Using Food To Keep Your Retriever Healthy
Golden Retrievers have some health risks. They can have cancers of the blood and lymphatic system. Good nutrition can help reduce the likelihood of this disease. Narrowing of the aortic valve restricting blood flow and causing congestion of the heart with blood is another risk for your Golden Retriever. Fiber and omega fatty acids are beneficial for prevention.
Health Concerns to Watch For
- An underactive thyroid problem can cause unaccountable weight gain. This may not respond to reducing your golden retrievers calorie intake. Get veterinary advice but more EPA, DHA, fiber, ALA, and probiotics can all help.
- Hip and elbow joints are a relatively common problem in golden retrievers. Look for added phosphorus, calcium, glucosamine, and chondroitin in dog food to promote healthy joints.
- Overweight dogs are also more likely to suffer from these problems. Watch the calorie intake.
- Eye complaints such as cataracts and central progressive retinal atrophy are not uncommon. Look for vitamin A and DHA in dog foods.
Health Dietary Changes In Goldens Retrievers
If your Golden Retriever is struggling with the following health conditions, a fresh homemade food diet couple with the following recommendations can get them under control.
| Condition |
|---|
| Add Zinc and Vitamin A levels |
Chart Source: NomNomNow.com
Pro Tip: Golden Retrievers tend to have coat and skin problems. If your Golden has dry skin, a dull shedding coat, hot spots, or itching and irritation, a good tip is to add a couple of squirts of fish oil to their meals. The oil will provide relief and nourishment to keep skin and coats in the best condition.
Iams Proactive Health Large Breed Dog Food
Rating:
ProActive Health Large Breed is one of 14 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.
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Ingredients To Avoid In Commercial Dog Food
When buying commercial dog foods, no matter the brand or who recommended it; READ THE LABEL!
If you find any of the following on the label, dont buy this dog food:
- Generic Terms
- If you find generic terms like poultry or fish this means they have questionable sources. They can be by-products or something worse.
- Instead, find something with specific sources of protein like beef, rabbit, salmon, etc.
Always, always, read the label. You will not believe what some manufacturers will sneak into these dog foods to try and eek a few more pennies even at the cost of our dogs health.
As for the regulations, the situation of dog foods is really complicated which means that they always find loops and stuff to get away with it.
Even with that, you should still verify that the dog food has been verified by a government organization. For example, if the dog food says Organic, verify that its indeed USDA-verified-organic.
What Should You Consider In Golden Retriever Treats
Treats are also a great way to get some nutrients into your dog that allows them to enjoy it too. Not only that, but it is also great for training your puppy as giving him/her treats when they do something good, will ensure that they can make a positive connection with the activity in the future.
Another great way to use treats is to use them for taking care of your dogs dental care. When t comes to treats, there are a few benefits to using natural treats over reproduced foods that include:
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There is a considerable rise in the popularity of raw food diets as more and more owners decide to switch their dogs diet from a commercial diet. However, there is much controversy about the raw feed diet and its benefits. Both sides have their arguments and reasons why their option is the best for your dog. We will not go into this, but you can find all the pros and cons of feeding your Golden Retriever a raw diet HERE.
Raw Diet History
The inventor of the raw food diet is an Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. In 1993. he proposed a new diet he claimed was healthy for the dogs. Billinghurst believed that domesticated dogs today should have a diet similar to those of their wild ancestors. Their ancestors have thrived on raw meat, bones, and vegetable scraps. Billinghurst claimed that commercial pet food is causing much harm to dogs and that they would benefit greatly from the diet he called BARF. This is an acronym for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
There are so many styles, methods, and options when considering a raw food diet. Therefore, it can be pretty hard to determine which method of raw food diet you want to apply when feeding your Golden Retriever.
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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Spinach And Golden Retrievers
The king of leafy greens, spinach is not only good for you but great for your Golden Retriever! Spinach has a list of nutrients a mile long. Vitamins A, B, C, and K are great by themselves, but theyre not the only nutrients spinach provides! Potassium, iron, fiber, and folate are some other great additions as well. Plain boiled spinach will suffice for your furry pal, and additives like salt, pepper, butter, and others shouldnt be used.
Ideally, you want to mix spinach up with your dogs regular food to make it more palatable and easily chewable.
How Much Should A Golden Retriever Puppy Eat
Even for veteran pet owners, it can still be difficult to gauge just how much a puppy should eat. After all, puppies require different nutritional needs from their adult counterparts. Plus, with larger dog breeds like Golden Retriever puppies, they will require a bit more food than small- and medium-sized puppies.
So, how much should Golden Retriever puppies actually eat on a daily basis? In this article, you can find a detailed guide about feeding Golden Retriever puppies as well as just how much to increase their intake as they grow older.
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What Are The Best Dog Treats For Golden Retrievers
As I mentioned earlier in this post, when you are looking out for good or high-quality treats, then you are looking for treats with natural ingredients. This is especially important when feeding a new puppy as natural foods will make a difference in how healthy they grow into an adult dog.
To save you some time and hassle of looking around trying to find the best foods for your golden retriever, I have completed a list of the top 3 dog foods below. Each has its benefits depending on what requirements you are in need of, so be sure to read them carefully.
Can Golden Retrievers Eat Watermelons What About Rind And Seeds
The golden retriever is one of the most popular choices among pet dog owners. It is an exceptionally well-behaved dog that can be trained very well. They are excellent domestic help. They are so adept at their job that they are used for various life-saving jobs. Search and rescue and bomb squads etc. For such a great breed of dogs, the golden retriever also deserves delectable treats from time to time. But owners often wonder whether or not golden retriever can eat watermelons. Are watermelons safe for them?
