The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Though breed-specific dog food formulas might be fine for your dog, its better to understand your dogs nutritional needs and make an informed decision based on that. Keeping in mind your dogs age, breed size, and activity level will help you make the best choice.
With that in mind, these are our top picks for the best dog food for adult Golden Retrievers.
Formulated for digestibility, this holistic natural dog food recipe features real chicken as the main ingredient, acting as both a lean source of protein and a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin for your Golden Retriever.
Halo Holistic Chicken Recipe Large-Breed Dog Food for Golden Retrievers
This holistic crunchy dry dog food features real chicken as its main ingredient.
Growing From The Puppy Phase Calorie Needs To Decrease
When your Golden Retriever Puppy turns one year old, their growing phase has just been done. Now, its time to switch to adult dog food that is less calorie dense compared to puppy food!
Its hard to transition the food that you are feeding him since last year, so for Transitioning to a New Food I have added another section below which will help you in changing the food!
As you pup grows into a adult dog his needs change to match your dogs need, you should switch from puppy to adult dog food.
Make sure you dont overfeed Ive already mentioned a lot of health diseases that can be caused by overfeeding.
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Food
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed dog food is our first choice for Golden Retriever adults. This food is highly recommended by our staff veterinarians, and it contains ingredients that are highly nutritious with high protein for strengthening muscles.
Below is a feeding chart for Purina Pro Plan Large Breed.
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Feeding Chart
Weight | |
---|---|
3 3 2/3 Cups Per Day | |
75-100 lbs. | 3 2/3 4 Cups Per Day |
This chart does not give an exact amount based on gender, age, activity level, or health conditions. Be sure to consult your veterinarian to get the exact amount for your Golden.
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Why You Should Feed Your Golden Retriever Puppy High
Controlling what your golden eats is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to their health.
And although many goldens have lived healthy lives on Walmart brand pet foods, feeding them high-quality food will stack the odds of them being healthy in their favor.
Here are some benefits of feeding them a high-quality food:
- Healthy and beautiful coat
- Healthy bones and joints
- Fewer allergies
Thats a lot of health benefits, right?
Now high-quality food can be a little on the expensive side, but chances are likely that youll save more money in the long run on vet bills.
General Golden Retriever Puppy Food
Because puppies need a diet specifically designed to meet nutritional needs for normal development, all puppies should be fed a puppy food. Feeding them adult food will not give them the adequate nutrients needed at this age.
Below is a general chart for Golden Retriever puppy feeding.
Golden Retriever Puppy Feeding Chart
Puppy Age | |
---|---|
Six to Seven Months Old | 3 ½ to 4 Cups Per Day |
This chart is just a general guideline for feeding your puppy. Be sure to ask the breeder what they were feeding the puppy and use that exact food. There is also a feeding chart on the back of the dog food bag that you can follow as well. Also, speaking with your veterinarian about this is a good idea.
Below are some other feeding charts that are from our top puppy foods article Best Puppy Food for Golden Retrievers .
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Here Are Some General Feeding Guidelines:
For Golden Retriever puppies:
- Two Months Old: 1 ½ cups a day, 4 times per day
- Three Months Old: 2 cups a day, 3 times per day
- Four Months Old: 2 ½ cups a day, 3 times per day
- Five To Six Months Old: 3 cups a day, 2 times per day
- Six To Seven Months Old : 3 ½ to 4 cups a day
For Adult Golden Retriever:
- Females: 2 to 2 ½ cups a day, 1 time per day
- Males: 3 to 3 ½ cups a day, 1 time per day
- Active Males: 4 cups a day, 1 or 2 times per day
- Nursing Females: 5 to 6 cups a day, 1 or 2 times per day
Please note that these guidelines work only for high-quality dog foods that contain balanced nutrients. If you are unsure about how much and how often to feed your Golden Retriever, please talk with your veterinarian. I believe that he will be pleased to tell you exactly the right type of feeding schedule for your Golden Retriever.
How Much Should You Feed Your Golden Retriever Puppy
How much you feed your puppy depends on what your veterinarian says and what the label on the dog food says.
