Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppy

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.

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

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.

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How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy

Knowing how much to feed your Golden Retriever and how often will help your Golden Retriever start off with a healthy lifestyle. As owners, we want to make sure that our new puppy gets just the right amount food to grow at their pace. We do not want to overfeed or underfeed. Our wish is to make life for them as comfortable as possible.

For more detail on this topic check out our article Golden Retriever Feeding Chart. If you use our recommended Purina Pro Plan, see below for the feeding chart.

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.

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Special Considerations For Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are very active. They are most active as puppies and young adults but they need exercise throughout their lives. Walking, swimming, and good, long runs provide excellent exercise for these sporting dogs. Because of their high level of activity, they do need quite a few calories in their daily food.

Golden Retrievers can be prone to hip dysplasia and some other health issues.

Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds that has been connected to food-related dilated cardiomyopathy . The FDA is currently investigating a possible link between grain free dog foods and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. At this time there is no firm conclusion about a connection but you may wish to consider these findings when choosing a food for your Golden. The FDA has not advised anyone to stop feeding grain free dog foods. However, they have suggested that owners might cut back on foods with high amounts of peas and some other ingredients that have been used in place of grains.

Some Golden Retrievers have developed food allergies. Do watch your dogs health and reactions after meals, especially if you have recently changed dog foods. If you notice anything unusual, consult your veterinarian.

Do Golden Retrievers Need Special Dog Food

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, adult dogs require a minimum of 18% protein in their diet, and puppies need at least 22%. Protein provides the building blocks for strong muscles in puppies and, in adults, supports lean muscle maintenance. For most dogs, higher protein content is a good thing.

Fat provides your dog with a concentrated source of energy in the form of calories and should make up at least 8% of the diet for puppies and 5% for adult dogs. This is where your Golden Retrievers needs start to differ.

Small dog breeds have faster metabolisms and need a higher concentration of calories in their diet. For large breeds like the Golden Retriever, however, excess calories can lead to unhealthy weight gain, which increases the risk for other issues like bone and joint problems. For this reason, Golden Retrievers need a protein-rich dog food with low-to-moderate fat and calorie content.

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Top 7 Best Puppy Foods For Golden Retrievers: Reviews

Below, you will find in-depth reviews of seven puppy foods that meet the nutritional needs of golden retriever puppies and are extremely tasty.

Want to feed fresh food to your golden retriever puppy but dont have time to prepare fresh and wholesome meals? If this is the case, youll be happy to discover what Nom Nom has to offer!

The nutrition begins when you choose which food youd like to give your dog. There are several recipes to choose from, all developed by veterinary nutritionists and cooked at Nom Noms on-site kitchen using fresh, restaurant-quality whole-food ingredients.

Food is portioned based on your dogs unique profile, including age, weight, health problems, and any goals such as weight loss. You get a free consultation with a veterinary nutritionist when you order, so your golden puppy gets exactly the right nutrients.

Once your dogs weekly menu is ready, food is sealed into single-serving packages, after which it is delivered to your home under refrigeration for optimal freshness. Just like your own fresh food, you keep your dogs meals in the freezer or refrigerator until mealtime. Simply open a pack, serve it up, and watch your pet enjoy every morsel. You can choose a single favorite or treat your dog to variety packs.

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• Cost is above the market average

Read this in-depth Nom Nom review to learn more about this dog food brand and discover their top three dog food recipes!

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Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Turkey Recipe Puppy & Adult Food

If your Golden Retriever puppy has a sensitive stomach, you need a highly digestible formula made with a limited number of ingredients. This Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Turkey Recipe Puppy and Adult Food is a great option because it features a single source of animal protein with digestible grain-free carbohydrates. This formula contains 30% crude protein and 17% fat, so you can be sure it will fuel your puppys growth and development. It is rich in omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus beneficial supplements like chelated minerals for nutrient absorption and probiotics for healthy digestion. Plus, it is formulated for both puppies and adults, so you dont have to change your puppys diet.

• Pros: Formulated for puppies and adults, single source of animal protein, rich in omega fatty acids, chelated minerals, probiotics for digestion, 30% protein and 17% fat
• Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based , very expensive compared to many brands

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What Do Golden Retriever Puppies Eat

The best food for a golden retriever puppy is made with high-quality natural ingredients and has high levels of protein. Make sure the food is complete and balanced for daily feeding and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large breed puppies. Depending on your pups preferences and needs, you can feed kibble, canned food, or a raw diet to your pup.

Best Wet Food For Golden Retriever Puppies

Wet foods are frequently more palatable for dogs, and a reliable way of keeping your puppy hydrated too.

Although any dog should have access to drinking water throughout the day, regardless.

But some picky pups do prefer moist food, and some owners enjoy giving their dogs a meal that looks more appetising!

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Does High Cost Mean High Quality

By contrast, costlier dog foods usually have higher-quality ingredients. The scales will be tipped heavily in favor of high-grade protein sources and fillers will be few and far between.

Price is not, however, a guarantee of quality. Check the ingredients list to see whats inside before you make your decision.

