Is Raw Food Good For Golden Retrievers

Iams Proactive Health Large Breed Dog Food

Rating:

ProActive Health Large Breed is one of 12 dry recipes covered in our review of the Iams ProActive Health product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, ground whole grain barley, ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum, chicken by-product meal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult goldens

Iams ProActive Health Large Breed derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 25% protein, 14% fat and 53% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.

This classic, grain-inclusive, large breed design has been offered by Iams for many years. Its especially popular with professional breeders. We like the fact that its also 100% free of BHA and other high-risk chemical preservatives. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewAll the pets in the household love Iams. My puppies just switched to adult food and this has been a quick an easy switch. Would recommend Iams to anyone.

Why Is Homemade Food Recipes Important For Your Golden Retriever

If you are a hectic schedule, you might be more reluctant to the commercial foods for your Golden Retriever. Moreover, do you consider various homemade recipes in the diet of your Golden Retriever once in a while?

As commercial foods are easy to get and takes lesser time to prepare, most owners are more likely to use these foods in their pals diet plan. However, they fail to understand the fillers and artificial ingredients used in commercial food can lead to several health problems like:

Furthermore, on the other hand, homemade food is qualitative and organic with various importance like:

• Homemade foods can manage your pals diet according to its needs.
• These foods help to avoid the complication of commercial foods
• As these foods include ingredients present in the home, you can save money.
• Homemade food recipes help to deal with the food intolerance issues of your Golden Retriever.
• Since you can use the ingredients that your dog prefers while making these recipes, even picky pets enjoy eating them.
• Preparing homemade food recipes requires time and effort. Thus, it helps to strengthen your bond with your pet.

Thus, give more emphasis on homemade food recipes to promote a healthier lifespan for your Golden Retriever.

But do you know the quantity of homemade food that your pet needs daily? Or can you freely feed your pal?

Nutritional Needs Of Adult Golden Retrievers

The best food for Golden Retrievers as adults is dependent on the size, weight, and activity levels of the dog. It is also imperative that you test for any health issues that may be exacerbated by improper nutrition. Underlying health issues such as heart problems, renal or liver problems, diabetes, or hypothyroidism all affect the nutritional needs for your dog.

Golden Retrievers also sometimes have von Willebrandâs disease. This will mean avoiding some ingredients, as von Willebrandâs is a blood clotting disorder. Healthy nutrients like the omega-3 fatty acid, EPA, is also a blood thinner, so it is not good for dogs with von Willebrand’s Disease.

What to keep in mind for healthy adults

During the adult stages of a Golden Retrieverâs life, limiting the amount of protein in the diet to around 25% is important. This is significantly lower than the protein required by a puppy and a senior Golden Retriever.

One of the reasons for reducing protein intake is that the more protein there is, the more phosphorus there is in the diet. This is an essential mineral, but only in the right amounts.

Excessive Phosphorus in the body could cause severe kidney issues and other problems. Phosphorus also needs to stay in the right ratio with calcium. It binds with calcium in the gut and could cause deficiencies and calcium phosphate kidney stones.

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The Cost Of Raw Dog Food

This is one of the areas that come into play when you are looking to make the switch to a raw food diet. It is possible to make a healthy raw diet from ingredients bought from the local grocery store. If you choose to design your own dog food recipes you need to take into account the best options for your pup.

The cost of a raw food diet is higher than traditional kibble . Raw dog food will be one of the most important considerations you have when you are looking to keep your pup healthy. The ingredients in raw food can be expensive to buy individually. The first step is to source a high-quality meat provider who will often discount the parts of the animal classed as off-cuts. Organs, including kidneys and liver, are often cast aside by a butcher because they are not in high demand. At a local grocery store, you should discuss the options available to you for getting organs to add to your dogs diet.

Making sure the ingredients you buy are of high quality will help your pup to stay happy and healthy in the coming years. Your dogs health will be improved when you cut the processed grains and fillers out of her diet. Choosing raw pet food over traditional dog food or kibble is a choice your dog will be happy you made.

Harmful Foods For Your Golden Retriever

Since a Golden Retriever has a different digestive system than humans, all human foods arent beneficial for these dogs. Further, these dogs find difficulty digesting some food that halts the metabolism, digestion, and excretion process. Besides this, these foods result in various digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and allergic reaction.

