Royal Canin Best Golden Retriever Adult Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Brown Rice, 2. Chicken By-Product Meal, 3. Oat Groats, 4. Brewers Rice, 5. Wheat
This offering from Royal Canin is formulated with a specific focus on your Golden Retrievers dietary needs. It is a heart-healthy recipe because goldens can be susceptible to heart problems. Plus, there is a blend of ingredients that will keep their golden coat shining in its full glory.
It has taurine and DHA for your babys cognitive and visual development. Simply put, Royal Canins exclusive Golden Retriever formula is one of the rare products that will fulfill all their nutritional needs while managing a healthy weight. This Royal Canin formula is one of the most popular and is considered one of the best dog foods for golden retrievers.
Best Homemade Dog Food Cooking Practices
Its vital you discuss your Golden Retrievers specific nutritional needs with a veterinary nutritionist as every dog is different.
Why is this important?
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.
As you can see, while most dog parents want the best when it comes to their furry friends nutrition, most of them dont have a proper understanding of dog nutrition. Thats why getting professional guidance on how to properly plan a home diet for Fido will minimize the risk of exposing your Golden Retriever to nutritional deficiencies due to a bad diet.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking for homemade dog food for your Golden Retriever:
- Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
- Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
- Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
- Research every ingredient before using it for safety
- Follow the recipe as instructed
- Add supplements to their diet as needed
- Understand the impact of dietary changes
- Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist
More Highly Rated Dog Foods For Golden Retrievers
With our top choice covered, here are seven more golden retriever food options!
Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet PotatoesKey Features :
While we think Taste of the Wild does more than enough to get the job done, your golden retriever may have specific dietary needs you need to keep an eye on. If thats the case, American Journey recipes pay close attention to keeping out ingredients like wheat, soy, and corn, which can impact your dogs stomach if theyre sensitive to them.
On the opposite end, you can find blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, and dried kept to help boost your golden retrievers immune system. Sweet potatoes and chickpeas help keep your dogs energy levels high. Deboned salmon forms the core protein, while flaxseed and salmon oil both bring in Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids.
American Journey recipes provide plenty of consideration for dogs with strict dietary requirements and picky eaters.
Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, OatmealKey Features :
Blue Buffalo dog foods focus heavily on providing a variety of natural ingredients to help give your dog the energy and nutrients they need to stay healthy. Chicken, lamb, and fish provide the base proteins for this food, while the brown rice provides plenty of grain benefits. Also, produce like apples, blueberries, pumpkins, and spinach, add a variety of nutrients to their diet.
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Science Diet Perfect Weight
- Breakthrough adult dry dog food clinically proven for weight…
- Over 70 % of adult dogs lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this…
- Help your grown dog maintain a healthy weight with this dog food
- This adult dog food supports muscle maintenance
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Over 70% of dogs lost weight within 10 weeks alone with this kibble, thanks to the lower calorie count of 316 per cup. This recipe is based on science and designed by Veterinarians and canine nutritionists, so you can be sure that it will still provide him with optimum levels of proteins and nutrients whilst tackling his weight.
We loveHills Science diet for most breeds when it comes to weight loss. They are have one of the most popular formulas compared to other brands, and this food is prefect for pudgy Golden Retrievers carrying a few extra pounds.
Additional Dietary And Health Concerns
Hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts are considered the big four for Golden Retrievers in terms of health. The food you feed your Golden Retriever can make a big difference when it comes to his health. Commonly, this breed is prone to hip/elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and food allergies.
When it comes to hip/elbow dysplasia, its especially important to feed your Golden Retriever a diet for large breed puppies to encourage slow growth. Rapid growth in puppies is one of the factors that can lead to dysplasia and bone/joint problems later in life. Obesity is another factor, which is why you should help your dog maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle.
Some Golden Retrievers can also have issues with allergies and with hypothyroidism. If your dog gains weight rapidly especially if he is losing hair or seems lethargic he may have a thyroid problem. This is usually not a food issue, so your vet will need to prescribe a medication to help.
If your dog has allergies, he may itch and scratch and start to have some lesions and bald spots. A food intolerance can show up as gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting or diarrhea or a lot of flatulence. If you see some of these signs, talk to your vet about doing a food trial to find out if your dog has an allergy or a food intolerance.
For more dog food suggestions for your Golden Retriever, head over to the Large Breed Dog Food Buyers Guide.