Its tough to make general statements like, feed your puppy one cup per day, because 1) all puppies are different, and 2) different foods have different caloric densities.
One cup of Brand X food may have 300 calories per cup, while Brand Y has 400 calories per cup.
And heres an example of why it depends on the individual puppy
When we first got our puppy, Oliver, we were feeding him what the package told us to feed him.
During a vet visit our veterinarian said he looked too lethargic for a puppy his age , and he recommended we feed him a little more.
So when deciding how much to feed your puppy, read the label on your food and talk to your veterinarian to see whats best for them.
As far as how often to feed your puppy, this same rule applies.
Most people feed their puppies three times per day, and then eventually transition to two times per day when theyre a little older.
At this point, theyre not growing as much, so they dont need to eat as frequently, plus it will usually help them poop less!
For us, we fed Oliver three times per day until he was a little over a year old.
Thats when we switched to adult dog food and changed to feeding him two times per day.
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How Much Should A Golden Retriever Puppy Eat
The amount of food that you will need to feed your golden retriever puppy will go up and down throughout their puppyhood.
In the beginning, your puppys stomach will be very small and will not be capable of taking in much food at a time.
But, he will grow quickly and need more food to accommodate his needs. A young puppy will only eat about 1.5 cups of food a day, but a larger puppy might need as much as 3 to 4 cups of food a day.
It depends on his caloric needs, where he is in the growth cycle and the size of the dog.
What To Season Homemade Dog Food With:
While dogs cant have all of the same aromatics as humans can they can have a small variety of dried or fresh herbs and spices that contain great nutrients and help flavor their meals. Use a few teaspoons sprinkled on top or mixed into the food. These are some easily digestable herbs and spices to try:
- Basil
- Ginger
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Golden Retriever Puppy Feeding Guidelines
Here are our general guidelines for feeding a Golden Retriever puppy, to help you menu plan for your little dog:
- Adult dogs actually need less to eat than puppies.
- Puppies benefit from a high fat, high protein diet. More so than adult dogs.
- The best Golden Retriever puppy food will provide a complete balanced diet and be aimed at larger breeds.
- Dont give supplements unless your vet recommends them.
- Puppies eat three to four times a day, but adult dogs only eat once of twice in the same period.
- Puppies need access to fresh water all day, even between meals.
- Many owners decide to swap from puppy to adult dog food at around six months.
What Amount Of Food Is Right For My Dog
This isnt an exact science, and there may be some trial and error involved in coming up with the amount of food your dog needs each day. Start by looking at the feeding guidelines on the dog food package, but take this information as a suggestion rather than requirement, since those guidelines may result in larger than necessary portion sizes.
Next, factor in your dogs age and lifestyle. For example, puppies and active adult dogs need more food than elderly dogs. The best way to decide if your dog is getting the right amount of food is to look at the dog, at whether he eats everything in his bowl, sometimes doesnt finish, or even skips a meal. If your dog has a visible waist, hes well proportioned, and you can feel his ribs, hes probably getting the right amount of food.
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How Much Water Should A Golden Retriever Puppy Drink
Golden Retrievers are known to be naturally, highly active dogs and because of this, they drink a lot of water. In general, Golden Retriever puppies require approximately one-half cup of water every two hours. You should observe your puppy to ensure that he is drinking the right amount of water.
It is a good thing if your Golden Retriever gets lots of exercise and if he likes to drink a lot of water after getting exercise. They are a breed that is expected to be engaged in physical activity daily, so this is not an issue.
Can You Feed Your Golden Retriever Puppy Raw Food
Some dog owners prefer to feed they are golden retrievers raw food as opposed to kibble. A diet that is raw means that you only give him raw bones, row organs, raw meats, as well as fruits and vegetables. Many consider this raw diet to be better than kibble.
In all truth, kibble may not be ideal for your Golden because dogs are carnivores who require high amounts of protein. Many of the kibble on the market has approximately 60% carbohydrates.
Dogs need more protein and fats for good nutrition. When dogs consume too much carbohydrates, they tend to have health problems from being overweight.
However, there are downsides to a raw diet because one must be careful about the way the food is prepared and stored.