Therefore, it better to keep your pal away from foods like:

• Onions and garlic

However, it is best to skip human foods from your Golden Retrievers diet. Thus, if you need to include them in the diet plan, try consulting with the Vet before.

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What Is A Raw Food Diet

Before you begin feeding your pup a raw dog food diet you need to understand what it is and how it affects your dog. Your dogs food can take several forms, including:

The different types of food available can have a powerful bearing on the future of your pup. Kibble is processed and has added chemicals to preserve it for months. Feeding kibble is a stress-free option because it is scientifically created to fulfill the needs of your pup.

Fresh and raw foods can include homemade dog food diet and meal plans created by the best dog food delivery service providers today. Golden retrievers need a wide-ranging diet filled with vitamins and minerals to remain healthy. On one hand, fresh food is cooked and can lose some of the goodness within the meat, vegetables, and brown rice. On the other hand, raw dog food is made from meats and vegetables that are uncooked to retain all the vitamins and minerals your pup needs.

Read our story comparing raw vs fresh dog food. Also, get to know one of todays leading customized raw meals for dogs by taking a look at our We Feed Raw review.

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.

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How Often Should I Feed My Golden Retriever Puppy

Growing puppies have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs, requiring more frequent feedings at varying stages of development. Depending on age, heres how much you should feed your Golden Retriever puppy:

Golden Retriever puppies get all their nutrients from their mother when they are born. However, starting the weaning process onto a new diet from three to four weeks old is safe.

Puppies in the early stages of development need enough calories, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to support rapid growth and development and set them on the road to a healthy life.

Learn More On How Often Dogs Should Eat In This Video

Since Golden Retrievers are a medium-large breed, they should be fed large-breed dog food even puppies. Large breed dog food is essential for your puppys nutrition.

But why?

Large breed foods have a higher protein content and lower calcium, phosphorus, and fat content. It is nutritionally designed to keep puppies from growing too quickly, leading to debilitating conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia.

While adult dogs can thrive on one meal a day, most Golden Retriever owners feed their dogs twice daily. It makes it easier for the dog to digest the food, control hunger, and avoid life-threatening bloat . My dog would much rather eat twice a day.

Foods You Can Include In Homemade Recipes Of Your Golden Retriever

Despite its different digestive systems, some human foods are very beneficial for dogs. Thus, you must consider including these foods while you prepare homemade recipes for your Golden Retriever. Further, these foods include:

• Apple, Bananas, and Berries

• Green tomatoes and raw potatoes

Thus, you should never include these foods while preparing homemade recipes for your Golden Retriever.

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Turkey & Vegetable Dinner

Turkey has less fat than beef, making this an ideal recipe for Goldens that wants to maintain a healthy weight or loss a few pounds. This basic dog food recipe includes turkey for protein and vegetables for added vitamins and minerals. Its the perfect veggie mix with lean protein for your pup.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of ground turkey
• 2 cups of brown rice
• 1 cup of carrots, chopped
• 1 cup of green beans, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of fish oil

Directions

Pro tip: Avoid using heavy oil to brown the turkey. Its high-fat content may upset your dogs stomach.

Recipe from: Moneycrashers

Homemade Feeding For Golden Retrievers

Homemade feeding is excellent for Golden Retrievers. That’s because they are prone to developing food allergies and other health issues.

Homemade feeding allows you to manage your pet’s diet, appease picky eaters, and build bonds with your pet. You don’t have to worry about preservatives, food intolerance or recalls, and other health conditions associated with poor diets.

Unfortunately, it’s not all bliss for dog owners that feed their pets with homemade diets. Preparing homemade diets can be time-consuming. You may also overfeed your dogs, decrease their activity level, and expose them to unhealthy living conditions.

If you want to formulate a wholly balanced and individualized diet for your Golden Retriever, you should get professional help from your vet or pet nutrition expert.

If you wish to feed your Golden Retriever fresh homemade meals very often, but you don’t have time to cook, you should consider ordering homemade dog food.

Hungry Bark can help you formulate Custom Meal Plans tailored to your pet’s nutritional needs and deliver them to your doorstep.

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Is There One Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

The short answer to this is no.

There are hundreds of dog foods out there on the market, and many of them are of extremely high quality.

Youre not so much looking for the one perfect dog food as you are looking for the dog food that best suits you and your dog.

Dont stress out over the decision, as its not hard to change brands if you find your dog isnt thriving on the food you selected.

