We Arent The Only People That Have Converted To Making Homemade Dog Food And Are Loving The Results Check Out The Links Below For More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Your Pup Will Love
Easy Crockpot Dog Food from Damn Delicious || This simple homemade dog food recipe combines ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, and peas in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it!
Homemade Dog Food Recipe from College Housewife || Elizabeth’s sweet dog Rascal suffered from all sorts of health issues which led them to having him allergy tested. Turns out Rascal was allergic to all sorts of things – even beef! So, Elizabeth developed a homemade dog food recipe that is just perfect for Rascal’s sensitive belly that is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles!
DIY Homemade Dog Food from Damn Delicious||Chungah’s dog Butter’s battle with stomach issues led her to start making dog food at home. This recipe is easy to make and super good for your pups too! It combines a delicious blend of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains and is made of ingredients like ground chicken, brown rice, shredded zucchini, spinach, carrots, and peas.
At The End Of 2019 During Our Yearly Vet Check We Received The Devastating News That Our 11 Year Old Dogs Blood Work Showed That He Was In Stage 4 Kidney Failure
Honestly, I was a basket case, how on earth did we miss this? He seemed like he was just dealing with some symptoms of getting older – frequent urination, sometimes excessive water drinking. It definitely didn’t feel like life threatening symptoms. As much as the diagnosis was a shock, the price tag of the prescription diet he would need to eat for the remainder of his life was pretty horrifying too!
When People Find Out We Make Our Own Dog Food At Home They Always Ask Us What About A Raw Diet So Lets Get That Out Of The Way First
There are LOTS of thoughts and theories on feeding your dog a raw diet especially a dog that is living with kidney disease. Our vet however, was personally opposed to feeding a raw diet due to the fact that dogs, just like us, are very susceptible to food poisoning. Besides that, a raw diet can be tricky to get just right! You run the risk of giving your dog a horrible belly ache by mixing a raw diet with cooked treats, so if you decided to go raw it is important to have both raw meals and raw treats planned for your pup at all times. NO MIXING the two! Since raw and cooked foods digest at different rates any combination of the two can wreak serious havoc on your pup’s gut which can lead to some pretty unpleasant situations for you – if you get my drift.
Blood Tests Dont Lieand Hoochs Numbers Shifted Drastically In Just The First 6 Weeks We Made These Diet And Lifestyle Changes
He noticeably had more energy, was suffering less from inflammation, was shedding less with a more luxurious coat, and for the first time EVER he had zero bloating! NO GAS for the first time in his entire life! The best news though, was that those stage 4 kidney disease blood levels he had at his yearly checkup had climbed back up to to midrange stage 1 kidney disease blood levels! The extra time and energy invested in making his food and the other small changes we made to his lifestyle have given us more quality time with our beloved Hooch which is more than we could have ever hoped for!
790 grams cooked organic brown rice
700 grams ground lean beef, cooked through, fat drained
4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and diced small
207 grams carrots, shredded or thinly sliced
14 grams minced curly parsley
22 grams of olive or safflower oil
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs: Place the metal trivet into the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. Add uncooked eggs on top of the trivet. Place the lid on top, lock to sealing, and cook high pressure for 5 minutes. Release pressure valve manually at the end of the cooking time and carefully remove the hard boiled eggs to a water bath to cool.
No fresh parsley? You can substitute it in this recipe with 1/4 cup of our Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend.
Keywords: dog food, homemade dog food, dog food recipe
Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Chicken, 2. Rice, 3. Whole Grain Corn, 4. Fish Oil, 5. Fish Meal
Athletic dogs deserve a specific diet crafted to boost their performance. And that diet is precisely what the Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance 30/20 Dog Food aims to provide. It features a unique blend of 30% proteins and 20% fats that prompts muscle growth and nourishment while amplifying your golden retriever’s energy level with fats.All of the dog food’s ingredients are of the finest quality, including real chicken for proteins and numerous sources of fats. Moreover, the dog food also contains a bunch of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and glucosamine, which ensure that your retriever gets a complete and holistic diet.
