How To Read A Dog Food Label
To help make an informed decision about what youre feeding your Golden, youll need to read the food label.
But food labels can be a little vague and confusing, so below is an explanation of what some of these terms mean, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual and the AKC.
Ingredients are listed in order of weight
The first ingredient listed is the ingredient that theres the most of in the food, while the last ingredient is the ingredient that theres the least of.
There is one caveat though.
Ingredients are listed in the exact type that theyre added in.
For instance, flaked corn, ground corn, and kibbled corn could be sprinkled in an ingredient list and not be listed as the first few ingredients, but in reality, if you were to add them all up , you might find that this food is made mostly of corn.
The same goes for chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct.
Meat vs. Meat Meal vs. Meat Byproduct
Lets say youre looking at a food label and you see chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct.
Chicken means that its chicken muscle, skin and/or bones.
Chicken meal means that its essentially ground and dried chicken muscle, skin and/or bones.
Chicken byproducts means that its byproducts .
Chicken byproducts meal means that its essentially ground and dried byproducts.
The quality of these ingredients can vary widely, so be sure to talk to your vet about this and choose a reputable brand of food.
Feeding Amounts By The Puppys Age
The following amounts are suggested by many golden retriever breeders and other knowledgeable people:
- Two-month-old puppy should be fed about 1 ½ cups per day
- Three-month-old puppy should be fed about 2 cups per day
- Four-month-old puppy should be fed about 2 ½ cups per day
- Five-to-six-month-old puppy should be fed about 3 cups per day
- Six-to-seven-month-old male puppy should be fed about 3 ½ to 4 cups per day
- Eight-month-old puppy should be adjusted depending on his growth.
Throughout his first two years, while heâs growing, the amount of food you feed will have to be modified depending on his growth and growth spurts.
Overfeeding will result not only in him becoming overweight but it will also make him grow too fast.
Periodicallyeven weekly test whether you can still feel his ribs without them protruding.
Another gauge regarding when to increase his food allotment is if heâs finishing all of his kibble at two out of three meals. You can then increase the amount he eats.
You should also feed his last meal of the day at least 90 minutes before his bed time so that he can digest his food and potty before bed.
Donât give him any supplements unless your vet says to do so.
A well-balanced, high-quality food should provide all the nutrients he requires.
Golden puppies require a formula made for large-breed dogs.
You donât want your pup to grow too fast and suffer health problems. Puppy formulas for large-breed dogs regulate their growth.
The Dangers Of Beg And Grain
In recent years, DCM has increased in Golden retrievers, according to this study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
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.
Now you know what the most popular foods are, and which ones to avoid, lets get into some of the most common questions Golden Retriever puppy owners have about food.
Heres a table of contents for you:
- 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.
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Monitoring Your Golden Retriever`s Growth
The answer from the Golden Retriever food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Golden Retriever.
Start by feeding your Golden Retriever the amount of food recommended by the Golden Retriever food calculator every day.
While feeding your Golden Retriever this daily amount of food, weigh your Golden Retriever at least once a week to ensure that your Golden Retriever is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Golden Retriever is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Golden Retriever`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Golden Retriever grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Golden Retriever body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Golden Retriever body condition score here.
How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Senior
Golden Retriever seniors will need about 900 calories or about 20% less than adult dogs to stay at their ideal weight. Golden Retrievers are seniors at about 8 years old. When entering old age, they may benefit from eating a food with less fat and fewer calories.
During the senior years, Golden Retrievers will become more sedentary therefore not requiring as much food as before. They should still be eating two meals a day, but not as much. There are many senior dog foods out there that help them with maintaining a healthy weight.
As your Golden Retriever progresses from old dog to older dog, you may notice them losing weight and requiring more calories in this stage of life. The fat content in their diet may need increased. Talking with your veterinarian would be a good choice if you notice your Golden losing weight.
If your Golden Retriever suffers from arthritis and has trouble getting around staying lean is important. Discuss with your veterinarian the right body weight, food, supplements, and medications to help your senior dog get around better.