Below is a list of Products reviewed in this article
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Can I Feed Raw Meat To My Golden Retriever
Feeding raw meat is a debatable topic when it comes to dogs. We know that dogs crave raw meat for the inner wolf they have inside them. They are laniferous and highly meat-loving animals, the thicker the mass the more they enjoy and for obvious reasons, there are health benefits that raw meat can give them. For example, they are organic and they have no added preservatives. Also, raw meat provides the essential fats that are helpful for a thicker and shinier coat
On the other hand, raw meat can be expensive, then regular dog food. Also, it will only provide high protein but will not provide any dietary fiber. There is also a high risk of bacterial infection when it comes to feeding dogs with raw and uncooked meat. Also, it is bad for the oral hygiene of dogs, as raw meat can give them an awful stinky smell.
Nd Best Budget Puppy Food: Iams Large Breed Puppy
2nd Best Budget
Iams Large Breed Puppy Food is one of the more affordable puppy foods. Real, farm raised chicken is the 1st ingredient and it includes 22 key nutrients that are found in a mothers milk. It was created to fit your large breed puppys specific wellness and nutritional needs.
Top Ingredients:
- Chicken is the 1st ingredient
- Added DHA for brain health
- Contains calcium and phosphorus for bone health
- Comes in two bag sizes 15lb and 30.6lbs.
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Blue Buffalo Dog Food
Blue buffalo is a reputable and premium dog food with no wheat, corn, soy, or artificial ingredients that may be unhealthy for your dog.
This dog food has healthy protein sources, fats, and multivitamins that fulfill your dogs dietary needs, limiting your veterinary visits.
Also, blue buffalo has one of the best dry dog food for Golden Retrievers as it has a minimum of 34 % of proteins sourced from deboned duck and chicken meal. Again its fortified with 5 strains of prebiotics good for your dogs gut health.
Key Benefits
- Calcium, phosphorus, and essential vitamins for strong bones and teeth and special puppy-sized kibble for smaller jaws that promote tartar removal
- DHA and ARA for healthy brain and eye development and high-quality protein for healthy muscle growth
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants for immune system health
- No corn, wheat, soy, or chicken by-product meals
Overall Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Healthy Ingredients : Turkey, Chicken, Beef, Eggs, CarrotsKey Features :
If youre looking for a super premium dog food for your golden retriever, you may want to consider a fresh food option such as NomNomNow. This service delivers freshly prepared meals to your door on a weekly basis, and the recipes are customizable based on your dogs needs. All meals are prepared using whole, restaurant-quality ingredients to ensure the highest quality nutrition for your dog with no freezing or preservatives. The food is sent to you fresh for storage in your own fridge or freezer. Because the food is prepared fresh with gentle cooking methods, most of the nutritional integrity is retained for a wholesome meal. NomNomNow boasts the use of only human-grade ingredients which means that the food is prepared in way that would be fit for human consumption, something that many pet owners hold in high regard!
Healthy Ingredients : Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, PeasKey Features :
Taste of the Wild takes the top spot on our list for best golden retriever dog foods. The main proteins in this flavor are bison and roasted venison, which also provide some variety from other standard dog food flavors. Taste of the Wild also incorporates fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes in the ingredients, which broadens the available nutrients for your dog.
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Science Diet Large Breed Puppy
- A large breed puppy food specially made with an optimal level of…
- Uses a balanced set of minerals to promote strong bones and teeth…
- Uses DHA from fish oil to support healthy brain and eye…
- High-quality protein helps your large pup build and maintain lean…
If you click the link above and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Chicken meal is the first ingredient and main protein source in this recipe, which is a fantastic source of meat, energy and glucosamine which is crucial for all large breed puppy recipes. It boasts an optimum level of calcium and phosphorus for controlled bone growth too.
It has the highest fat content on this list, which is crucial for puppy growing power, and it has plenty of DHA from fish oil which helps to develop a healthy brain and eye function.
We love that this recipe has the lowest fiber content for those Golden puppies who do not do well on a highly fibrous diet, and it is also a grain inclusive option for those who do not wish to feed him a grain free diet.
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 retrievers energy level with fats.All of the dog foods 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.
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Iams Proactive Health Large Breed
Primary Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Ground Whole Grain Corn
IAMS has been a leading brand in the dog food industry for yearsand for a good reason. They produce high-quality dog food for your Golden Retriever at an affordable price. Veterinarians recommend IAMS Proactive Health because it uses ingredients like animal protein and antioxidant-rich veggies to nourish your dog and meet their complete health needs.
