duck meat as the primary protein source, which is both easily digestible and filled with nutrients. And with its Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, the dog food will also help nourish your retrievers skin and make their fur shinier.
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How To Feed Raw
In general, a dog should eat about 1-3% of his body weight in raw food a day. The amount you feed your dog will depend on his activity level, age, and overall health. The best way to know if you are feeding your dog enough or too much is to pay attention to his weight. If he is gaining weight and doesnt need to, feed him a bit less. If he is losing weight and doesnt need to, feed him a bit more.
The amount you feed your dog may also change over time. There may be certain times of year that your dog is more active so he may need to eat more. He may need more or less food as he ages. Just keep an eye on his weight and on his health and you will know if you should feed him more or less.
There are many different methods that you can follow to feed your dog a raw diet. In the end though they are all trying to do one thing, create a diet that is as close to that of a wolf as possible. So, what do wolves eat? They eat whole, raw animals. This means that a wolf will eat its preys meat, all the organs, the skin, the feathers or fur, the bone, stomach contents, glands, the works.
Now, I know that it is not feasible for most dog owners to throw a whole dead deer out in the yard for their dog to eat. Actually, a lot of dogs wouldnt even know what to do with that. Imagine a Yorkie trying to eat a whole dead deer. Your Golden might be able to handle it if given a few days but, what would the neighbors think?
Golden Retriever Allergies & Food
If your dog is displaying symptoms of a food allergy, it could be caused by any food they consume, from wheat to meat. The best treatment is to visit your vet and discuss an allergy test or an elimination diet. There are also a number of dog foods for allergies that eliminate common dietary culprits.
Not sure if your dog has allergies? Remember that allergies can develop at any age. Here are signs you should get in touch with your vet:
- Itchy skin
- Swollen ears, lips, eyelids earflaps
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But Why Is Homemade Food Specifically Beneficial For Golden Retrievers
The NZ Veterinary Nursing Association reports that Goldens Retrievers are among the dog breeds highly prone to developing food allergies.
Why is this important to know? Well, food allergies in Goldens tend to manifest themselves on their skin, most likely into a condition known as Atopic Dermatitis. This allergy skin disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and it can cause mild to severe itching, which, as a result of scratching or rubbing, often leads to further skin damage, irritation, infection, and discomfort.
Reducing allergic reactions start with a diet that has the vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals to decrease inflammatory responses, and homemade dog food has those critical components. Whats more important is that home cooking for your dog allows you to pick only those ingredients that you know wont cause an allergic reaction on your Golden Retriever.
If you dont know what foods your Golden Retrieve is allergic to, read our Dog Allergy Test guide, so you can identify which foods to avoid in his next meal.
Ask Your Veterinarian For Puppy Feeding Guidance
Right now, you are probably thinking How will I ever figure out which food is best for my new puppy?
Here, we strongly recommend involving your veterinarian in the selection process.
With so many different brands and formulas available for puppy owners today, it can feel nearly impossible to choose the best puppy food for golden retrievers on your own.
Most importantly, as these pictures of young and adult golden retrievers illustrate, your golden retriever puppy is going to eventually be a big dog.
Numerous research studies show that maintaining strict control over bone growth and weight gain in puppyhood can have a measurable impact on adult health and life span for big dog breeds.
You want to choose a puppy food that will keep your puppys growth and weight gain healthy and stableneither too slow nor too fast.
Your vet can be an invaluable source of wisdom and guidance here.
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