Your Guide To Preventing Disease By Choosing The Best Dog Food For Your Golden Retriever
- Stay away from artificial flavors, colors or preservatives such as propylene glycol
- Formulas should offer real meat or chicken instead of meat meal or chicken meal
- Must contain a good source of calcium
- Dog food formulas must meet AAFCO nutrient requirements for the correct life stage
- Must be manufactured by a reputable company
- Dog food formulas should offer antioxidants, healthy ingredients, Omega 3’s, and the right amount of micro nutrients.
- The formula should not contain hormones or steroids
- Dog food should not be overly processed
- Dog food formulas should state which life stage they are intended for
- Ingredients should not contain unnamed meat sources
- Ingredients should contain veggies and fruit
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken And Brown Rice Recipe For Large Breed Buy on Chewy
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Chicken, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Brown Rice, 4. Oatmeal, 5. Barley
The top favorite of mine and many other Golden Retriever owners is this savory recipe by Blue Buffalo. Deboned chicken is the first ingredient, which means there are a lot of good proteins for your golden boy. You get high-quality ingredients without fillers and by-products.
All the ingredients are carefully chosen to give your baby the right amount of calories without increasing mass. One of the main reasons this is my favorite is the fact that this formula is created with good overall health in mind. It has glucosamine and chondroitin for joints, calcium, and phosphorus for teeth and bones, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for healthier coat and skin. Highly Recommended!
Here Are Some Food Choices For Your Dog For Different Nutritional Requirements
1. Meat:Meat is composed of animal muscles, intermuscular fat, muscle sheath, tendons and blood vessels, etc. It is a good source of iron and some B vitamins, especially niacin, Vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and Vitamin B12. Feeding this kind of food to Golden Retrievers has advantages of good palatability, high digestibility and quick utilization.
2. Fish:Fish are generally divided into fatty fish and protein fish. Protein fish include cod, plaice, plaice and halibut, fatty fish include herring, mackerel, sardines, small eel, goldfish, eels, etc., fish palatability is not as good as meat, generally dogs do not like to eat fish. When eating fish must be careful.
3. Dairy:Dairy products are also important to Golden Retriever. They include cream, skimmed milk, whey, yogurt, cheese, and butter. Milk contains most of the nutrients Golden Retrievers need, but iron and vitamin D are deficient. Dairy products are good at palatability, and generally all dogs, regardless of breed, prefer to drink milk.
4. Eggs:eggs are A good source of protein, iron, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D, but lack of niacin, so eggs can not be staple food, only as A beneficial supplement in Golden Retriever dog food.
The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Organic Whole Grain Chicken Recipe
10 lb box makes 40lb of Food – $55.85 at Chewy
The Honest Kitchen REVEL uses the dehydration method to preserve the quality of all ingredients. With the ingredients also being finely diced for easier consumption, this brand not only offers affordability, but a high-quality dog food formula.
Nutrients, phytonutrients and minerals are also well- preserved through the dehydration process with a 10 lb. box delivering up to 40 lb. of food.
All the ingredients are natural and human- grade. It is a high-quality dehydrated dog food. The website adds that that “all ingredients are guaranteed 100 percent Human Food Grade” and that it “has been the only pet food manufacturer in the U.S to have proved to the FDA that every ingredient it uses in its products are suitable for human consumption.” This dog food is easy to prepare, and easy to take along when traveling or showing with your Golden Retriever.
PROS
- Organic whole food grains like oats, barley and quinoa
- Fresh veggies and fruits like bananas, green peas, carrots, kelp, parsley, celery and more
- Easy- to- mix with water formula
CONS
- Grain-free may be a problem today depending on further results from the FDA
For more on The Honest Kitchen’s comment about DCM:
What Ingredients Should I Avoid When Buying Dog Food For My Golden Retriever
In addition to allergens, artificial flavors, and preservatives, stay clear of additives like propylene glycol used to add moisture in dog food. This additive can cause anemia in pets. Also avoid TBHQ that causes irreversible DNA damage, and propyl gallate, a carcinogenic compound.