Customer Review: I have two larger breeds, and this has been really good for them and cheaper than what I have fed before. Highly recommend it. Good for maintaining a decent weight too.
Rating: 4.7/5
Why You Dont Want To Overfeed Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Golden retrievers are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia and they love eating.
Those two statements may sound random, but they are related.
According to the Banfield Pet Hospital, overfeeding your golden retriever can cause them to grow too fast and increase their risk of hip dysplasia.
To make sure you dont overfeed them, use a measuring cup when dishing out their food and never free-feed them.
Also Check: How Often Should A Golden Retriever Be Groomed
Other Health Issues For Goldens
Goldens arent pre-disposed to many health problems that are related to diet. Most common problems youll encounter, such as hypothyroidism, eye disorders, lymphoma, and skin problems are often caught in your yearly visit with your vet. Make sure to keep up with your annual visit as well as ask any questions you have about their health. If you notice odd behavior or new habits, bring them up! These are the best keys to ensuring your vet has everything they need to keep your pet healthy!
Nearly any large breed is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, and enthusiastic eaters are prone to obesity which can cause complications such as diabetes. These may never be an issue, but ensure they live longer and healthier lives by watching their weight. A healthy weight will reduce their chances of developing obesity-related complications as well as putting less pressure on their joints to minimize pain from dysplasia. Considering a dog joint supplement can also be a good idea.
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy
Golden Retrievers, like all large-breed puppies, are disposed to malnutrition and developmental orthopedic diseases, including osteochondrosis , hip dysplasia, hypertrophic osteodystrophy , and panosteitis. Although there is a definite genetic element to these conditions, there are nutritional risks that play a large role during the puppy years. These include an excess of calcium intake and rapid growth.
Its essential that large-breed pups are fed a diet that prevents these issues, which is why we think the best dog food for Golden Retriever pups is Royal Canin Golden Retriever Breed Health Nutrition Puppy. Everything about this formula meets the needs of this awesome breed.
The mineral balance and calorie content are ideal for preventing joint and bone issues and the kibble is even designed in such a way to suit Golden Retrievers teeth. They have whats called a scissors bite, with a long snout and mouth. Royal Canin kibbles are thin and square-shaped for optimal digestion and chewing.
Because theyre a slow maturing breed, its recommended to feed Goldens this food until theyre around 15 months old.
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Why Doesnt My Golden Retriever Eat
Vets often say that golden retrievers have a build clock in them. So naturally, they know when to eat. And most specifically dogs are always hungry. But when your dog has lost its appetite or doesnt eat then it is a matter of concern. Vets say that it is due to them being sick or ill. They could suffer from fever or flu. If your goldie is showing some serious signs of inactivity then it is recommended to visit the vet as soon as possible.
Also, other reasons can lead to loss of appetite, it can be changed in place or addition of a new dog member. Also, there could be some factors of dental issues that cause tooth pain. Hence if your dog is throwing some serious tantrums you better hurry to a vet.
The Bottom Line: The Good Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
I hope that I helped you figure out the best dog food for Golden Retrievers. But, always keep in mind that you should never make tweaks or adjustments to your doggys diet without consulting the vet. The thing is that the vet is a trained professional who knows more about your dogs dietary needs.
And, theres one more thing. You should follow the 90-10 or 80-20 rule. This basically means that about 10-20% of your doggys daily caloric needs should come from treats and the rest should come from the kibble itself. Over-feeding your dog may not feel like a big thing right now, but it can have severe health consequences later in life.
So, stick to good and nutritious foods for your canine friendafter all, they make or break your dogs health! Let me know in the comments section if you were able to find the best dog food for your Goldy through this article. Have you tested out any of these dog foods previously? What did your dog think? Share it with us!
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Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Grain
Another fantastic grain-free formulation for Golden Retrievers is this food by Taste of the Wild. It has unique sources of novel proteins, like real smoked salmon, and it offers about 32% of protein, making it an excellent choice for very active Golden Retrievers. Instead of grains, it uses peas and sweet potatoes as its healthy sources of carbs that are easy to digest. It is also free of artificial ingredients and wheat, making it great for dogs with sensitive tummies.
It contains loads of real veggies and fruits to provide extra carbs, vitamins, minerals, etc. These veggies and fruits also provide antioxidants that work to support the immune system. It can also prevent disease and infection. Moreover, this dog food formula has dried chicory root that encourages healthy digestion and offers prebiotic support.