Likewise, dont go way over your budget just because you think youve found the perfect food. Sometimes the priciest brands out there are just the ones with the best marketing gimmicks. There are plenty of top-notch foods that come at more affordable prices.

How Much Homemade Food Should You Feed Your Golden Retriever

Generally, the amount of food that you need to serve your Golden Retriever depends on various factors like:

• Medical history

Besides this, the type of homemade food and its nutritional content also affects the food requirement for your dog. Thus, you must consider different influencing factors while determining the serving size for your pal.

Moreover, if you are feeding your pal other regular food along with homemade food, the quantity of homemade naturally reduces. Furthermore, a healthy adult Golden Retriever requires an amount of 900-1300 calories daily. So, you should manage your pals food according to this fact.

However, the general serving size for Golden Retriever is as follows:

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How Much Water Should Golden Retrievers Drink

Golden Retrievers should drink up to one ounce of water daily for each pound they weigh. However, there are many other variables to consider, such as age, activity level, diet , temperature and humidity, medication, pregnancy, nursing, etc.

Ensure your dogs water bowl remains full and the water is changed every few hours. Dog water fountains, like the PetSafe Drinkwell from Amazon, are one of my favorites. I love this one because it is perfect for Retrievers due to its large size and even includes carbon filters to keep the water free from odors and bad tastes.

Giving ice cubes, adding water to dry food, or making fun playtimes with a hose in warm weather are other ways to keep your Golden Retriever hydrated.

What To Look For

The reason I always recommend commercial dog food over homemade is that the former is carefully prepared to fulfill the dietary needs per meal. And it is all right there on the label. From the amount of proteins and fat to the total caloric content per cup.

Here is what you should look for on the label.

• Lean Meat The best food for Golden Retriever is one that has meat as its first ingredient, and that meat should be lean. Poultry is preferable over red meat because it has the right amount of fat as well.
• Low Fat Keep in mind that large breeds have a slower metabolism, which means they are more susceptible to weight gain. I would say go for anything that has around 10 to 15% fat. However, you should focus on fiber as well because it can help with fat metabolism.
• Good Carbs No active breed can thrive without carbs. Look for quality vegetable sources such as potatoes or other tubers. These sources are also rich in minerals and vitamins essential for healthy bones and teeth.
• Fatty Acids Goldies are quite furry, which means you should look for fur-friendly ingredients as well. Fatty acids from fish can do wonders for the skin and coat of your baby.
• Fillers and Additives: Go for a filler-free food that doesnt contain artificial flavors or additives. This should also be your criteria for snacks and treats.

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Golden Retriever Homemade Foodrisks

Here are the most common risks of cooking homemade meals for your dog.

• Not understanding the nutritional needs of your Golden Retriever
• Using inadequate or dangerous recipes
• Not preparing a balanced meal
• Using unsafe or harmful ingredients
• Not understanding the impact of food and dietary changes
• Not understanding your dogs life stages nutritional needs
• Neglecting your dogs health conditions

In fact, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, most homemade dog food recipes lack essential nutrients while others contain dangerously high amounts of nutrients.

Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science found that 48% of home-prepared diets for dogs had no precise determination of ingredients and quantities and that 71.3 % of pet owners lacked information on how much to feed the animal.

Even more alarming is that 30.4% of pet parents admitted to changing the recipe on purpose, 40% didnt measure the proportions of the ingredients properly, and 28.3% didnt use recommended vitamins, minerals, or amino acids. In a survey published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine, veterinary professionals reported that 97% of obesity cases can be traced to how owners feed and care for their pets.

Your vet should be able to provide you with trusted recipes, provide nutritional guidance, and/or recommend a dog food delivery service for your Golden.

American Journey Large Breed Chicken And Sweet Potato

Rating:

Large Breed Chicken and Sweet Potato is one of 17 dry recipes evaluated in our review of the American Journey product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal , turkey meal, peas, chickpeas
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: All life stages
• Best for:Golden retriever adults and puppies

American Journey Large Breed Chicken acquires the majority of its meat protein from poultry. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 13% fat and 45% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 40%.

This large breed formula also contains a prebiotic. Prebiotics can help support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine for better digestion. An exceptional, budget-friendly option. Easily recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI have four furry children from small to extra large, all picky in their own way : Treats, bones, & obviously food. All four of em absolutely loved this brand! Theyve been on it for only a week, & I can already tell how healthier their coats look, & a bit of needed weight loss.

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