Becky Roberts
Holistic Select Chicken Meal And Oatmeal Recipe For Giant And Large Breed Buy on Chewy
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Chicken Meal, 2. Rice, 3. Oatmeal, 4. Oats, 5. Chicken Fat
Holistic is a brand trusted by thousands of pet owners and preferred by thousands of pets. I like how they have a different product for pets with different needs. And when it comes to your golden’s needs, Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Health Chicken Meal & Oatmeal is a perfect choice. In addition to a good amount of proteins, you a good source of protease that actually helps in protein break down. That means your pet will not just get the essential nutrients, it will also get more out of those nutrients. Plus, there are healthy probiotics to keep things gentle for those with sensitive tummies.
Purina Pro Plan Savor Shredded Blend With Probiotics Adult Dry Dog Food
35 lb bag – $43.49 or $58.31 for 47 lb bag at Chewy
This brand is made with a high-quality protein, and contains probiotics for digestive and immune health. With real chicken as the first ingredient , vitamin A and linoleic acid for healthy skin and coat condition, Purina Pro Plan Savor is a high-quality dog food formula.
PROS
- Well-known and reputable dog food brand
- Delicious flavor for picky eaters
- Helps to maintain a healthy weight
- Scientifically tested by veterinarians, scientists and behaviorists
- Honest and reliable information
- Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures to ensure a well-balanced, high-quality dog food for adult dog maintenance.
CONS
- None
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. What’s more important is that home cooking for your dog allows you to pick only those ingredients that you know won’t cause an allergic reaction on your Golden Retriever.
If you don’t 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.
Hills Science Diet Dry Dog Food Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Recipes
| 4.71 |
Ingredients:Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum, Egg Product, Chicken Fat, Soybean Oil, Brown Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Lactic Acid, Pork Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Flaxseed, Iodized Salt, vitamins , Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas, minerals , Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Oat Fiber, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli.
#1 Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Canine Formula With Smoked Salmon
Taste of the Wild is a high-quality dog food, and I think this recipe is a great choice for typical Golden Retrievers, which is what got it to the number one spot.
Its macronutrient breakdown is ideal, with 25% protein and 15% fat. I chose this recipe as the protein comes from salmon and ocean fish meal; protein sources that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction in your dog. Plus, the use of smoked salmon makes it a very flavorsome food, so it’s good for enticing picky eaters.
The fat comes from canola oil, which is a very healthy source, as it is low in saturated fats, and high in omega-3s. Despite this, there are fewer omega-3s in comparison to other recipes in this review, which makes it a little less well-balanced.
There is a handful of fruit and veg, however, which I like to see for Golden Retrievers, as those antioxidants are essential to keep her healthy. Blueberries are included, which also provide essential nutrients for eye health.
This specific dog food does not include additional ingredients for a dog’s joint health, so if your Golden Retriever suffers from hip dysplasia or arthritis, I wouldn’t recommend this recipe.
PROS
- Good for typical Golden Retrievers
- Protein comes from fish – no beef or chicken
- Good choice for picky eaters
- Customers
- A good handful of fruit and veg
- Contains ingredients that promote eye health
CONS
Now Lets Break Down The Recipe For My Easy Homemade Dog Food Shall We
The recipe box below contains a printable version of my go-to recipe for homemade dog food, which consist of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard boiled eggs, parsley, and a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omega’s. But sometimes, especially since social distancing, I’ve found that it is helpful to have a list of easy substitutes for when ingredients run low. Plug in or swap out any of the items below based on what foods your pup likes/needs and what you have on hand to create your pup’s ideal dog food flavor profile.
Meat || Lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground white or dark meat turkey, & ground pork are all great options. Just be sure to make sure that any meat you feed your animals is free of seasonings when purchasing! Dog’s living with a kidney disease diagnosis need meals that are lower in phosphorus– so for us a lean ground beef like ground sirloin is best the way to go!