How To Choose The Best Dog Food For A Golden Retriever

Goldens Retrievers are generally healthy dogs. Still, there are some genetic health issues to keep in mind:

• certain cancers

A healthy diet may help to prevent some of these diseases. The best way to select a quality dog food is to consult your veterinarian and read the dog food label to ensure your Golden Retriever is getting the proper nutrients. Generally, a large breed dog food will be a good fit for an adult Golden Retriever.

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What Food Can I Give My Golden Retriever Puppy

The dry food Purizon Puppy is recommended for Golden Retriever puppies.

• Balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorous for bone development.
• Ideally adapted to the individual needs of puppies and young dogs.
• Contains poultry and salmon as high-quality sources of protein.
• With high-quality fruit, vegetables and selected herbs.
• With pre- and probiotic ingredients that can encourage stable gut flora.

The feeding quantities for puppies should always be split into several portions per day. As well, fresh water should always be available to dogs.

Best Golden Retriever Puppy Foods With Our 2021 Feeding Guide

Known for his golden coat and his friendly personality, the Golden Retriever is consistently ranked among the top 3 dog breeds according to American Kennel Club registration statistics year after year. These dogs make wonderful companion pets and they are very family-friendly. If youre looking for a loyal friend and companion, this is the breed for you!

The Golden Retriever is a family pet in every way and he should be treated as such that means feeding him a healthy and high-quality diet.

Choosing a puppy food for your Golden Retriever can be tricky because there are so many options to choose from. If you want to do right by your puppy, take the time to learn about his nutritional needs then select a product that will meet them.

Keep reading to learn more about Golden Retriever puppies including their nutritional needs and feeding requirements. Youll also find our top picks for the 9 best Golden Retriever puppy foods.

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More Dog Food Analysis

For active large breed dogs like Golden Retrievers, the range of protein intake for an adult should be somewhere between 18 and 25 percent.

If your pup is a canine athlete, you may want to bump up that protein level to about 28 percent during his active seasons.

Each stage of your dog’s life calls for a different amount of protein.

You don’t want to overload a puppy with protein, as excessively rapid growth could result in structural problems for your pup. Puppy food brands should contain up to about 28 percent protein.

As dogs mature and slow down, their protein and calorie needs are much lower than younger dogs.

Careful dog food analysis shows that a good-quality senior dog food provides this proper balance of nutrients for your Golden Oldie.

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.

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Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dog Food

The Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dog Food is a protein-rich dog food that contains real deboned chicken as its first ingredient. It has salmon oil, chicken and turkey meal, a vitamin E supplement, and a blend of vitamins and minerals to support the overall health of you golden retriever puppy. The food formula has a variety of fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, apples, kale, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and bananas to provide your pet with important vitamins and minerals.

The dog food has probiotics to support healthy digestion. It contains added DHA to support healthy eye and brain development. The food also has a blend of antioxidants to helps keep your puppys immune system working right. The food formula does not contain fillers, wheat, corn, soy, or artificial ingredients, nor are there any unidentifiable animal products. It has flaxseed which is a source of Omega-3 for healthy skin and coat.

Best Budget Puppy Food: Purina One Large Breed Puppy

Best Budget

Purina One Large Breed Puppy Food is easily digestible for a puppys delicate stomach. It contains rice and has chicken as its #1 ingredient. It is high in protein to support strong muscles and a healthy heart. There is added DHA to support the health of your puppys brain. It is a natural source of glucosamine to help support growing joints.

Top Ingredients:

• Consists of added calcium and phosphorus minerals
• Contains vitamins A & E
• Comes in two bag sizes 16.5lb and 31.1lb

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Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

If food allergies and sensitivities arent a factor, this dry dog food recipe is a protein-rich source of quality nutrition thats also limited in fat and calories to help your Golden Retriever maintain their weight as they get older.

Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food for Golden Retrievers

This weight management dry dog food is intended for senior-aged dogs and contains ingredients to help support their joint health.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is a quality dog food from a reputable brand. The dog food is designed to provide your pet with all the nutrients he need to remain strong and healthy. It contains deboned chicken as the first ingredient to provide your puppy with enough protein for muscle growth and development. It also contains chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal and barley among other ingredients.

The food formula is made with high-quality ingredients without fillers, by-products or additives. It provides your golden retriever puppy with the right amount of calories without increasing mass. Blue Buffalo Life Protection dog food has glucosamine and chondroitin for joints and bone health. It contains calcium, and phosphorus for teeth and bones development. The formula is supplemented with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for healthier coat and skin.

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Best Puppy Food For Golden Retrievers

Finding the best puppy food for your Golden Retriever can be difficult. However, equipped with the knowledge in this article from a practicing veterinarian, we will have you on your way to providing nutritious meals for your puppy. Selecting the best food for your puppy will help them grow healthy and strong right from the start.

Our Pick

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Foodis our top choice. This is the food I have been feeding my Golden Retriever, Brady, since I got him at eight weeks old. He is currently 6 months old and still loves his nutritious Purina Pro Plan puppy food. It comes highly recommended by our staff of veterinarians here at Golden Retriever Society.

The Dangers Of Beg And Grain

We touched on this earlier, but in recent years, DCM has increased in golden retrievers, according to this study.

There seem to be two potential causes of this.

When they surveyed what these dogs were eating, more than 90 percent of products were grain-free, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils.

So when choosing which food to feed your puppy, you may want to think twice before you decide to go grain free.

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