So, can Golden Retrievers eat watermelon? Yes, Golden Retrievers can eat watermelons and they enjoy it very much. It is one of their favorites when it comes to fruits. The water content of watermelons makes it a great summer treat. It also has excellent health benefits for the energetic golden retrievers.;
They love the taste of the watery fruits in the summer. A Watermelon has many great health benefits for the golden retriever. It is rich in vitamins and many nutrients.
Watermelons are a great boost for the health of the golden retriever. Due to its composition being 92 percent water, the Watermelon is a great way to include liquid content in the golden retrievers diet.
However, too much of anything can be problematic. Even the watermelon can be harmful to the golden retriever if consumed too much. The rind and seeds can cause serious health hazards.
Lets take a look at the pros and cons of feeding watermelon to the golden retriever.
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Golden Retrievers Love Carrots
Carrots are a good substitution for traditional dog treats. With vitamin A, dietary fiber, and potassium, theyre sure to nourish your Golden Retriever the way he needs. Carrots are especially great for overweight dogs because theyre low in calories, and they help improve eyesight too.
You should always slice carrots before you offer them to your Golden Retriever both raw and cooked are fine to use as treats or in addition to dog food. Frozen carrots have also been known to soothe teething Golden Retriever puppies gums and teeth.
Do Golden Retrievers Eat A Lot
The short answer to this is yes, but it all depends on how active your dog is and sometimes what gender they are too. For an adult dog, you can expect to be feeding them anywhere between 2½ 4½ cups per day depending on whether male or female.
You might find that a lot of dog blogs will average this out to around 3 cups per day which falls right in the middle. This will cost around $2 to $2.50 per day which can average out to $65 per month. To save you the time with finding the right foods, I have listed out a few in the table below for you to check out now.
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Golden Retriever Puppy Feeding Chart
How Much? An 8-week old golden retriever puppy will only eat about 1.5 cups of food a day. By 4 months, he should be at 3 cups and up to 4 cups around 6 months.
What to Expect:You can expect your puppys appetite to gradually increase over time. Puppies will need a lot more food during periods of high growth, but then you will need to decrease the amount you are feeding him to keep him healthy as he reaches adulthood.
Careful: Some puppies will inhale their food as quickly as possible. They often might deceive you by trying to show you that they are hungry when they are not. Thats why its important to stick to the Golden Retriever puppy feeding chart.
Essential Nutrients For Golden Retrievers
If you have ever been on a diet, the chances are that you will either or lose some weight or gain some calories. The same is the case for your pet.
The calories in your dog’s food come from vital nutrients that play an active role in growth and development. Their body needs these nutrients in adequate quantities to thrive.
However, the amount of nutrients your pet needs depends on your dog’s height, age, level of activity, etc. So whether you are feeding your dog with wet or dry foods, you need to check to make sure that the meal contains the balanced nutrients your pet needs.
Your pet needs the right amount of carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water to reach its full potential. And you should keep this in mind when choosing a pet food brand.
Let’s count the necessary macros for your Golden Retriever.
Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for your pet. It provides enough calories to keep your dog healthy. Proteins also help your pets to
- Build and repair body tissues and muscles and body
- Grow new skin cells, hair, hormones, and enzymes, etc.
So if you are buying commercial food products, you should go for dog foods with at least 30 percent protein content. However, if you are keen on homemade foods for your Goldie, you should consider meals with protein sources like lambs, chicken, turkey, fish, beef, yogurts, and cooked eggs.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates double as sources of energy and glucose supply for optimal brain activity.
Minerals
- Vegetables
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Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult
Rating:
This Large Breed Adult formula is one of 13 dry recipes covered in our review of the Diamond Naturals product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best for:Adult goldens
Diamond Naturals Large Breed gets the better part of its meat protein from fresh chicken and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 26% protein, 14% fat and 52% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
We like the fact that this particular formula contains zinc proteinate and 3 other chelated minerals, costly items not typically found in such a budget-friendly, high quality option. A top pick for adult goldens. Easy to recommend.
Sample buyer reviewWe have seen great changes in our dogs on this food. My beagle is getting older and slowing down. With the Diamond food, he is running all over and back to jumping on the couch and bed again. My male Great Pyrenees had digestive issues that cleared right up. My female Great Pyrenees was always getting skin issues with a rough coat. She isnt scratching and her coat is gorgeous. Thank you Diamond for giving my dogs their lives back.
They Are Food Obsessed
This breed is motivated by food, this can be both good and bad. Being motivated by food makes them easier to train. A golden will pretty much do anything for a treat. The bad part is that they will eat anything and everything, and youll need to watch their food intake because this breed is prone to obesity.
There have been plenty of times when I have walked my Ellie, and she has picked up and eaten some very questionable stuff. Its not that I am letting her eat stuff off the ground, its that she is so quick, and eats it. Walking a food-motivated dog can be frustrating at times.
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Holistic Select Senior Health
Rating:
Senior Health is one of 11 dry recipes covered in our review of the Holistic Select product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, chickpeas, peas, lentils, dried ground potatoes
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best for:Senior goldens
Holistic Select Senior Health obtains the better part of its meat protein from chicken fat. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 13% fat and 48% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 43%.
We also note this dog food contains no generic animal by-products, artificial colors or chemical preservatives. The recipes below-average fat content combined with its inclusion of both chondroitin and glucosamine make it an ideal option for senior goldens. Highly recommended.
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Large Breed Formula
Purina Pro Plan Focus for large breeds has balanced nutrition for your Golden Retriever. it has the right protein and fat balance to help your dog maintain a healthy weight while staying healthy and active. The balanced formula will also take care of the beautiful coat. Whats more: This dog food also contains ingredients that actually allow for optimal absorption of all the nutrients. You also get natural probiotic fibers for easy digestion.
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