Eggs || Eggs are one the top 5 allergens for dogs and the yolks are very high in phosphorus -which you want to limit in dog’s with kidney disease. But, eggs are also one of the highest quality forms of protein you can feed your pet! Ultimately, a hard boiled egg is Hooch’s favorite thing on the planet so, with our vets approval we opted to leave them in his food.
What About Feeding Your Golden Retriever A Raw Diet Or Homemade Food
Other diets in the studies above included raw diets and homemade diets.
Here’s what Dr. Lisa Freeman had to say about it: “We also emphasize that changing to a raw or home-prepared diet may not be sufficient to improve cardiac abnormalities and may increase the risk for other nutritional deficiencies or infectious diseases.”
Feeding Your Puppy Optimally Is Necessary To Avoid Rapid Weight Gain
Although chubby puppies may look really cute, it is better to avoid too much weight gain. Overweight puppies are more likely to develop bone or orthopedic problems.
You can easily check if your puppy is overweight with two simple tests. You should touch the puppy’s ribcage lightly. If you are able to feel the ribs then the puppy is not overweight. But if you cannot feel the ribs then your puppy is overweight.
You should also stand up and look down directly at your puppy while it is standing. If the abdomen is well defined then the puppy is not overweight. But if the abdomen is bulging or rounded, then your puppy is overweight.
You should also take your puppy on regular visits to the veterinarian to keep track of its weight and overall health.
It is important to keep your golden retriever puppy’s weight in the right range because this will prevent the occurrence of certain medical conditions to which golden retrievers are susceptible. If you can maintain the right weight, then there is a better chance for your pup to avoid problems faced by golden retrievers such as elbow and hip dysplasia, cancer, eye problems and cardiac conditions.
On the other hand, if your pup is not gaining waiting even though you are feeding it the right amount of food, you should then take it to the veterinarian. Lack of weight gain could be a sign of parasites, congenital problems or some other health issue.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Lamb & Rice Recipe For Large Breed Adult Buy on Chewy
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Lamb, 2. Chicken Meal, 3. Brewers Rice, 4. Whole Brown Rice, 5. Split Peas
Lamb and rice is something your retriever won’t be able to resist. So, if you have a picky eater in the house, you need to get this one from Nutro Wholesome Essentials. While this is a meat-first recipe, high-quality varieties of rice add a lot of benefits to it. There are no by-products or fillers to cause any allergies or issues. You also get omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for your goldie’s coat and skin. You won’t find a formula more wholesome than this one.
How To Select The Right Dog Food Formula For Your Golden Retriever
Image Credit: Pixaby
All dog food formulas are regulated by the FDA and the U.S. This provides protection to pet parents and pooch. A high-quality dog food depends on the ingredients within the dog food.
Today, dog food formulas are always changing so as to update current formulas with new research. There are also numerous high-quality dog food formulas to choose from, which makes it all the more difficult for pet parents.
There are also many alternative meat options for protein-focused nutrition that offer duck, alligator, venison, rabbit and boar supplemented with chickpeas, sweet potatoes or lentils.
#4 Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon & Potato Formula
Wellness, in my opinion, is a great, high-quality brand that has a variety of different dog food formulas. This one is a “limited ingredient” dog food, specially developed for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.
The only protein source is salmon, providing an ideal 25% protein, while the carbs come from potatoes. The fat content may be too low for typical Golden Retrievers, at 12%, so it is more suited to dogs who are less active, or those who are overweight.
The fat comes from flaxseed oil, a great source of omega-3s, and indeed this recipe is bursting with them. This makes it highly beneficial for Golden Retrievers with skin irritation, as those omegas will help soothe the itching and burning.
There are no added ingredients for joint health in this formula, so it’s not the one to go for if your dog suffers from joint problems.