You would need to think about the bacteria like salmonella and E Coli coming from the uncooked liver, meat, and eggs which can affect your dog and even be fatal if not handled properly. It can also cause issues with the pancreas if introduced too abruptly.
When your dog is on a raw diet, the amount of food you give him would need to be adjusted, as he may actually need to eat less. Many people who give dogs raw food only feed them once or twice per day.
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How Is Dog Food For Large Breeds Different
Puppy Formula Dog Food for Large Breed Dogs: Puppy Food for Large Breed Dogs is lower in calories per serving than other Puppy Food formulas. This allows the pup to grow at a healthy rate for supporting joints and bones. Additionally, the Large Breed Puppy Food contains the perfect amount of Calcium for controlling bone development.
Adult-Formula Dog Food for Large Breed Dogs
Adult Dog Foods for Large Breeds often add ingredients like Glucosamine to support healthy joints. These kinds of issues are painful for your dog and often occur in larger, heavier adult dog breeds. Some Large Breed Dog Foods contain fiber blends and prebiotics that aid digestion.
Dog Food for Obese Dogs There are no laws governing marketing claims on Dog Food labels. For this reason, I leave the ultimate decision to you regarding Dog Foods formulated for overweight dogs. Be aware that the low calories could be coming from ways that arent optimum for your dogs health. Better is a sound diet, which we will go over in the very next section and an adequate exercise regime for your dogs weight-loss!
FYI: In the United States, Dog Food is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in cooperation with the State Department of Agriculture. The nutritional guidelines are developed by the National Association of American Feed Control Officials . If you discover an issue regarding the dog food you purchased, you can address the issue here.
How Much Food Should My 12 Week Puppy Eat
Maggie’sVoice said:OK, but that is insane amount of growth at 5 pounds a week up until 4 months, 20 lbs in a month? And 60lbs at 6 months but 65-75 at a year? Never seen goldens grow like that personally and have had 3.Also the growth plates close at 12 months so your pup won’t be growing after that or soon after but will fill out a few pounds till about 18 months or so. It’s like looking at guy at 18 and then again at 25 or 28 and weighs the same but certainly doesn’t look the same.
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What Is A Good Golden Retriever Feeding Schedule
For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is one in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at 7:00 am, lunch at noon, then dinner at 5:00 pm.
Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period.
After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated.
What Nutrients Does A Golden Retriever Puppy Need
It is a little-known fact that different dog breeds would have different requirements when it comes to their nutrition. This is true because no dog breed is the same, as dogs have different builds, features, and genetics that would require a different diet.
Golden retrievers are no different, as they are playful, energetic, and intelligent. Their beautiful coats make them stand out amongst dogs. Their nutritional requirements are as follows:
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How To Feed Your Puppy
Feeding is one of the most essential things you need to know once you bring the puppy home, and its not just about giving food to your dog. There are many important rules that you need to follow, in order to make the eating as easy as possible for your little Golden.
The location where you place the food matters. The location should be the same every meal so that your dog feels familiarized and comfortably eats his food. It should also be a quiet place with minimal distractions.
Do not forget to pay attention to the amount of food given. Remember that the amount of food consumed varies from dog to dog, so if there is leftover, try to cut down the food amount next time.
Choose proper food for your puppy. There is a difference between puppies food and adult dogs food. Therefore, when you shop for dog food, pay close attention to the label and make sure it is food for puppies.
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.
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How To Switch Your Golden Retrievers Food
Lets say that after reading this post, you decided you wanted to switch foods.
Well, with dogs, its not as easy as just switching food from one day to the next.
Dogs have sensitive stomachs and if you just suddenly switch the brand of food, theyll likely have diarrhea felt terrible).
So how do you switch food?
Slowly.
You want to take about a week to switch from the old brand to the new brand.
For example, on day one, 90% of your goldens meal might be the old food, and 10% would be the new food.
Day two: 75% of their meal would be the old food, and 25% would be the new food.
You would slowly increase the amount of new food youre giving them and decrease the amount of old food until theyre fully transitioned.
This will decrease the chances of them having stomach issues.