There are some senior dog foods that provide the right healthy eating habits for this stage of life. Below are our top choices for Golden Retriever seniors.
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Why Is My Golden Retriever Not Eating
As Golden Retrievers love food, skipping meals can be a rare issue for these dogs. But there can be various reasons as to why a Golden Retriever wont eat. It can range from behavioral issues to health problems.
If your dog refuses to eat, it might be because your Golden Retriever is a picky eater or is bored with its current food. Age can also affect appetite, along with other factors such as response to medication and routine changes.
Your dogs emotions can also be a factor. Typically, if a dog feels uneasy or stressed, it may also lose appetite. It can also be caused by separation anxiety or a change in its environment.
What To Do If Your Golden Eats Too Fast
What if your goldenâs still hungry after eating? As long as his weight and health are fine, donât give in to those pleading puppy eyes.
Goldens are generally eating machines and wonât regulate the amount of food they ingest.
If he eats too quickly, you can buy a bowl thatâs like a maze or puzzle to slow him down. Thereâs also a stainless steel ball you can buy that you put into his current food bowl to slow him down.
Eating too quickly can lead to digestive upsets and even bloat, which can be deadly.
I rescued my golden retriever Riley when he was about six months old.
To say that he ate as if it were his last meal would be an understatement. He had a voracious appetite.
I bought one of the maze bowls to slow him down. The kibble is placed between each section of the bowl, and he had to forage for his food.
It worked! He ate at a more normal pace. And he didnât have any stomach upsets.
Of course, dogs should be given free access to fresh water. But itâs inadvisable for them to drink large amounts right after or before eating as they may bloat.
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Do Golden Retrievers Eat A Lot
Golden Retrievers tend to eat a lot. On top of this, they also eat fast as they usually get excited over their meals. Compared to other dog breeds, Golden Retrievers love food even more.
This is why they need a specific feeding plan to prevent any weight and health issues. Leaving them unattended with access to any kind of food will be risky, so make sure that you watch out for your pooch.
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.
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Why Is Large Breed Puppy Food Important
Breed-appropriate chow is essential. Large breed formulas are made to offer enough sustenance, nutrients, and vitamins to a larger dog like a Golden. Smaller dogs have different needs than larger breeds. Smaller breeds tend to reach full growth sooner than larger dogs like the Golden. These bigger breeds need a diet formulated to support growth, boost bone health, build their immune systems, build coats, skin health, and build strong muscles.
Changing Food As Your Golden Retriever Ages
Golden Retrievers are large breed dogs. So, they will continue to grow and develop physically until somewhere between 12 and 18 months. You should not transition them to adult food until this point, as puppy recipes are specifically designed to support their growth and development in a way that adult food wont.
You may want to transition your puppy to a new food when you bring them home, rather than whatever your breeder was giving them. But, whenever you change your puppys food, you should do so gradually. Ideally, you want to make the change over the course of a week.
Replace a very small amount of their old food with their new food at mealtimes. Over the week, you can change these amounts by decreasing their old food and increasing the new. By the end of the week, they will be eating only the new food. This slow transition is designed to be easier on your puppys stomach. Changing abruptly can cause stomach upsets and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
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Cooking Our Way To A Healthier Dog Diet
Ever since I started raising my own dogs, Id always wanted to make their food at home but thought it would be too expensive or too time consuming, or that they wouldnt get the nutrition they needed.
During the month of Bugs doggy depression, I vowed to make her precious life as comfortable as possible.
Both of my pugs had a range of health issues growing up, which I unfortunately found out were common for the breed.
My older one had persistent hot spots and itchiness that no commercial dog food could cure .
Bug was overweight for a while when she was younger, even though she ate the recommended amount of food for her target weight. Eventually, I settled on Wellness kibbles and they did well with that brand.
But, I wanted to explore other options. I wanted to give them real food fresh, nutritious ingredients that I recognized and could even eat myself.
Ive mentioned in my post on homemade whole grain chicken feed that the entire household all share the same whole grains and seeds that we buy in bulk, as well as the bounty that comes from our edible garden.