There are a few vegetables, including tomatoes, peas, and potatoes. The rest of the antioxidants she needs are included in this dog food in supplement form. This is understandable in this recipe, however, since the idea of it is to include just one or two sources of each macronutrient. This way, it is easier to monitor what agrees with her and what doesn’t.
Lastly, there is no added salt in this dog food, which also makes it a good choice if your Golden Retriever needs to consume a low sodium diet for her heart health.
PROS
What Does Cummings Veterinary Medical Center Tufts Suggest You Do
“Reconsider your dog’s diet. If you’re feeding a boutique, grain-free, or exotic ingredient diets, I would reassess whether you could change to a diet with more typical ingredients made by a company with a long track record of producing good quality diets. And do yourself a favor – stop reading the ingredient list! Although this is the most common way owners select their pets’ food, it is the least reliable way to do so. And be careful about currently available pet food rating websites that rank pet foods either on opinion or on based on myths and subjective information. It’s important to use more objective criteria . The best way to select what is really the best food for your pet is to ensure the manufacturer has excellent nutritional expertise and rigorous quality control standards,” via Tufts.
Consult with your veterinarian for the best advice for dog food formulas for your Golden. Watch your Golden Retriever closely for signs of DCM if he or she has been on a grain-free diet.
Maintaining A Healthy Puppy Weight Of Your Golden Retriever Puppy
A puppy grows faster, no doubt! But nobody loves an overweight or underweight puppy so make sure that your feeding schedule is proper and you have to monitor your pooch’s weight on a regular basis when your Golden Retriever is in the puppy phase!
Overweigh can develop health and orthopedic problems in your Golden!
Monitoring your pup’s weight is really important, and make sure you don’t ignore that! Monitoring and adjusting the diet accordingly, you should be able to feel but not see your pup’s ribs!
If your puppy is obesethen make sure you check out this article which I wrote a month back! Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Also, you can define your pup is overweight or not by letting your Golden Stand and you just need to observe the abdomen, if the abdomen is round and bulgy then your puppy isoverweight and if the back is all good no bulginess then its good.
Regular visits to your vet is recommended!
Hill’s Science Large Breed Puppy Diet Chicken Meal & Oats Recipe
This Hill’s Science dog food is made for large breeds. It even has a Golden Retriever puppy on the packaging. The formula contains beneficial ingredients.
Approximately 26 percent of the food is made of protein. Most of it comes from chicken meal. It also flaxseed and fish oil for a healthy dose of omega fatty acids. The food has acceptable levels of calcium and phosphorus as well for proper bone development.
Some additional ingredients you’ll find in this food include apples, carrots, cranberries, and peas. These plant-based ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
To support your puppy’s joints as they grow, there’s also glucosamine and chondroitin. What you won’t find are artificial preservatives, chemical flavors, or synthetic coloring.
When Should Golden Retrievers Switch From Puppy Food To Dog Food
Your vet is probably the best person to ask this question. However, just to shed some light on the topic, it should be at the 10 – 12-week life stage. To achieve desirable results, consider sticking to one brand of dog food and transition gradually. A sudden change in dog food can bring about adverse health effects like excess gas and diarrhea.
Top 10 Picks For The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers In 2021
The American Kennel Club describes the Golden Retriever as one of America’s most popular dog breeds. They say it’s friendly, intelligent, and devoted. These qualities make it perfect for search and rescue work, as a guide dog and when not working, as your family pet. Keep your Golden Retriever happy and healthy with high-quality food. Read on for the top options for the best dog food for Golden Retrievers.
One of our readers wrote to us about a recent FDA study. This study has suggested that some 16 brands of dog food may be associated with a heightened risk of heart failure in dogs. An official FDA statement is as follows: “We’re not saying don’t use these brands, we’re just telling pet owners to work directly with their veterinarians because we’re still investigating,” Lindsay Haake, a spokesperson for the FDA, said. While the study is inconclusive, we still want readers to be aware of this recent information coming to light and making their buying decisions accordingly.