Everything our animals eat, we can eat.
When it comes to homemade feed for our laying hens, we stick to a tried-and-true formula that works for every layer: 16 to 17 percent protein , vitamins, minerals, and amino acids from a wide variety of grains and seeds, and free range of a pasture for weeds, greens, and insects.
Dogs, on the other hand, arent bred for a standard function the way chickens are.
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Jump to RecipeMy easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground sirloin, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs
***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarian’s careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human-grade food diet for your pup. This post was updated with video August 16, 2020, updated with additional recipe links 9/14/2020, updated 1/7/2021 with metric measurements, updated 1/3/2022 with recipe links for hydrating meals.***
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Why Is My Golden Retriever Always Hungry
Golden Retrievers are naturally food-motivated dogs, so it may seem like your Golden is constantly hungry. However, your dog may actually be telling you that its not getting enough food a day. Spotting the difference between a food-obsessed dog and a truly hungry dog is crucial, which can be done by observing any sudden change in their growth or appetite.
Is your dog looking leaner than normal? Is your dog inhaling food at lightning speed? Has your dog suddenly been counter surfing when he hasnt done that before? These are all questions that youll have to ask in order to pinpoint what the issue is.
Since Goldens really enjoy mealtime, a slow feeder is usually recommended. This will also help prevent bloat and other similar problems due to eating too fast. We also recommend a feeding schedule instead of free feeding, since dogs, in general, do best on a routine.
Feeding Guide For The Young Adult Golden Retriever: Ages 1 Year To 6 Years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Golden Retriever should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Golden Retriever should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Golden Retriever getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Golden Retriever should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Golden Retriever
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Common Problems With Feeding Golden Retriever Puppies
It is better to offer three or meals per day in order to avoid potentially life-threatening gastric problems. Unfortunately, many Golden Retriever owners dont realize that their breed is susceptible to gastric problems that can require emergency care.
Gastric dilatation or volvulus is a common problem in larger dog breeds. While it is not understood exactly what causes the problem, it is well known that breeds with deep-chest are more susceptible and golden retrievers are one of them.
Volvulus or gastric dilatation can occur when there is a large buildup of gas due to large meals. The stomach will dilate due to an accumulation of food and gas and a point may be reached when the excessive food and gas cannot get expelled. The stomach may get distended until it eventually twists and ruptures. The ability to breath is negatively affected since the pressure on the diaphragm may not permit the lungs to expand adequately. There will also be decreased blood flow to the stomach.
If your pup is suffering from volvulus or gastric dilatation, it might show the following symptoms:
- Stretching awkwardly
If you see these symptoms you need to rush your golden retriever pup to the veterinarian and provide it emergency care.
In order to reduce the chances of gastric dilatation, you should feed your puppy at least three meals per day. It is better not to feed older puppies two meals each day so that the chances of gastric dilatation are minimized.
The Results From Feeding Our Diy Dog Food
Back to the story of Bug
After only a couple of weeks of feeding her a homemade diet, the hubby and I were blown away by how much her mental and physical health improved. And we wholeheartedly believe she was able to bounce back because of her new food.
She went from an ailing, exhausted, incontinent, tail-down dog to a happy, energetic, curious, communicative pup. While she isnt miraculously walking again, her hip dysplasia also hasnt progressed or caused her any pain.
Weve learned to watch for signs that she needs to relieve herself as weve realized she knows when she has to go, she just cant get there without our help.
We feed both of our pugs the same food, with the hope that we can stave off any potential health problems for our older one.
When we travel, well bring their homemade food on the road in a cooler. On occasion, weve even ordered their dinner from a restaurant when we ran out of food .
If were camping, well usually just feed them whatever were cooking in camp they love corn on the cob, hobo packs , and the whole assortment of tri-tip, sausages, and ribs that weve usually got going on.
As you might imagine they lovecamping trips!
Homemade dog food gives us the flexibility to fine-tune their diet as needed. Im forever grateful for the extra time we were given with our beloved Bug as a result of the food we chose to feed her.
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