Contents
- Protein- Salmon, Fish Meal
- Other Ingredients- Salmon, Potato, Canola Oil
Perhaps you’re concerned that your Golden Retriever has allergies to certain foods but you don’t know what foods. Here’s the solution: Natural Balance Limited Ingredient foods allow you to eliminate certain foods from your dog’s diet while still giving them what they need to be healthy.
- Protein- Bison, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Beef
- Other Ingredients- Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Flaxseed, Apples, Blueberries
Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
If food allergies and sensitivities aren’t a factor, this dry dog food recipe is a protein-rich source of quality nutrition that’s 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.
Best Overall Puppy Food: Purina Proplan Large Breed Puppy Food
is the best choice for your Golden Retriever puppy, as it provides a complete, healthy, and nutritious diet. The number one ingredient is chicken which provides the protein your puppy needs for strong muscles and healthy body function. This food comes highly recommended from our staff veterinarians.
This puppy food has added minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to build strong bones and teeth. It includes other natural sources of glucosamine to supplement joint and cartilage health.
The ProPlan brand is the highest quality line of Purina dog food apart from the prescription diets. We found there are added omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and antioxidants to support the immune system, brain development, and vision of your puppy. This food meets many nutritional needs of individual puppies.
Top Ingredients:
- Highest quality line of Purina dog food apart from the prescription diets
- Comes in the flavor chicken and rice with chicken as the #1 ingredient
- Supports immune system, brain development, and vision
- Available in two sizes – 18lb. and 34lb.
This puppy food provides many health benefits to your Golden Retriever through natural ingredients that will help them grow healthy and strong during their first couple years of life.
Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppies With Food Allergies
While reputable breeders make every effort to guard against puppy food allergies, you just can’t completely control a puppy’s luck.
Identifying which ingredients trigger a pup’s food allergies can be a lengthy process of trial, error and elimination.
Your vet is likely to recommend that you start by adjusting your puppy to a limited ingredient diet.
These simple recipes are as gentle as possible on your puppy’s digestive and immune systems.
They can also be a good bet for stressed new puppies that are experiencing temporary tummy troubles.
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How Much Dog Food Is Recommended For A Golden Retriever Puppy
You should give your puppy three meals per day, from when it starts weaning all through the next 6 -8 weeks of life.
As much as food levels vary from one puppy to another, the recommended food intake for the Golden Retriever puppies is about ½ a cup of dry puppy food. Water should also be provided on the side.
How Can You See If Your Golden Is Doing Well With Their Food
It’s not hard to tell if your dog is flourishing in its diet. Signs to watch out for are,
- A shiny coat
- A consistent, healthy weight
- Healthy, regular stools
- Lots of energy
If your dog gets itchy or flaky skin, vomits, or has diarrhea, they may not be able to handle their food correctly. However, these problems can be caused by many other possible health problems, so take your dog to the vet for a checkup.
So How Do You Choose The Best Food For Your Golden Retriever
In a recent 2019 FDA dog food update about grain-free dog food that contained legume seeds, lentils, potatoes or peas as main ingredients, dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs was linked to grain-free dog food formulas.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is becoming more common in dogs on grain-free diets that as a breed are not predisposed to DCM. This includes the Golden Retriever!
In grain-free formulas there is often a high level of potato. FDA medical records indicate that dogs with DCM had low levels of taurine which may result in DCM. Dogs fed diets that included exotic proteins, and that were grain-free resulted in higher rates of DCM.
Here’s what the FDA had to say. “To better characterize diets reported in DCM cases, product labels were examined to determine whether the product was grain-free , and whether the products contained peas, other lentils including chickpeas and beans, or potatoes . Because so many products contained peas and/or lentils, a category was created for “peas and/or lentils”. More than 90 percent of products were “grain-free”, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils. A far smaller proportion contained potatoes,” via FDA
“Animal protein sources in the reported diets varied widely, and many diets contained more than one protein source. The most common proteins in the reported diets were chicken lamb and fish; however, some diets contain atypical protein sources such as kangaroo, bison or duck. No one animal protein source was predominant.”